| . |
| . |
AD | A message to all the aspiring artists out there?
LP | A lot of artists that I meet they’re just as neurotic and confused as to where
they want to take it…and I may not have all the answers but just keep doing it. I’
m not as lost, and if they can just keep going and find a little niche and find a
place to show it, there’s a lot of great organizations out there especially now that
want to showcase new artists, because art for a while seemed so out of reach
and it doesn't have to be…you will always have an audience.
The art of Coma Girl (to this aficionado), taps into a brightly
colored world of cuteness and delight, bordering a slight darkness,
making it a very enticing and visual gourmet experience.
I know I still have some of those yellow sticky notes!
Go see the art of Lisa Parrott, It’s a trip well spent either online
or real time. - Armando Diaz Jr.
For more information and if
you’re interested in Lisa’s unique
and prismatic art, please visit
http://www.comagirl.com/
or e-mail the artist at
idocute@comagirl.com.
Lisa’s artwork is also on display @ IWAN
located at 810 NE 4th Avenue
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
CLICK HERE for more Armando Diaz, Jr.
Copyright 2009| Ambiente.
Do not reproduce without prior authorization.
LP | A lot of artists that I meet they’re just as neurotic and confused as to where
they want to take it…and I may not have all the answers but just keep doing it. I’
m not as lost, and if they can just keep going and find a little niche and find a
place to show it, there’s a lot of great organizations out there especially now that
want to showcase new artists, because art for a while seemed so out of reach
and it doesn't have to be…you will always have an audience.
The art of Coma Girl (to this aficionado), taps into a brightly
colored world of cuteness and delight, bordering a slight darkness,
making it a very enticing and visual gourmet experience.
I know I still have some of those yellow sticky notes!
Go see the art of Lisa Parrott, It’s a trip well spent either online
or real time. - Armando Diaz Jr.
For more information and if
you’re interested in Lisa’s unique
and prismatic art, please visit
http://www.comagirl.com/
or e-mail the artist at
idocute@comagirl.com.
Lisa’s artwork is also on display @ IWAN
located at 810 NE 4th Avenue
in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
CLICK HERE for more Armando Diaz, Jr.
Copyright 2009| Ambiente.
Do not reproduce without prior authorization.
www.ambiente.us AUGUST | AGOSTO 2009
“Coma Girl Rising”| Interview with It Girl artist Lisa Parrott
story and photography by Armando Diaz Jr.
The artist, Lisa Parrott (as I love to refer to her) and I, first met back in the
economic duplicity of 2004. We were mutually frustrated empleados at a
workplace that can best be described as being located somewhere between
the Twilight Zone and Sponge Bob Squarepant’s pineapple under the sea. With
that said, one can only imagine the mental strains as well as mental
superpowers an employee develops to simply keep it together daily. In the spirit
of that, Lisa and I unwittingly formed our own secret support group that involved
the creative, the auditory and yes, the visual.
Yellow sticky pads and custom made cards adorned my desk to simply make my
day. Specialty mixed audio CD’s introduced me to the sounds of Juliette and
the Licks, Ladytron, and Esthero. All the while, allowing me a personalized
glimpse into a friend and artist’s mind. A mixed CD is a dear, dear thing. The
creator of the CD is putting their spiritual blood, sweat and tears into the
musical selection, triggering a very intimate connection, and feeling of extreme
sharing. Thank you always for that.
“Coma Girl Rising”| Interview with It Girl artist Lisa Parrott
story and photography by Armando Diaz Jr.
The artist, Lisa Parrott (as I love to refer to her) and I, first met back in the
economic duplicity of 2004. We were mutually frustrated empleados at a
workplace that can best be described as being located somewhere between
the Twilight Zone and Sponge Bob Squarepant’s pineapple under the sea. With
that said, one can only imagine the mental strains as well as mental
superpowers an employee develops to simply keep it together daily. In the spirit
of that, Lisa and I unwittingly formed our own secret support group that involved
the creative, the auditory and yes, the visual.
Yellow sticky pads and custom made cards adorned my desk to simply make my
day. Specialty mixed audio CD’s introduced me to the sounds of Juliette and
the Licks, Ladytron, and Esthero. All the while, allowing me a personalized
glimpse into a friend and artist’s mind. A mixed CD is a dear, dear thing. The
creator of the CD is putting their spiritual blood, sweat and tears into the
musical selection, triggering a very intimate connection, and feeling of extreme
sharing. Thank you always for that.
| . |
| . |
| . |
Lisa’s gift of “doodling” was and continues to be a
beautiful extension of her feminine creativity. From
cool showings after hours at crowded coffee
houses to being a presenting artist at this year’s
Red Eye Exhibit 2009 (presented by ArtServe), Lisa
continues to reach ever further with her work and
imagination.
