Lisa Marie Makes

0 Fountains and Light

• by Lisa
• 06-06-2026

I have begun a summer series of "fountain art" and I am learning about and searching for (decorative and garden) fountains in my daily travels. I'm finding them too! Right here in my local communities, and I had the delight of finding one on a recent trip to the DC area. (More on that in a future post).   I am striving to capture them in my sketchbook. Three tiered fountains which we see often in gardens and public spaces are called candelabrum  fountains, artists have been designing and sketching them since the 1400’s. The knowledge in which to make the water flow came from antique texts from the medieval times and was something of a guarded secret. I personally love how the water cascades from the top down though the various tiers, making wondrous music and capturing the light in ways that defy words. Water and light metaphors are used frequently in poetry to  denote the spiritual, clarity, knowledge and perhaps wisdom. Psalm 36:6 states, "For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light." I think that is a beautiful statement and a wonderful thing to remember when the inner critic starts yammering and life feels heavy. A friend recently thanked me for sharing art on social media. She said that we need to see beautiful things more than ever these days. That really touched me. And so, I invite you to find and share beautiful things, so that in your “light” we can also find “light.    Photo is a test print of a fountain doodle from my tiny sketchbook. I hope to have a final version of prints for sale in the shop mid-June. Stay tuned!  

0 Fountain Stories; the beginning

• by Lisa
• 25-04-2026

"The sound of water is worth more than all the poets' words." - Octavio Paz    This summer, I have decided to create a series of sketches featuring fountains. I am consistently drawn to water, and I particularly enjoy the sound of water cascading back into itself.  Visiting lakes and rivers always satisfies but, there is truly nothing quite like spending a few moments observing the glistening waterfall of a fountain and hearing its gentle tinkling in the pools below. And, let’s not forget about all the various architecture and design elements that make fountains a delight to the eyes. Capturing the beauty of fountains in my sketchbook will likely be a grand summer adventure.    To be clear, I intend to find fountains around the region and during my travels this summer and record them in my sketchbook.    I have already begun.   

0 The End of 2025

• by Lisa
• 29-12-2025

2025 is almost over, just 3 days left! Time to quickly look back at how it went and speculate on what 2026 will bring. My word for 2025 was "intention," and I really stuck with it. I thought a lot about where my art is headed. I even got a coach to help me. I dropped some services that weren't working for me anymore or felt like a waste of money. I changed my business name, and I tweaked my bio. But probably the biggest thing was going on an art retreat outside the US – obviously for travel, but also to break out of my daily routine and meet other creative people. Did I make a ton of art to sell? Not really. Did I get a bunch of new followers? A few. Will I keep making art and building an art business? Yes, absolutely! In 2026, I'll have a new website and a regular blog on Buy Me a Coffee about my sketchbook practice. I'm planning to teach some classes at local creative spots in the Fox Valley, and I hope to be in a couple of art shows and exhibits. I'll keep making block prints, but I'm hoping to throw some of my other art into the mix too. I am excited to see how things work out! I hope you will join me in this unwritten chapter of 2026. Happy New Year!