My art is an ode to beauty, nature and resilience
I am an artist and illustrator interested in ecology, bodies of water, geography, and sustainability. For more than a decade, I’ve painted the natural world with acrylics, watercolors and ink.
The trails, wetlands, beaches, bluffs, meadows and gardens in Golden Gate Park, the Richmond District, Presidio and Land’s End in San Francisco are my ‘neighbors’ as well as endless sources of inspiration. Dappled light patterns in the shadows of a grove of eucalyptus trees, upturned petals of magnolia blossoms, golden blades of dune grass folding in whirling directions, or a trail that disappears into thick clouds of fog trigger my imagination.
Nature is abundance manifested
My studies of plant materials and landscapes interweave fact and fiction. I take imaginative leaps and fold stories into a mark or a shape. Each gesture is a songline that interprets what I am seeing and feeling.
Stillness and “soft fascination” help me discover the inherent ephemeral beauty and light of the setting. I see the world unfold through nature’s eyes. Landscapes speak in gentle lines, undiluted colors, sculptured textures and sensual folds of the earth.
By shifting perception from myself to the natural setting, I bring the outside in. The artwork becomes a living document that captures a silent dialogue, a story with many endings. These intimate encounters inspire me to make the invisible visible and to portray ‘the light within.’
Background
I have a varied background as a visual storyteller. The work spans multiple disciplines, including painting, illustration, graphic design, photography, documentaries, presentations, web design and marketing. My specialty is art and design that sparks positive change.
I have worked as an art director and project manager of dozens of strategic design projects that provided voice and vision to the collective stories of companies, organizations, institutions and communities. A creative catalyst and skilled facilitator, I draw on aesthetic engagement to spark collaboration and transformation.
A documentary filmmaker, I have directed, written and edited a series of poetic short-form videos that are inspirational and biographical. Curious about what makes people unique, I specialize in stories that explore identity while illuminating broader social issues. I am a firm believer in the notion that reality is often much more interesting than the best fiction.
For more than a decade, I shot portrait, editorial and fashion photography in Europe and the United States. I have had exhibitions in San Francisco, Berlin and Munich.
For 7 years, I directed photography programs in Germany and San Francisco. As an art administrator, I authored instructional materials, taught workshops, programmed a “visiting artist” series and curated exhibitions.
Samples of my visual storytelling can be found at my design site lilomar.com.
However you landed here, I hope you enjoyed looking around. Feel free to reach out if you would like to collaborate or purchase art. I like hearing from people and connecting on Instagram.
“Beauty awakens the soul to act.”
– Dante Alighieri
