Lise’s Biography

LiseBio-croppedsquareLise Lorentzen currently resides in Bel Air, MD, after spending most of her life as a resident of Staten Island, NY. Lise grew up in a household with strong ties to the American Norwegian community, which included her church, Sons of Norway, and family back in the “old country”. She was a child that always played with paints, so it was natural for her parents to enroll her in a Rosemaling course that was given at her local Sons of Norway lodge.

 

Lise has been Rosemaling since the age of 12 and covers over 30 years of experience, specializing in custom painting of woodenware, furniture and home interiors. Her work can be found throughout the United States and Norway due to the business she had with her father in her teens and early twenties, as well as her commission work that she continues to present day.

Her expertise covers the Hallingdal, Rogaland, Vest Agdar and Valdres styles, specializing in Telemark Rosemaling. While living on Staten Island, she was also known as a muralist, decorating many an interior with her other painting skills throughout the five boroughs of NYC.

Lise has been fortunate to study under many renowned Norwegian and American artists. Before moving to Maryland, Lise completed the New York State Council of the Arts (NYSCA) folk arts apprenticeship program studying with master artist Eldrid Arntzen, a National Endowment of the Arts recipient. She has also studied and taught Rosemaling at the Fletcher Farm School for the Arts and Crafts in Ludlow, Vt. for 20+ years.

Lise is a member of Vesterheim, a Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, IA, and competes in the museums annual folk art competition.  She has also taught and had her work on display at the Staten Island Museum as well as the Norwegian Seaman’s Church in NYC. In 2014, Lise received First place at the Sons of Norway Third District Convention, and placed third place nationally in Vesterheim’s 2013 annual competition.

Lise currently displays her art a the “Arts by the Bay” gallery in Havre de Grace, MD, as well as the Harford Artist Association gallery in Bel Air, MD.

Lise is also a professional educator with a BA in Art History, and a MS in Special education. She was a GED Special Ed. High School teacher with the NYC Board of Education for many years until the time she and her husband began their family, which now includes three lovely children. They are happy to call Harford County Maryland their home, and Lise enjoys sharing her art form with her community.