When you're from a family of creators it's in your DNA to make stuff, but it was in my late 20s before I realized I was a Maker. Embracing this newfound identity inspired me to dabble in mosaics, pottery, furniture upcycling, and interior design. I eventually discovered art journaling, mixed-media collage, and painting.

With extra free time in 2020, I became a pandemic painter and created small acrylic paintings regularly. It was fun for a while, and then I took a short break that turned into several years. After this dormancy, I needed to shake things up, so I turned my living room into an art studio. If creating was important to me then I wanted a space that matched that level of importance. The studio is the first room you see when walking through our front door. It doesn't get much more center stage than that.

Miraculously, I've been living with stage IV colon cancer since 2014. Chronic illness hasn't slowed me down much - it's actually awakened a zest for life. At the same time, ongoing  treatments remain challenging. Creating art helps me shift the burden of cancer to something more positive. When I paint, my energy moves from heavy and dismayed to light and hopeful.

I'm a Florida native from a small rural town and humble beginnings. After graduating from University of Florida, I moved to the big city of Orlando for work in special event planning. A few years later, I found a better-suited 20+ year career recruiting clinical trial professionals for pharmaceutical companies. Winter Park is my home now along with my #1 fan, Dane, and the scrappy street cats that adopted us. 

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Website: lisaharperart.com

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