Lisa Lauer
Oil Painting
Coastal Landscapes

I consider myself primarily a landscape painter. Growing up in a flat, industrial area of Ohio had the (perhaps unsurprising) effect of triggering a lifelong interest in nature, particularly topography. Fortunately, I had very brave parents who thought nothing of piling four young children in the car for long road trips. I quickly learned how to tune out the chaos in the car by focusing on the scenery whizzing by.
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I approach painting as if I’m creating my own topography. My process involves building up the surface of a painting with oil ground, followed by a mixture of oil paint and cold wax in layers of color. These layers, in turn, are rubbed or scraped, creating variations in the surface texture.
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After earning a degree in art history with a minor in studio art from Swarthmore College, my plan was to study art restoration. Instead, the need to pay off student loans intervened. I embarked on a career in the tech industry, raised a family, and painted intermittently. In the back of my mind, there was always a singular goal: to eventually live by the ocean and paint full-time. And finally, here we are.




Directions to Studio #20 at 36000 S. Hwy 1, Gualala. West side of Highway 1, at mile marker 3.83, 1/2 mile north of St. Orres. We are the property immediately north of Serenisea.
Studio Tour Hours:
August 26 & 27 September 2-3
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
My studio will be closed on Labor Day Monday