*****ML4U's ongoing series Process/Inspiration continues this week with Lisa Romero. An avid painter and all around creative gem. Lisa let's nothing fall to the way side when it comes to the mediums she uses. Whether she's upcycling or recycling, she's always turning some one else's castaways into a new treasure. Lisa takes us on a virtual tour of her inspirations through out her studio and talks a little bit about her process as well. As usual I have left the comment section open to chat with the artist. Make sure to click for more pics after the jump.*****

I have a serious problem. I want to live in a harmonious world. The
fact that people throw away things that can be reused makes me really
crazy. You buy something, all this packaging comes with it and you
have to throw it out? Not me. I paint on it.

So my studio becomes this eclectic mish-mash of things I find while
thrifting for paint. You know how many people start painting as a
hobby but never follow through? Well, there are enough of those people
for me to hardly ever have to buy new paint. I go to garage sales
and buy used tubes of all brands of acrylic. Watercolor paper that was
put away and never used...Art students clean out their closets and
I buy what they forgot they had.

I've come to the conclusion that I prefer it this way. I feel that
these things I paint on, or with have a history. A story, and I am
adding to that story. I have also found that after a while these
things talk to me. They keep me company by telling me their stories.
The black and white picture that I remove from the metal frame gets
taped to the back of my door. I will use it to frame one of my paintings,
but for now the men hang out there showing me 1950s haircuts or
1930s wool blazers. They have glasses and gap-toothed grins and in
turn their stories eek into my paintings. And they help me. And I am
grateful.