As a woman artist and painter of the West, the landscape is something I hold dear—it carries a deep sense of peace and resonance. My work begins with observation, then moves toward abstraction as a way of expressing an inner, emotional response to place, memory, and connection.
Rooted in experiences with family, friends, and mentors, my paintings are less about literal depiction and more about perception. I seek to guide the viewer’s eye inward—where something might stir and settle, connecting to their own sense of memory and feeling.
As a designer, I am intentional in how I lead the eye through composition, using value, color, and mark-making to create movement and cohesion. In both my work and my teaching, I encourage a personal, expressive approach that engages both emotion and intellect.
Formative experiences—from my time at Mesa Verde National Park to studying in a renovated monastery above Florence—shaped my path, along with receiving recognition as a Colorado Scholar of the Arts. My work has been exhibited for over 30 years in healing environments, including ongoing installations with Mayo Clinic and Phoenix Children's Hospital. Now based in Flagstaff, I remain deeply connected to its forests, plateaus, and mountains—shaping the woman, artist, and painter I am today.
About MeLisa Lee Pearce