Hi, and welcome to a small part of my Rosemaling world. My name is Lise (pronounced Lisa) and I am proud to say that I grew up in a household with strong ties to the American Norwegian community, which included church, Sons of Norway, and family back in the "old" country. I was a child that always played with paints, so it was natural for my parents to enroll me in a Rosemaling class when I was a child.

What is Rosemaling, you may ask? Norwegian Rosemaling is a decorative Folk Art painting that is traditionally done on painted wood that literally means, decorative painting. This art form dates back to the 1600's and shares it's roots with much of the similar Folk Art that runs Europe and other parts of the world. This was a period in time where there was an increase and prosperity and greater trade between countries, and hence, a greater interest in decorative embellishments. This often began in the churches, then made it's way into the homes. What makes Rosemaling so appealing to many, is that there is such a variety of styles that are based in regional areas (Norway being very mountainous, that there was great variety in national dress, art styles, etc) and based on the rich artisan history that went back past the Viking days. With so much to study and look back upon, one cannot be bored by this art style. Rosemaling is also a technically difficult art, that makes it both a challenging and forever interesting art to study and to paint.

I first began to Rosemal at the age of 11, when I took that first class with my grandparents, my friend's grandparents, etc. etc. You kind of get the picture...there were no other 11 year old's in that class. :D But I loved it and learned a lot from Mr. Jon Grondahl. I didn't really do anything else with rosemaling until the age of 15, when my father, who had had to retire from carpentry after being diagnosed with PLS, said "I am going to make hope chests, clock's, etc. and you are going to rosemal them". What 15 year old today would say yes??? Well, this one, back then, did. He would find patterns and put them on different piece, and I went about reteaching my to rosemal looking through books, studying pictures, and making it up along the way.

When I was 19, I began taking class with Eldrid Arntzen at the Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts in Ludlow, Vt. every summer for many years. I was also fortunate to become a member of the Garden State Rosemaling Society and had the fantastic opportunity to study with numerous Vesterheim Gold Medalist (Vesterheim is the Norwegian American Museum in Decorah, Iowa.....and amazing place to visit and learn from masters in many crafts!!) These VGM's included Shirley Evenstad, Karen Jensen, Sallie Haugen DeReus, Kristina Keune, Dorothy Petersen, John Gundersen....to name a few. It was also here that I had the great honor to study with Sigmund Aarseth, the great Rosemaler and fine artist from Norway.

Working with all of these wonderful people, expanded my artistic world and helped me to further my own style and technique. My rosemaling designs are either done freehand, when assymetrical, or chalked in when they are symmetrical, depending on the style of rosemaling I am doing at the time. Though this art form is traditionally done in oils, and I still on occasion paint with oils, I had crossed over to the land of acrylics when I first started having my children.

My work has spanned over many decades now, and has continued to grow even through my past time as a NYC Special Educator,as a wife and mother of three, through volunteer work, substitute teaching, orchestra, soccer and lacrosse taxi driver. My work can be found throughout the United States, and beyond, due to the business with my father from the age of 15-25, my commission work, that continues to present day, to the galleries and shops here in Harford County, MD, to the Danish Athletic Club in Brooklyn, NY, and etc.

I have been very fortunate over the years to have received many awards, and also was blessed to have been a recipient of the Maryland Tradition's Folklife Grant as a Master Teacher in 2016.

Taking the step to present some of my work on etsy in a leap of faith, A God thing, much like all of things that have happened to my in my life. I have had fun experimenting with my rosemaling and taking it onto items that may not be traditional, but still convey the beauty of this art form that I love. I hope to bring joy to many with something that has given me much joy over my live.