After a recent meeting with IWAN (Independent
World Artist Network), discovering their artistic
motivations, I (AD) had the opportunity to hang out
with Miss Lisa Parrott (LP) and tap in a little more
into her originality.
AD | How’s it going, how do you feel right this
second?
LP| I actually feel elated, I feel inspired to move
forward…there’s so many projects I want to do so
I’m kind of lost, but its not a bad lost, it’s like my
journey is starting to form itself.
AD |Congratulations by the way on your most recent show, how was that for you?
LP | It went really well you know it…every time I have a show it becomes more
and more solid that this is what I want to do and I’ve picked the right path…for a
while I was toying with what career I should go into and what should I study in
school…I’ve really just come to the conclusion that I’m going to back off and be
an artist.
beautiful extension of her feminine creativity. From
cool showings after hours at crowded coffee
houses to being a presenting artist at this year’s
Red Eye Exhibit 2009 (presented by ArtServe), Lisa
continues to reach ever further with her work and
imagination.
After a recent meeting with IWAN (Independent
World Artist Network), discovering their artistic
motivations, I (AD) had the opportunity to hang out
with Miss Lisa Parrott (LP) and tap in a little more
into her originality.
AD | How’s it going, how do you feel right this
second?
LP| I actually feel elated, I feel inspired to move
forward…there’s so many projects I want to do so
I’m kind of lost, but its not a bad lost, it’s like my
journey is starting to form itself.
AD |Congratulations by the way on your most recent show, how was that for you?
LP | It went really well you know it…every time I have a show it becomes more
and more solid that this is what I want to do and I’ve picked the right path…for a
while I was toying with what career I should go into and what should I study in
school…I’ve really just come to the conclusion that I’m going to back off and be
an artist.
| . |
AD | You’ve come a long way haven’t you, from doodles to your own wall at
these ultra cool art houses next to gritty railroad tracks. Is that an honest
assessment?
LP | <giggles> Yeah, yeah. You know at first I just did it for fun, too keep my hands
busy, to keep my mind busy and not worry about the future you know. It became I’
m drawing a picture to <squeaks> escape and now it became I’m drawing a
picture to build my vision. It’s awesome.
AD | Describe your artwork to me, what is it that spilling out of Lisa’s head? What
feeling, what message (if any)?
LP | I kind of just like to express women and animals in this whimsical kind of
almost hallucinogenic state…it’s more like a wonder, they’re full of
wonderment they’re full of endearment and sometimes they’re a little
cookey and crazy. I do it pretty much because I think people are more
these ultra cool art houses next to gritty railroad tracks. Is that an honest
assessment?
LP | <giggles> Yeah, yeah. You know at first I just did it for fun, too keep my hands
busy, to keep my mind busy and not worry about the future you know. It became I’
m drawing a picture to <squeaks> escape and now it became I’m drawing a
picture to build my vision. It’s awesome.
AD | Describe your artwork to me, what is it that spilling out of Lisa’s head? What
feeling, what message (if any)?
LP | I kind of just like to express women and animals in this whimsical kind of
almost hallucinogenic state…it’s more like a wonder, they’re full of
wonderment they’re full of endearment and sometimes they’re a little
cookey and crazy. I do it pretty much because I think people are more
| . |
beautiful than they think they
are, a lot of people have
this certain idea of beauty
and mine’s a little
different…that’s how I
express it.
AD | What, when and where
was the first public showing
of your work?
LP | My first show was at
Underground Coffeehouse in
Fort Lauderdale, Aileen and
the staff have always been
very, very supportive and
they’re just truly out to
showcase new artists, they
really gave me a chance
and free range for what to do
with it…I hope to do another one there in the future.
At shows, do you ever listen in on the critiques of your work?
<smiling> I’ve tried, I’ve tried but I’m usually running around so
much that I never really get to hear what they’re saying. I try to
like listen in then I get distracted, so I think that might be good
actually I don’t get to hear all the criticism, all the praise, I kind of
just still do my own thing.
are, a lot of people have
this certain idea of beauty
and mine’s a little
different…that’s how I
express it.
AD | What, when and where
was the first public showing
of your work?
LP | My first show was at
Underground Coffeehouse in
Fort Lauderdale, Aileen and
the staff have always been
very, very supportive and
they’re just truly out to
showcase new artists, they
really gave me a chance
and free range for what to do
with it…I hope to do another one there in the future.
At shows, do you ever listen in on the critiques of your work?
