For many of us, coffee is where it all begins. Artist Lisa Marie Lyckland is no different. “I need a nice little hot latte to wake up. I make it for myself at home. But when I go out, I really enjoy a specialty coffee on ice like the caramel iced latte at Ellie’s in Providence. You can totally tell the difference because their caramel is homemade.”
Lyckland’s love of coffee culture has been a driving force behind Fleetwood Studios, which she founded in 2017 when she moved from Brooklyn, New York to Plum Beach, a coastal neighborhood in North Kingstown. Arriving in Rhode Island, she hit the ground running, immediately seeking out the cafe scene, and was thrilled with what she found.
Specializing in watercolor, Lyckland recreates the world around her. “I started to dabble in illustrating food, which is very conducive to pen and ink and watercolor, and I just love putting my view of those places on paper.” While displaying her artwork of local scenes at cafes, as many artists do when establishing a foothold in the community, businesses began to commission Lyckland to create distinctive note cards and prints of their food and spaces, which are wildly popular with customers and fans. “At Ellie’s, I painted their amazing croissant. Then their lavender latte. Then I made note cards for them to sell. That’s how that partnership evolved. I love telling someone’s story through my eyes and my experience.” Her work can also be found at CafBar in South Kingstown, Bucket and the Bean in North Kingstown, and at various pop-up events.
Lyckland’s work takes a traditional approach with a modern flair which makes it accessible and popular, appreciated by art connoisseurs and foodies alike – not to mention letter writers who adore fancy stationery. “I see a lot of people will take my note cards and frame them, so that’s fun. I’ll see them in houses. I’ll see them in people’s little bathrooms.”
With her passion for the art of watercolor, Lyckland encourages others to explore and expand their craft by offering classes and kits they can complete at home. “I’m conducting these watercolor workshops where I’m pre-illustrating note cards, and people are painting them. It’s like a coaching session where folks just enjoy wine and paint unstructured. It’s very social and very casual.” To date, she’s hosted events at unique locations including Buttercup Flower and Wine Bar in Wickford Village and September's sold out Golden Hour Watercolor Workshop at Shepard's Run, South Kingstown..
For aspiring artists who want even more practice, Lyckland has created travel kits that provide all of the tools they need to build their talents, either alone or with a group of friends. Each set contains four note cards, envelopes and seals, paints, brushes, and a list of tips and tricks. “People have asked me to take the experience with them, so I have these cute little watercolor kits that you can do at home.” Learn more at FleetwoodStudio.myshopify.com and follow along on Instagram at FleetwoodStudio.
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