Hi! My name is Lisa, I'm a mixed media artist, art journaler and journal maker. I live in the Uk near the beautiful Peak District national park. I have been creating art for over twenty years. After I completed my fine art degree way back when, I was feeling a bit lost and directionless when I stumbled across art journaling and mixed media. My journals and mixed media assemblages became a space for me to express myself, process my emotions, experiment, and play. They are now an essential part of my life, a place to create stories and tell my own.

I work predominantly with mixed media. I love the freedom of not being restricted in what I use, and there are always new exciting combinations to discover. I love to combine collage, texture, fabric and paper with splashes of colour, and often use vintage images and found text.

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What does Art is Magic mean to you?

To me art is magic because it soothes the soul, it helps me to process my emotions, to tell my stories. It allows me a form of self expression which is both powerful and magical.

Why do you create art?

I create because I love it, because I would be lost without it. I wouldn’t be me without my art.

Tell us about your journey to become an artist?

I always loved to draw and paint even as a small child and so it was a natural progression that I followed that passion and went to University to study Fine art. After University I felt a bit lost and directionless. It was then I came across mixed media and art journaling and I was hooked! Since then I feel I've been constantly developing as an artist and will continue to do so.

Tell us about your journey to claim the title artist?

I feel like I’ve always felt like an artist but it wasn’t until I gave up my job of 18 years 4 years ago to focus on my art full time that I could actually introduce myself as an artist and that has been the most amazing feeling ever!

What is it about making art that stirs your soul?

I love that feeling when you take a collection of materials and turn it into something that speaks to you, something that expresses a feeling, an emotion or a story.

What is currently inspiring you?

At the moment I am really enjoying using reclaimed fabric in my work. I like the idea of reusing and recycling. Taking something that would otherwise be thrown away and turning it into something wonderful.

What does your creative Practice look like?

I create everyday, even if that means just 5 or 10 minutes. Sometimes I’ll be working on a specific project and at other times I feel I just need to create for myself and I sit and allow myself the freedom to explore and experiment with no plan, I just see what happens.

How do you keep your creative practice fresh and inspired?

Being inspired by the other wonderful artists within our community is essential. Taking courses from other artists and exploring galleries. Aside from that I try to be spontaneous and free in my work, I try not to get distracted by expectations of what the end product should be and focus on the process and exploration of materials.

What sort of creative walls do you hit?

Sometimes there are those days when the ideas just don’t happen. I sit down to create and nothing happens or I feel frustrated by how something is going. I think we all get those days!

What do you do to move through them?

Walk away, have a cup of tea, do some yoga or go for a walk. I usually find time is the key and I come back to it with fresh eyes and new ideas.

How has your process evolved?

I think I’m a lot freer and more intuitive now. I used to focus more on the outcome and try to have a plan from the outset but now my process is a lot more loose and expressive. I focus on enjoying the materials and the marks I’m making.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your creative journey?

I wish I had known about art journaling and mixed media sooner. It wasn’t something that was taught in school or at University really. I love the endless possibilities of mixed media.

Do you have a Creative Self Care Practice?

Not really. I usually have a cup of tea to the side but that’s about it. Away from the art table I like to do yoga and walking which I think helps to clear the mind and help me to feel refreshed.

Do you have any creative rituals?

Just a little creating every day but other than that nothing that I would describe as a ritual.