<smiling> I’ve tried, I’ve tried but I’m usually running around so
much that I never really get to hear what they’re saying. I try to
like listen in then I get distracted, so I think that might be good
actually I don’t get to hear all the criticism, all the praise, I kind of
just still do my own thing.
AD | Where did the name Coma Girl come from?
LP | Everybody asks me that and I feel like its so lame when I come up with the
answer but it was my AOL screen name in like 1992, <laughs> when I was 12. And I
started drawing, and scanning and e-mailing people…and it just kind of stuck oh it’
s a Coma Girl piece and oh it’s a Coma Girl piece and it was really taken from The
Smiths song Girlfriend in a Coma, of course AOL would only allow 7 letters to a
screen name so I had to abbreviate and Coma Girl was born out of that.
AD| Do you ever draw males?
LP | I’ve tried, I’ve drawn one
male that actually looked
male. He was mostly digital. I
named him Pimp because he
surrounded by these hundreds
of JPEGS of women <smiles>
and it’s just him.
AD | What do you think about
when you’re drawing?
LP | Well mostly I kind of go
into this like zone state, I kind
of space out and just draw.
People may ask me to just
draw something and that’s the
hardest thing for me to do
because it kind of just comes
organically. I know it’s going
to be a girl or an animal and it
just forms from there.
AD | Any themes, color
motivated or feeling
motivated.
LP | Everybody asks me that and I feel like its so lame when I come up with the
answer but it was my AOL screen name in like 1992, <laughs> when I was 12. And I
started drawing, and scanning and e-mailing people…and it just kind of stuck oh it’
s a Coma Girl piece and oh it’s a Coma Girl piece and it was really taken from The
Smiths song Girlfriend in a Coma, of course AOL would only allow 7 letters to a
screen name so I had to abbreviate and Coma Girl was born out of that.
AD| Do you ever draw males?
LP | I’ve tried, I’ve drawn one
male that actually looked
male. He was mostly digital. I
named him Pimp because he
surrounded by these hundreds
of JPEGS of women <smiles>
and it’s just him.
AD | What do you think about
when you’re drawing?
LP | Well mostly I kind of go
into this like zone state, I kind
of space out and just draw.
People may ask me to just
draw something and that’s the
hardest thing for me to do
because it kind of just comes
organically. I know it’s going
to be a girl or an animal and it
just forms from there.
AD | Any themes, color
motivated or feeling
motivated.
| . |
LP | I think mostly I’m spatially motivated, meaning I want to fit as much cuteness
on a page as possible. I’m really a space cadet <laughs>…I have to be watching
TV, listening to music or completely distracted to get a piece out, I find the less I
concentrate the better I do.
AD | Latino motivated? That’d be cool!
LP | Oh yeah, I’ve done some Latino chicks, I have those I’ll send you those, you
know they’re hot! The sexy lips and the dark hair, beautiful, beautiful stuff.
AD | Do you have a piece that you yourself felt the most intense while creating?
LP | There’s this piece called “Lullaby” that I still have the original I won’t sell the
original, and it just speaks to me on so many levels, it’s got big hair everywhere
and it’s got the sassy bird…to me I look at that and I realize that I can make a
living…make some sort of future with my artwork.
Whenever I look at it, whenever I sell a print of it or rendition of it I always get a
little choked up. There’s certain pieces that I’m really sad to see them go…there’
s some pieces that I don’t have copies of, that I do a big version of it and I just
have a photograph to remember it by…but I am happy that they end up in good
homes.
AD | What was on your mind when you first woke up this morning?
LP | I woke up this morning I’m like oh God I’m going to be interviewed <laughs>
(AD) How often do you think about bunnies?
(LP) Bunnies? Like all the time! I have a bunny! <laughs> When I go into my
bathroom where my bunny lives it’s just excitement everyday because it’s like, oh
my God I got a cute bunny in my bathroom!
AD | Do you have a favorite movie?
LP | I would have to say, it’s an old Steve Martin movie called , “All of Me” with
Lily Tomlin and I just remember watching it as a kid and memorizing scenes..and
really attaching myself to Steve Martin.
on a page as possible. I’m really a space cadet <laughs>…I have to be watching
TV, listening to music or completely distracted to get a piece out, I find the less I
concentrate the better I do.
AD | Latino motivated? That’d be cool!
LP | Oh yeah, I’ve done some Latino chicks, I have those I’ll send you those, you
know they’re hot! The sexy lips and the dark hair, beautiful, beautiful stuff.
AD | Do you have a piece that you yourself felt the most intense while creating?
