Tools & Talismans #60 Lisa Solomon
This watercolor palette is one of my favorites — it’s Windsor and Newton and by far one of the most expensive paint sets I own. I was lucky enough to earn it in trade a while back which is such a treat because I think I’d have a hard time justifying it’s purchase — even though I’ve been watercoloring SO much lately, it’s big and holds a lot of pans. And I love that the palettes on the sides become paintings in and of themselves. I try really hard not to clean the palettes too often because I find them so inspiring. I also use colored pencils A LOT in my work. Constantly. I think I have at least 5 different sets. This one is from Muji and is just so beautiful I almost just keep it as sculpture. The water cup that holds one of my favorite brushes {a sable series 7} is made by Julie Cloutier and is just so functional and beautiful I love it.
For the talisman category, I felt I had to include my wedding ring and a diamond ring that my grandmother gave to me before she passed away. The wedding ring is what my husband proposed to me with. it’s a 1930’s band with tiny little sparkly diamonds and a beautifully etched/notched pattern. He could not have picked any better. My grandmother’s brother is in the jewelry business, so he helped secure the ring. When I got engaged she wanted to give me a family heirloom diamond, but much of her good jewelry was stolen by a burglar and so there wasn’t a ring for her to give me. Instead, she asked me what my favorite cut was — I said emerald/square and she had this piece made. I wear these both every day. They make me feel whole and loved and protected.
The Japanese style craft scissors are some of my favorites {I think I have 20+ pairs of scissors?}, and the pin cushion was a gift from a friend that makes me smile.
And the thread… this is only 1 box of my thread, but embroidery is such a HUGE component of my life and work. This picture would definitely not be complete without thread. I also tend to like to arrange things by color so it speaks to that as well.
— Lisa Solomon is an artist and teacher.
Tools & Talismans is a personal painting project where I document {in watercolor} the tools and talismans of 100 different women — creators and healers, thinkers and makers, wordsmiths and visionaries. Join me for a year of Tools & Talismans — I'll be sharing a new painting with you every Wednesday.
I'd love to talk about creating illustrations for you! Do you have a project that needs some illustration? Think my work might be a good fit? Get in touch, I'd love to talk about your project with you!
