Pursuit 365 Day 227: Lisa Penz

The art of Lisa Penz is very distinct. She’s taken the blue out of the ocean. With a palette strictly limited to gold, copper and coral, Lisa feels at ease within the confines of color. Custom mixing these warm colors is a vital part of Lisa’s practice, as she’s depicting the ocean in a Bohemian light unique to her, and her message. A fine artist and Actress from Vancouver, Lisa Penz has a rich history of painting for the Hotel industry. Her current Collection of enchanting Mermaids and Skulls are now exclusively available on her new website LisaPenzArt.com “Each painting is an invitation, now open not only to hotels and resorts but to your own home as well.”

When you first started your career, how did you know you were ready and what made you start?

I was never ready. Sometimes I thought I was. I had several false starts. It’s crazy how I convinced myself I was willing, but there was this feeling under the surface that something was always off. Disappointing myself became my baseline. I never stuck with a job for very long or even a painting style. Nothing left me satisfied. Artists always find new ways to paint, or brighter subject matter. Or, in my case, I ended up going darker. Never ready to commit to one creative career path, yet always ready to create. That was me. So, I created and created for years. I allowed myself to paint and to explore various styles, color palettes, brush strokes, materials. I knew I was finally ready to get behind my art when I would non-stop think about what I was painting. The Mermaids kept me up, they gave me life. I never need to paint anything else. I was finally satisfied.

If you could give your past self some advice, what would you tell yourself?

Do not be afraid to make bad Art. Create as many terrible paintings as possible when you are learning what you like. What or who has been your greatest influence in business? The dead or living? Okay, hehe, the dead: WALT DISNEY. The living: a couple of my friends who have way more experience than me in business and who’ve been by my side for several years, watching my evolution as an artist. I trust their judgement because they know my character well and only suggest things that they know I’m willing to try!

Mantra?

“Know Thyself” is the mantra I live by. This guiding principle, declared by Socrates has been key for me both personally and in my art career. If this mantra sounds familiar to you, you may have heard it said differently in different ways. I love them all. The Tao Te Ching stated it this way: “Knowing others is intelligence, knowing yourself is true wisdom.” And William Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet, “This above all, to thyne own self be true.” The “Know Thyself” proclamation carries prestige in our culture and if you ask me, responsibility. It sounds like a simple anthem for life, right? Simple, but not easy. How do we come to know ourselves and why if self-knowledge so difficult to attain? A lack of self-knowledge leads you to major distraction from your life’s purpose— and worse, potential trajectory error. I’m fearful of long, drawn out mistakes that manifest mostly regret. Perhaps that is why I’ve explored so many aspects of the arts. Beginning from Graphic Design, Art Direction, to Fine Art, to Acting— and presently developing a mélange of what is experienced as distinct style, influence and artistic control. It’s my belief that —whatever version of “Know Thyself” you prefer— that if you follow the mantra religiously, you can align yourself with enjoying a higher calibre of life. Know what you are capable of. Living this way makes decision making easier. You are free to say ‘No’ with an assurance that you are cutting through the exhausting array of choice.

What do you have going on that you’d like to share?

I’m excited to announce my NEW website has finally launched: LisaPenzArt.com On my site you’ll see brand new Collections of my Mermaid paintings— which I call ‘Fleur de Mer’ and my Skull abstract art. I wish to transport my audience to a magical place: a Bohemian Kingdom under the water, to explore the ocean in a golden neutral palette. And what’s more?? I’ll be launching a Limited Series NFT Collection of some of my select Mermaids. Check back on my website for my exclusive NFT drop and be a part of my siren society.