Lisa Brawn

Lisa Brawn has been experimenting with primarily figurative, portrait genre woodcuts for almost twenty years since being introduced to the medium by the printmakers at ACAD. Recently, I have been working with salvaged century-old rough Douglas Fir beams from the restoration of the Alberta Block, and from the dismantling of grain elevators. This wood is interesting not only in its history, but also in that it is oddly shaped and ornery. It has holes, knots, gouges and protruding rusty nails and is unlike the traditional flawless and smooth woodcut material that I have worked with such as cherry or walnut. Typically, Lisa doesn’t make prints from the woodcuts, instead preferring the blocks themselves.

To find suitably rustic and rugged subjects for this wood, I have been referencing popular culture personas and archetypes from 1920s silent film cowboys to 1970s tough guys for my recent series. The Glenbow Archives are also a great source of inspiration, and I was thrilled that my woodcut portrait of Sam Livingston (based on a photo from the archives) was recently accepted into the Calgary Civic Art Collection. Eight wild bird woodcuts were commissioned for the Calgary Bridge Banner Project, and three of my woodcuts are in the permanent collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. 

In Alberta, Lisa’s work can be seen at AXIS Contemporary Art, Calgary; The Front Gallery, Edmonton; Stratus Gallery, Banff; Elevation Gallery, Canmore, and online at www.expeditionism.com

The highlight of our trip was the wildlife sightings: three snowy owls, two bucks, a falcon, coyote, pheasant, and other creatures I never otherwise get to see.  The landscape was spectacular in the morning light.  I loved exploring the abandoned houses, old churches, the cemetery, and train yard, and imagining the lives of homesteaders.
Lisa Brawn