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Developing image: Woman's art venture had beginnings in
sonograms
Out of the dark shadows of black-and-white sonograms, artist Lisa J. Wood breathes new life into the photographs by adding vivid colors to create unique images of infants. The Highland Village resident calls her creations ArtInUtero and began giving them to family and friends more than a year ago. Now, her artwork is hanging in a Frisco art gallery and in area doctors' offices. "I've always loved to paint, and I've always been interested in art," said Mrs. Wood, who worked as an interior designer and corporate saleswoman for 15 years before becoming a full-time artist and mother. "I want to create personalized mementos for friends and family, bt I also want to show that life is beautiful. This is all about wellness, life and babies." While a printout of a sonogram is little more a photo that shows a fetus's outline and fuzzy forms, Mrs. Wood adds swirls of blue, pink, green and yellow to show definite shapes and images of the unborn. So far, she has tailored each piece of work for the parents, incorporating their ideas about the sonograms and their babies' futures into the art. Although the images are created on a home computer using a scanner and photo-enhancing programs, Mrs. Wood's art looks more like oil or watercolor paintings. The work is even printed on canvas and watercolor paper to give it texture. Stacy Goldean, Mrs. Wood's childhood friend, was given an ArtInUtero portrait of her daughter, Emma, who is now 11 months old. She hung it by the front door and asks visitors what they see. "Every time I look at it, I am just blown away," the 34-year-old mother of two said. "I didn't even know she had taken one of the sonograms off the refrigerator. But when she gave me the portrait, it was incredible. She is the most amazing, creative person that I know. I can't wait to have my son's sonogram done."The Goldeans aren't the only ones enamored with Mrs. Wood's art. In less than a year, Mrs. Wood has sold more than 10 commissioned pieces and has many more requests. But ArtInUtero didn't start as a business. It started as a unique gift Mrs. Wood could create and give to friends and family members expecting children. But as the gifts sparked more and more conversations among friends, the idea slowly turned into a business venture, Mrs. Wood said. ArtInUtero was founded last September, and Mrs. Wood has been working on commissioned portraits ever since. "When we gave our first one away, the couple opened it and just started crying," Mrs. Wood said. "Our friends made the comment that they had never seen anything like that before, and that spurred our interest." But while the artwork remains sentimental to the parents of the child, Mrs. Wood believes her work can be admired by others as well.Mike Yaeger agreed. Mr. Yaeger has five of Mrs. Wood's portraits hanging in his Frisco art gallery, The Artists Reward. "I had seen her work and I liked it, so when we opened this business three weeks ago, we went to her," said Mr. Yaeger, who co-owns The Artists Reward. "I have five pieces hanging, and only one looks like a baby. You realize they are human forms, but you have to study them. She talks to the couples and pulls their personality into her work to create something unique for them. But many others can enjoy it just as art." Despite the attention her work has received from family and friends, Mrs. Wood said she just wants to give people another way to celebrate life. "This is such an emotional business," she said. "This touches people's lives. This is all about celebrating life, and we are really excited about that." Staff writer Julie Elliott covers Lewisville and Highland Village. She can be reached at 972-436-5551, ext. 2005, or at jelliott@dallasnews.com.
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