Nevada’s Lisa Jefferson One Brushstroke at a Time

Among the Sierra Nevada mountains and rolling desert hills surrounding Nevada’s capital city, community member Lisa Jefferson continues to captivate art enthusiasts with her ability to preserve nature’s transient moments. Her work has drawn the attention of several renowned art-centric organizations.

“I have always been an artist, ever since I could hold a crayon,” said Jefferson, reflecting on her natural desire to create. The Southern California native spent only a few years in the Golden State, where her father was stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, before her family relocated to Colorado. Encouraged by her family, teachers, and friends, she developed her artistic skills from an early age. Her parents made sure she always had plenty of paper and supplies, fostering her passion for art. This support led Jefferson to pursue her studies at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, majoring in Graphic Art and Illustration.

“I majored in graphic design because I thought you couldn’t make a living as an artist, you’ve got to have a real job,” Jefferson said, though she continued to draw and paint on the side. While at Colorado State, she met her husband, Tim, a geologist, a perfect match born from a love of the land. Jefferson’s journey took her back west as Tim’s career led them to relocate throughout Colorado, California, and Nevada.

During her time in Colorado, Jefferson was inspired by the annual Rocky Mountain Watermedia Exhibition in Golden, where she developed a deep appreciation for watercolor’s transparency. Frequent moves made watercolor an ideal medium, as it was mobile, practically odorless, and dried quickly. Jefferson and Tim eventually settled in Duluth, Minnesota, where they raised their three daughters. Despite her busy life as a mother, she continued to express her creativity alongside her children through various art projects at home.

As her daughters grew older and pursued their own interests, Jefferson began dedicating more time to painting. She entered watercolor competitions with floral and still life paintings, found success in portrait commissions, and earned acceptances into juried exhibitions. In 2004, her work gained momentum after receiving an invitation to exhibit at Sivertson Gallery in Duluth. At the time, her artistic focus centered on landscape paintings depicting the water and shoreline of Lake Superior. A decade later, the Jeffersons moved to Incline Village, Nevada, where she continued capturing stunning Lake Tahoe landscapes.

“The goal for my paintings is to transport the viewer to the scene as if they are standing there seeing the bright sunlight and shadows, hearing the breeze or rushing water, feeling the cool water and warm rocks, smelling the scent of pine and sagebrush,” said Jefferson. Her artistic process involves taking inspiration from iPhone photography, emphasizing strong sunlight and shadows to create depth. Plein air painting doesn’t suit her approach, as she prefers taking her time, often weeks, to refine her work in the studio. She edits photos for composition, referencing them on her iPad early in the painting process before finishing intuitively. Both watercolor and acrylic allow for glazing techniques, which enhance depth, color, and detail. Her work ranges from 5″ x 5″ miniatures to 30″ x 40″ canvases.

Jefferson’s work has been recognized by several watercolor organizations. She is a signature member of the Rocky Mountain Watermedia Society (2012), the National Watercolor Society (2015), and the Transparent Watercolor Society of America (2015); a distinction requiring three or more acceptances into competitions. Last year, the Rocky Mountain Watermedia Exhibition juried only 48 works out of over 500 entries nationwide, selecting fewer than 10% of submissions. In addition to her signature memberships, Jefferson’s work has appeared in North Light Books’ Splash volumes 18 and 19, Watermedia Showcase in Watercolor Artist Magazine (April 2016), and received an honorable mention in the summer 2017 issue of Tahoe Quarterly.

Current Awards:

• National Watercolor Society: Cheap Joe’s Purchase Award (2015)
• Transparent Watercolor Society: Donor Award (2016)
• Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition: Donor Award (2017)
• Sierra Watercolor Society:
  • Best of Show (2015, 2019)
  • First place (landscape, 2016; still life, 2017)
  • Second place (landscape, 2017)
  • Five People’s Choice Awards from various shows (2015–2020)
• Latimer Art Club Miniature Exhibit:
  • Third place (oil/acrylics, 2017)
  • Second and third place (oil/acrylics, 2018)
  • First place (oil/acrylic, 2019)
  • Honorable mention (oil/acrylic, 2020)
  • Third place (oil/acrylics, 2021)
  • Second place (oil/acrylics, 2022)
  • Best of Show (oil/acrylics, 2023)

“Comparison is the thief of joy,” Jefferson said, emphasizing the importance of personal artistic vision. She advises aspiring painters to consider how they want their work to look,how they can use color, brushstrokes, and detail to bring their ideas to life. Attending workshops led by favorite artists and visiting galleries are excellent ways to learn and define your craft.

“As an artist, I feel it is important to never stop learning, and I enjoy engaging with people at shows and galleries, as well as other artists and instructors,” Jefferson shared.

Jefferson appreciates her supporters and shows her gratitude by expressing interest in the work of fellow artists. “When someone cares enough to want to hang your painting in their home or office, I think that’s the best award,” she said.

Jefferson is currently affiliated with three galleries in Nevada and California. Her work is displayed at Piper J. and Ridgeline Galleries in Truckee, California, and Artsy Fartsy Gallery in Carson City, Nevada, beginning in June of this year.