Introducing: Lucy Reiser
Lucy Reiser’s lovely, quiet landscapes first came across my radar through my sister who used to live across the street from Lucy and her husband in Brevard, North Carolina. One of the first artists who agreed to show her work at The Willard Gallery, Lucy painted six Dorset-inspired landscapes of the English countryside from photos I took on a 2017 trip to Southwest England in time for our launch in May this spring.
I have so enjoyed watching the response of people who feel a pull to Lucy’s work when they visit our gallery space. I’ve heard that the paintings remind people of the rolling hills of North Carolina, Maine’s own Sugarloaf in the summertime, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and even a scene from nearby Popham Beach.
Lucy’s contemplative, meditative landscapes are a delightful addition to The Willard Gallery. I am so pleased to be able to offer a glimpse into Lucy’s process, philosophy, and inspiration below.
What currently inspires your art?
When I moved to western NC from Atlanta, it didn't take long for my work to change pretty significantly. It's impossible to be surrounded by lush mountains and gardens and rivers and not absorb that in some way or another. I'm inspired by the landscapes surrounding me, and by the more subtle details you start to notice over time like the endless range of greens and yellows and pinks on the mountains when the sun is at a different point in the sky. I'm also inspired by things that seem to have nothing to do with landscape painting at all - textiles, music, a good fiction book, a perfect meal, you name it.
What does your process look like?
First I like to find a photo to start from. Oftentimes this is from travels I've taken over the years. Next I'll identify what it is about that photo I want to bring into the painting - is it the composition? Colors? Lighting? Or all of the above? If I'm working on an abstract painting I focus mainly on color and textures I want to convey. Then I quickly sketch out the composition on a canvas and decide on an overall color palette. Once I start painting things move along pretty quickly!
Travel plays a role in your landscapes. Tell us about one of your more memorable trips and how it influenced your work.
There is nothing like travel to shake the dust off our old routines. Any time I get the chance to travel somewhere new, whether one state over or across the world, my eyes are opened to new colors, textures, and landscapes I'm not used to seeing every day. After a while it's easy to get comfortable, even in a beautiful place, so having new surroundings to take in for the very first time is always inspiring. Also, different landscapes and environments carry different feelings which absolutely can affect how I approach my work when I take it back to the studio. The most influential trip for me lately has probably been a hut-hopping trip to the Swiss and Austrian Alps. The landscape there is absolutely magnificent and filled with what feels like pure magic.
Name a favorite work of art that comes to mind immediately. Why are you drawn to it?
Primavera by Botticelli. I got to see this one in person at the Uffizi several years ago and the use of color and contrast and scale is absolutely enchanting - specifically those flowers in the foreground have stayed in my mind ever since.
Describe your perfect day in Brevard.
My perfect day in Brevard would be in early May when everything is in bloom and there's a sense of Springtime optimism in the air. Ideally I would wake up in a tent with my husband and dog on Black Balsam Knob or somewhere off the Blue Ridge Parkway nearby. Next, I would have a perfect post-camping breakfast at the farmer's market before meeting up with a friend to go for a stroll around town. After a lazy afternoon with a book in hand and perhaps a nap on the back porch, we would walk back into town to enjoy some live Bluegrass music (not hard to find in this city) and a delicious dinner from any of the restaurants nearby. And to be honest, I would be thrilled to be in bed by 10pm.
Which artists inspire you the most?
Alex Katz always inspires me with his color choices and compositions. He is an all-time favorite. I also love Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, and to name a few more contemporary artists Lily Stockman, Richard Claremont, and both of my grandmothers, Joan Williams and Anne Reiser, who were professional painters for many years.
Do you have a dream project or installation?
I have too many dream projects... For one that feels somewhat attainable, I'd love to be commissioned to paint a massive (8+ ft) colorful loose, impressionistic landscape for someone's home. I absolutely love painting on a large scale. Another dream project/adventure would be a multi-week trek through the UK countryside, painting and sketching a new collection as I go. As for collaborations, I would love to work with companies making fabric or dinnerware, and focused on sustainability. I also have a few dream clients but I'll keep those to myself so I can still play it cool if I ever get to work with them in real life!
A bucket list travel destination?
Norway has been on my list for several years now. Also New Zealand, Israel, the Andes, and the whole UK.
You spend a great deal of time teaching and mentoring other artists. What is one piece of advice you have to an artist who is just beginning their career?
Prioritize it. I truly think the key to growing an artistic practice is simply doing it often. Make a studio space, even if it's a folding table in the corner of your kitchen, and just keep at it. Also, expect to make lots of art you don't like at first. That's very normal and all part of the process.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow?
Here's just a handful of favorites: Jo _Rodgers (as introduced to me by Meredith!), HouseandgardenUK, mossonyi, picturesisawandloved, bygloriagonzalez, tthomasarts, and of course thewillardgallery (but really).
