Lisa French

My studio practice presents wildlife in allegorical tableaux. In the tradition of illustration for the moralizing stories of Aesop and La Fontaine, these paintings are part of a series exploring hedgerow flora and fauna as metaphor for the human community, with references to Joel Chandler Harris’ Uncle Remus tales and the darker motivations that drive human interactions. These works rely on invented realism and illusionistic rendering, with attention to comparative anatomy, anthropomorphized gesture, and theatrical staging. As an illustrator with specialization in human anatomy, I work with figurative, zoological, and botanical subject matter. Both studio and commercial work have been included and awarded in numerous juried professional exhibitions and annuals.  Through regular observational practice, I draw and paint figurative and landscape subject matter, focused on the emotional impact of chromatic lighting effects. I also experiment with small-scale sculpture, conceptual toy theater and scenic design. And I continue to work on multimedia piece, combining object performance, puppetry, and live action, addressing the historical period of Reconstruction - particularly the phenomena of collective denial and the reactionary mindset - through a series of animated tableaux.

* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 14^th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.