LP | There’s this piece called “Lullaby” that I still have the original I won’t sell the
original, and it just speaks to me on so many levels, it’s got big hair everywhere
and it’s got the sassy bird…to me I look at that and I realize that I can make a
living…make some sort of future with my artwork.
Whenever I look at it, whenever I sell a print of it or rendition of it I always get a
little choked up. There’s certain pieces that I’m really sad to see them go…there’
s some pieces that I don’t have copies of, that I do a big version of it and I just
have a photograph to remember it by…but I am happy that they end up in good
homes.
AD | What was on your mind when you first woke up this morning?
LP | I woke up this morning I’m like oh God I’m going to be interviewed <laughs>
(AD) How often do you think about bunnies?
(LP) Bunnies? Like all the time! I have a bunny! <laughs> When I go into my
bathroom where my bunny lives it’s just excitement everyday because it’s like, oh
my God I got a cute bunny in my bathroom!
AD | Do you have a favorite movie?
LP | I would have to say, it’s an old Steve Martin movie called , “All of Me” with
Lily Tomlin and I just remember watching it as a kid and memorizing scenes..and
really attaching myself to Steve Martin.
| . |
AD | How often do you think about bunnies?
LP | Bunnies? Like all the time! I have a bunny! <laughs> When I go into my
bathroom where my bunny lives it’s just excitement everyday because it’s like, oh
my God I got a cute bunny in my bathroom!
AD | Do you have a favorite movie?
LP | I would have to say, it’s an old Steve Martin movie called , “All of Me” with
Lily Tomlin and I just remember watching it as a kid and memorizing scenes..and
really attaching myself to Steve Martin.
AD | You are very multi-dimensional person…
LP | I’m all over the place…yeah <smiles>
AD | <smiling back>…and just so hip to the game in your head, ya know?
LP |…mmhmm…mmhmm…neurotic
AD | ha!…music seems to be one of your many passions. Does music influence your
work?
LP | Absolutely, absolutely. I constantly have my iTunes play list which has like (42)
days of music listed…
AD |…whoa…
LP | Bunnies? Like all the time! I have a bunny! <laughs> When I go into my
bathroom where my bunny lives it’s just excitement everyday because it’s like, oh
my God I got a cute bunny in my bathroom!
AD | Do you have a favorite movie?
LP | I would have to say, it’s an old Steve Martin movie called , “All of Me” with
Lily Tomlin and I just remember watching it as a kid and memorizing scenes..and
really attaching myself to Steve Martin.
AD | You are very multi-dimensional person…
LP | I’m all over the place…yeah <smiles>
AD | <smiling back>…and just so hip to the game in your head, ya know?
LP |…mmhmm…mmhmm…neurotic
AD | ha!…music seems to be one of your many passions. Does music influence your
work?
LP | Absolutely, absolutely. I constantly have my iTunes play list which has like (42)
days of music listed…
AD |…whoa…
LP |…it brings you to this place not quite adolescent but you realize you’re an
adult…and every time I do hear that song I think of you…
AD |…awwww…
LP |…aww your voice got so high…<laughs>
AD | <Deepening voice> aghem, actually it did…aghem…
AD| When is your next show?
LP | Well my stuff is always going to be on display here (IWAN), so anytime
anybody wants to come view anything they can contact me through the
websiteand we can set up a meeting to come here and check it out or if we have
any of our open events.
AD | Any themes or any current passions?
LP | My goal is to include as much glitter as possible in my next pieces…I have this
idea about themed artwork, cause my artwork has never really had themes…I’m
actually doing a series based on The Beatles album Abbey Road…it’s going to be
like (17) pieces and they may not be literal translations of the songs, it’ll be more
about where they take me…and that could be some crazy place.
AD | I bet my editor would love to use your work as a cover for the online
exposure, what do you think about that?
LP | I would love it!
AD | Not sure what you’re views are but your fans seem to span many boundaries.
With that said what’s your take on the gay marriage issue?
LP | You know…I think that everyone on this Earth should have the right to do
whatever the hell they want. You know life is short, for people to get their panties
in a bunch about who’s marrying who…it’s ridiculous how far some groups will take
it. I’m for it…I’m for anybody expressing their love. For the gay and lesbian
community to fight for the right to marry, and every day (other) people are
throwing it away…it just, it hurts. People love each other, and if they love each
other they should be able to do what they want to express that love.
adult…and every time I do hear that song I think of you…
AD |…awwww…
LP |…aww your voice got so high…<laughs>
AD | <Deepening voice> aghem, actually it did…aghem…
AD| When is your next show?
