Untitled, 2009

Lisa Bormann  

Artist Statement:
Winner in American Artist's Golden Anniversary National competition in figure painting, Lisa Bormann started studying drawing at the School of Fine Arts in Malaga, Spain, when she was seventeen. She spent her sophomore college year studying history and literature in Vienna, then graduated from Stanford University, where she won the James Birdsall Weter prize for distinguished history honors thesis.

Lisa Bormann spent four years at Atelier Lack, a studio school teaching the fundamentals of drawing and painting from life. This program descended directly from the system of teaching brought to Boston by American Impressionists such as Tarbell, Paxton, and Chase, after their study in Europe during the late nineteenth century. Drawing was based on three hours of life drawing every day, study of human anatomy and memory drawing. Painting emphasized the study of values and impressionist color. Bormann explored her own interest in placing the figure in contemporary interiors and portraiture and followed these studies with trips to Europe to paint portrait commissions and landscapes.

Bormann enjoys annual trips for prolonged stays in northern and southern Minnesota. A summer month on the north shore of Lake Superior and fall in the great valley of the Mississippi at Lake Pepin provide the time and familiarity needed for the serious pursuit of landscape painting.
Education:
School of Fine Arts in Malaga, Spain (1973 - 1974)
Bachelor of Arts in history from Stanford University, United States (1974 - 1978).
The Atelier Lack, Studio Program of Fine Art, United States (1979 - 1983).
Awards & Distinctions:
Winner in American Artist's Golden Anniversary National Art Competition in figure painting, 1987.
John Pence Gallery Individual Award, 1987.
First Prize, Heritage Gallery Show, 1988.
James Birdsall Weter prize for distinguished history honors thesis from Stanford University, 1988.
 
Exhibitions:
'Spring Salon', Heritage Art Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia, 1992
'Spring Exhibition', Atelier LeSeuer, Excelsior, Minnesota, May 1992.
'Pleini Air', Wilensky Arts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 1992
'Living Impressions', The Beard Art Galleries, Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 1991.
'Masters Heritage Gallery Opening', Heritage Art Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia, March 1991.
'Landscape Show', Atelier LeSeuer, Excelsior, Minnesota, October 1991.
'Masters' Heritage', Heritage Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia, March 1991.
One-person show, Meadow Creek Gallery, Edina, Minnesota, February 1991.
'Academic Dialogue', Minneapolis Institute of Arts, December 1990 - February 1991.
Fall Show, Douglas Gallery, Stamford, Connecticut, November 1990.
Group show, Gabberts Gallery, Edina, Minnesota, October 1990
'People, Places and Things', Broadway Gallery, Fairfax, Virginia, April 1990.
'Works on Paper', Speedboat Gallery, St. Paul, Minnesota, October 1989.
Trammell Crow Show, Carlson Center, Minneapolis, August 1989 .
Annual Shows at Heritage Gallery, Alexandria, Virginia 1986-91.
Invitational Drawing Exhibition, Furlong Gallery, Menomonie, Wisconsin, February 1988.
American Artist's Golden Anniversary Show, John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, Grand Central Gallery, New York, 1987.
'Drawing: Contradiction and Paradox', Kathern Nash Gallery, Minneapolis April - June 1987.
Minnetonka Art Center Show, Minnetonka, Minnesota, Fall 1983.
Professional/Teaching Experience:
Atelier, Exelsior, Minnesota, 1985-1991.
Minnesota River School, Eden Prairie, 1993 - 1998.
Artistic Influences:
Edgar Degas, Johannes Vermeer, Isaac Levitan. 

Impressionist colors and values to explore light and express form, working only from nature , model in the studio and landscape on site.
Tags:
Nudes, landscapes, figures, lake superior, mississippi valley, sedona.