New Summer Characters

Boreal Poppy Perch, 8" x 8", acrylic on panel

Door of Perception, 8" x 8", acrylic on panel

Night Heron, 8" x 8", acrylic on panel

Swamp Sparrow, 4" x 12", acrylic on canvas

Full Moon Owl, 10" x 10", acrylic on wood

Enjoying the summer in the studio....

Messin' Around in Summer Weather

Having fun playing around with more of my water halos....These I've called "Water Ghosts", mixed media on panels. Summer heat tends to inspire me to paint these abstracts. : )

Happy Spoleto

My artwork is still on display at Michael Mitchell Gallery for Scrum and Shimsuda's Three Ring Circus.  Many pieces have sold so I'm working on some new paintings.

These are all 8"x 10" acrylic on panel. Perhaps thinking of doing what I love, being on a boat out on the water.  

This Friday's Art Circus

Finished up a few more paintings for the show "Scrum and Shimsuda's Three Ring Circus"a collaborative show with artists Hirona Matsuda,Trever Webster and myself opening this Friday May 16th at Michael Mitchell Gallery 438 King Street, Charleston, SC.  Live music with Nick Jenkins and other circus treats!  Come one come all!

Three Ring Circus

Presenting: Scrum & Shimsuda’s Three Ring Circus! !

Set to be unveiled on Friday May 16th, Michael Mitchell Gallery presents Scrum & Shimsuda’s

Three Ring Circus featuring Hirona Matsuda, Trever Webster and Lisa Shimko. Taking on the alter egos of Fortune Teller, Ring Master, and Beast Tamer respectively, their artwork will reflect and elaborate on these roles. They will also be coming together for a spectacular collaborative installation, on view for a limited time only. This is Matsuda and Shimko’s third show together at the Michael Mitchell Gallery but are excited to be reunited with Webster for this installment. The trio emerged 

onto the Charleston art scene together in 2007.

Circus/Masquerade attire is welcome for the opening night’s festivities. The opening will also

feature live music by Nick Jenkins. Michael Mitchell Gallery 438 King St. 6-9 pm.

About the Artists:

Hirona Matsuda "Fortune Teller" creates miniature installations and contraptions using

materials from her towering library of found objects. Her assemblages each contain a history

and tell a story. It is easy to be drawn into the oddly familiar but alternate world that exists there. 

Lisa Shimko “Beast Tamer” has been in the South Carolina low country painting since 2000.

Her colorful paintings feature many a feathered and furry friend, usually with a bit of a

surrealistic/magic realistic bend. Shimko agrees with the anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss,

“animals are good to think with”, while she continues to use them as the vessels for metaphors

and human emotional situations. 

Trever Webster “Ring Master” will be working with rather familiar subject matter to him. He

enjoys creating carnivals and roller coasters in a variety of conditions. There will be a strong

focus on the big top and all the colorful hyperbole used by a ring leader to create excitement

and wonder.

A Fox and Octopus walk into a studio.....

While waiting for Spring to take a more permanent seat here in Charleston, staying cooped up in the studio to paint will have to do.....creating new pieces for the next upcoming show at Michael Mitchell Gallery for Spoleto!  

Wine + Food paintings

Friday March 7th 6-9pm at Michael Mitchell Gallery there will be a champagne reception celebrating the Food + Wine Poster I created.  For the champagne reception I've been doing some new paintings in the realm of food....come out and have a glass of bubbly and see the new pieces!  Here's a sample:

more Spring thoughts

The weather has warmed a bit and the birds are out in huge numbers all over the trees outside....Surely the blossoms will be out soon!

Oh Spring come soon!

I know the winter weather here in the southern lowcountry is not as bad as back home in Pennsylvania, but I'm dreaming of Spring. Excited for warm breezes and hot sun–suppose these paintings are helping me get through this cold patch.

Wooden Horse and Canopies

In honor of the Chinese New Year I painted Wooden Horse Jasmine....and the canopy series continues....how I love painting trees!

New Year new paintings

New Year and new paintings are emerging!  Upcoming champagne reception Friday March 7th at Michael Mitchell will highlight some of the new work. New paintings will also be posted here. Stay tuned!