LP | Well my stuff is always going to be on display here (IWAN), so anytime
anybody wants to come view anything they can contact me through the
websiteand we can set up a meeting to come here and check it out or if we have
any of our open events.
AD | Any themes or any current passions?
LP | My goal is to include as much glitter as possible in my next pieces…I have this
idea about themed artwork, cause my artwork has never really had themes…I’m
actually doing a series based on The Beatles album Abbey Road…it’s going to be
like (17) pieces and they may not be literal translations of the songs, it’ll be more
about where they take me…and that could be some crazy place.
AD | I bet my editor would love to use your work as a cover for the online
exposure, what do you think about that?
LP | I would love it!
AD | Not sure what you’re views are but your fans seem to span many boundaries.
With that said what’s your take on the gay marriage issue?
LP | You know…I think that everyone on this Earth should have the right to do
whatever the hell they want. You know life is short, for people to get their panties
in a bunch about who’s marrying who…it’s ridiculous how far some groups will take
it. I’m for it…I’m for anybody expressing their love. For the gay and lesbian
community to fight for the right to marry, and every day (other) people are
throwing it away…it just, it hurts. People love each other, and if they love each
other they should be able to do what they want to express that love.
| . |
| . |
| . |
| . Fresh-Squeezed Paradise MIAMI RIVER INN miamiriverinn.com |
. LGBT/Latino/Hispanic Civil Rights unitycoalition.org |
| . AMBIENTE ONLINE STORE |
| . CLICK to SHOP |
GUYSwineOUT |
| . MIAMI on the CHEAP GREAT DEALS on MIAMI Hot Spots miamiflonthecheap.com |
Custom Search
| . 70's Inspired Purses GLOSSgear.com |
LP |…I have that much music and it’s always on random. Like I
never intentionally put on something and I find that’s a lot of the
way my art takes shape because I never know what song’s
coming next and a song can totally change your mood. So
there’s some pieces that start out really happy and in the
background you’re like…whoa…what’s going on and it’s
probably just a new song came on and my mood shifted.
AD | Name me (3) of your favorite bands.
LP | Right now I would have to say Elvis Costello and the Attractions,
and I’m going to say Duran Duran you know for my old obsessive days, and out of
new music I would have say Stars…I think they’re from Canada. Most of the good
music like Arcade Fire, stuff like that is coming out of Canada
AD | You’re right you know you introduced me to Arcade Fire, you did! Then soon
after I really started digging The Editors
LP | Cool I haven’t even heard them so you’re going to have to share that with
me.
AD | Do you have a favorite song right now?
LP | …well there is a song called “Coma Girl” by Joe Strummer…he was in The
Clash. It actually came out way after I started to use the name Coma Girl it (the
song) actually has (the name) Lisa in it, which I just think was magical. It’s my
theme song without actually being able to call it my theme song.
AD | You know that’s why you’re the only person that would understand there’s
this song I love called “Looper” by a band called Mondo ’77.
LP | Little things like that you get attached to, same with art, you envision a color
you really like, or the shape of a nose that reminds you of somebody…you kind of
get attached.
AD | I’ll never forget a few years back; you described to me why you loved Nada
Surf’s “From the Rooftop Down”. I loved that!
never intentionally put on something and I find that’s a lot of the
way my art takes shape because I never know what song’s
coming next and a song can totally change your mood. So
there’s some pieces that start out really happy and in the
background you’re like…whoa…what’s going on and it’s
probably just a new song came on and my mood shifted.
AD | Name me (3) of your favorite bands.
LP | Right now I would have to say Elvis Costello and the Attractions,
and I’m going to say Duran Duran you know for my old obsessive days, and out of
new music I would have say Stars…I think they’re from Canada. Most of the good
music like Arcade Fire, stuff like that is coming out of Canada
AD | You’re right you know you introduced me to Arcade Fire, you did! Then soon
after I really started digging The Editors
LP | Cool I haven’t even heard them so you’re going to have to share that with
me.
AD | Do you have a favorite song right now?
LP | …well there is a song called “Coma Girl” by Joe Strummer…he was in The
Clash. It actually came out way after I started to use the name Coma Girl it (the
song) actually has (the name) Lisa in it, which I just think was magical. It’s my
theme song without actually being able to call it my theme song.
AD | You know that’s why you’re the only person that would understand there’s
this song I love called “Looper” by a band called Mondo ’77.
LP | Little things like that you get attached to, same with art, you envision a color
you really like, or the shape of a nose that reminds you of somebody…you kind of
get attached.
AD | I’ll never forget a few years back; you described to me why you loved Nada
Surf’s “From the Rooftop Down”. I loved that!