Van Gogh’s Dream

Lisa Elley’s story begins on a little farm in New Zealand, shaped by rolling green hills and countless hours of sketching.

As the youngest of four in a family with one income, toys were minimal, and this instilled a wonderful ingenuity in her.

Due to a deep love of travel, and a passion for experiencing new things, she has lived in London, New York, Florida, and now the San Francisco Bay Area, which is alive with artistic inspiration.

Lisa’s passion for palette knife painting is greatly influenced by her surroundings. She says “one of the best things about being an artist is the perspective it gives you on everyday things.”

She can often be spotted trying to capture a photo of a random scattering of wildflowers that grow so prolifically in California. On an evening walk, Lisa is often looking up at the dappled light filtering through the tree canopy, figuring how to capture the form with her knives.

Lisa enjoys people watching, urban sketching, and also loves to paint Plein Air (outside). When she can’t do this, she stays alert to paint worthy moments, photographs them, and explores them later in the studio.