Gisele's Artistical Adventures

From my very first crayon "work of art" on my parents’ walls, I have always had a strong need for creative expression. The family car, sidewalks, my younger sister, any surface that crayon, pencils, chalk, even lipstick would stick to, became my canvas. Many have been the times when I felt I would explode if unable to give voice to what stirred within my heart.   

Thankfully, during my career as a nurse and as a "stay at home Mom", I found plenty of opportunities to explore and develop the cry of my active and creative heart. Over the years, I have enjoyed acrylic, oil, and watercolor painting, drawing, sewing, costume and set design, mixed media, and any other creative opportunity that crossed my path.  

After raising our two children,  I was finally able to pursue the desire of my heart full time. Mostly self-taught, I thought it would be fun to take a few lessons to learn some new techniques and to further develop some foundational skills … first acrylic, then oil, followed by a reintroduction to my favorite medium… watercolor.  

Who knew that this would lead to local galleries, art shows/festivals, featured artist, and even magazine covers?! What an amazing adventure this has been!

Eventually, photography would join my list of artistic passions. A camera, to capture plein air moments or potential paintings, soon became my constant companion . This led to the discovery of  the  compatibility of  paint and photograph on the same page. The two mediums were  united in a marriage that resulted in the birth of a new body of work! 

The answer is, YES!

It is indeed a legitimate photograph that I have taken.

It is also very much a painting!

The art of hand painting photographs has been around since the mid 1800’s and accepted in the west as fine art over a hundred years ago. It faded into obscurity after the development of color film.

As you can see, hand painted photographs are still alive and well!

I could have chosen to draw the picture by hand, but the actual photograph adds a special dimension that cannot be obtained by painting alone. 

All images are original.

It is the best of both worlds!

I am a Naturalist at heart, who loves to roam and go on adventures! I also like to paint! 

 Large or small, going on adventures take time… away from my studio. Painting, especially studio work, is stationery and solitary, also requiring time. With Wanderlust and Curiosity as my constant companions however, this artist soon discovered that studio time was much too confining.  

Can the need to roam be compatible with the need for consistent studio time?

Do adventures and art go together?

How can this artist, whose need for adventure competes with the desire to paint, do both? 

Then came the epiphany!

The solution to my dilemma is simple!

Document my adventures visually using multiple paint mediums and photography! The marriage of my  passions: adventure, art, and photography has given birth to "Gisele’s Artistical Adventures"! 

Who knew simple reference photos would morph into a passion for photo safaris... and morph yet again into the merging of my adventures using multiple paint mediums…

on my own photographs?! 

 Each and every day provides an opportunity to develop as an artist/photographer and share the very things that take my breath away! Everywhere I go, potential paintings are waiting to be shared. Every outing becomes an Artistical Adventure!

Life is an adventure! Join me as I share the lovely, compellingly beautiful world I see on my adventures. Meditate on what is true, authentic, noble, and worthy of praise, the best, not the worst. May you be transported, even if just for a moment, to a happy place!