Incredibly intricate and painstakingly realistic depictions of slightly unsettling scenes, such as a black avalanche, a thorny ladder reaching into the sky, and a boat being simultaneously rowed in opposite directions, are the distinctive style of Australian artist Lisa Adams. These subtly disquieting works incorporate aspects of both surrealism and magic realism, but primarily they are self-portraits exploring the personal experiences of the artist. Despite the heavy personal influence, the beauty of Adams’s paintings is that they never veer too far away from the real world, so that the viewer can relate to the personal experiences they convey. In this manner the paintings are not only cathartic and creative outlets, but they also display easily accessible messages. Instead of alienating viewers, Lisa Adams’s meticulous paintings provide an interactive adventure of self-discovery.
A self-taught artist, Adams works in isolation in her studio in the Sunshine Coast hinterland for six hours a day, six days a week, to produce her stunning paintings. She has had a passion for art from when she was young, and was always drawing spooky dolls and playthings that evoke the uncanny world of childhood. Even then her artworks contained slightly quirky and strange aspects, which have evolved into the foundations of her current oil paintings. Adams has developed her skills over twenty years. Her love for painting has driven her to persevere, leading to the incredibly realistic and quirky style she has today. She explains, ‘I’ve always been extremely driven and I still really look forward to getting up in the morning to paint’.
The artists Frida Kahlo and Caspar David Friedrich were both initial sources of inspiration for Adams. Kahlo’s self-portraits illustrated her personal struggles, and... The rest of this article is available to subscribers of Eyeline
Lisa Adams, Self portrait, 1997. Oil on canvas.
