Lisa Cardenas

Artist E-mail: lisacardenas325@gmail.com 
Artist Web site: www.lisas-artgallery.com

Medium: Mixed Media

My interest in art can be traced to when I was a clever young girl and started coloring pictures in coloring books. My parents commented on how creative I was and complimented me for my use of colors at an early age. Considering that I come from a family of fourteen it was remarkable that anyone noticed. Family comments made were about my openness, my ability to explore life and wanting to capture what I saw in drawings, especially landscapes. In high-school my teachers encouraged me to pursue art as an avocation because they recognized my talent, discipline, and passion for visual expression.

The first realization for me that I had a desire to draw professionally came when I entered a Latin Art contest at the University of Texas at El Paso. I drew six silver coins in pencil and won First Prize. This recognition for my talent fired a slow burning flame that would eventually become a burning desire to achieve in the field of art.
I was not convinced, however, that I could survive on art alone, so in 1985 I completed a Medical Secretary course at the International Business College in El Paso because at this time I believed my career path would be in the medical world and a Vocational Nursing degree from Franklin Technical School in Joplin, Missouri. My first job after this period was at Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas. It was here that I realized my nature was too sensitive to deal with ill and dying patients. It was also at this time that my true passion for art blossomed, and my major priority was to secure an education in art, whatever the cost.

In 2002, I enrolled at North Harris Montgomery Community College in Tomball, Texas and then transferred to Collin Community College to secure my Associate of Arts degree in 2006, graduated Cum Laude. During this time my artwork was selected to be published in Abstract Drawings, Inkling Magazine-Tomball College, Volume 12, pp 12, Houston, Tomball Texas. Privately I feed my passion by painting and practicing other art disciplines. My next move was to enter the School of Visual Arts at the University of North Texas in Denton. I sold pieces of art in abstract oil for a combined price of $600.00 in 2006. In 2008, I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Drawing and Painting, Cum Laude, from the University of North Texas. Following this I enrolled for a second Bachelor’s degree in Art History with a minor in Spanish.

As a student at UNT, my graduation took place in December 2008. I was elected Secretary for the Spanish Honor Society, Sigma Delta Pi. Presently I am a member of MutualArt.com, Creative Arts Center in Dallas, Texas, Dang! Dallas Artistic Networking Group. I continue to express myself through the mediums of mixed media, pencil, charcoal, pastels, watercolors, oil, acrylic, print, sculpture, and collage. I paint, study, read, learn, improve, and experiment in new mediums as often as I can in my free time. I am currently a student at the University of Dallas enrolled in the Arts and Technology MFA Program. My graduation is scheduled for Spring of 2012.