Sit Down With Our #090 Featured Artist

Lisma Putri

Featured Artist / #126 ScrawlrBox 

Lisma, known as artbylisma, is an Indonesian artist and art educator whose work focuses on nature-inspired themes, soft colour palettes, and contemplative atmospheres. With a background in mathematics, her creative process is influenced by a strong sense of balance, structure, and harmony.Working primarily with gouache and watercolour, Lisma creates artworks that invite stillness and reflection.

Alongside her personal practice, she shares tutorials, teaches art, and works as a brand ambassador, encouraging others to explore painting in a gentle, approachable way.

Your work often features nature, soft colour palettes, and delicate textures. What draws you to those themes?

Nature feels like a place where I can breathe and slow down. Soft colours and delicate textures help me translate quiet moments—misty mornings, gentle light, stillness, into visual form. I’m drawn to themes that don’t shout, but invite people to pause and look a little longer.

Does your experience in an analytical field like mathematics ever shape how you approach composition, colour, or technique in your work?

Yes, more than people might expect. Mathematics trained me to see patterns, balance, and structure. Even in loose, expressive paintings, I subconsciously think about proportion, rhythm, and harmony. It helps me build compositions that feel calm and intentional, even when the brushwork is free.

You’re a brand ambassador and offer tutorials. Does engaging with your students affect your work?

Yes, very much. Being a brand ambassador makes me more mindful of how I use and talk about art materials, I want to show their real potential through honest, everyday practice, not just polished results. Teaching and creating tutorials also keep me grounded. When I engage with students, I’m reminded to slow down, simplify techniques, and stay open to experimentation. Their questions and progress often influence my own process, pushing me to create work that is not only visually pleasing, but also approachable and encouraging for others.

Are there particular brands or tools you prefer? Any that surprised you (positively or negatively)?

I’m drawn to tools that feel honest and reliable rather than flashy. Over time, I’ve learned that understanding your materials matters more than using the most expensive supplies. For beginners who want to learn gouache, I often recommend MIYA HIMI Jelly Cup gouache. It offers beautiful colours, a smooth and workable texture, and is very affordable, especially helpful for artists who are just starting out. It’s one of those products that pleasantly surprised me in terms of quality and accessibility.