Lisa McMahan Schooling: Painter

Lisa is an artist educator living and working in the Louisville area with a BFA from the University of Louisville and a MFA from Indiana University in Painting.

Artist Statement

Nature and objects are often a point of reference for personal reflection and experiences. My work is a descriptive blend of memory and observation, whether I am exploring the woods near my home or traveling abroad. I often gather ideas on-site to create plein air paintings and then rework them in my studio. Recently, I have begun to use mixed media, incorporating drawing, watercolor, and printmaking to expand my visual language.

My time traveling and living in China inspired a series centered on architectural themes and lotus imagery. Living in urban settings, the walled lotus gardens became a sanctuary for solace and renewal. The pastels and watercolors of lotus ponds allude to the passage of time, while the paintings feature distinctive leak garden window patterns that partition spaces within these gardens. Still life compositions combine found objects with Yixing pottery, creating a dialogue between tradition and discovery.

Currently, the imagery has shifted to landscape themes that echo a sense of solace found in the gardens while rediscovering the spaces and places near my home in Louisville.