Lisa Close shared her story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Lisa, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
I lose track of time when I’m painting mandalas. The rhythm of placing each dot, one after another, becomes almost like a meditation. Hours slip by without me even realizing it, and yet in that process, I feel like I come back to myself. It’s a space where my thoughts quiet down, where I feel both deeply grounded and free at the same time. Whether I’m painting on a stone, a pine wheel, or canvas, that creative flow reminds me of who I am at my core and why I’m here—to create, to share beauty, and to help others feel a sense of calm and connection through art.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Lisa Close, and I’m the artist behind Calcolo Art, a practice centered on hand-painted mandalas created on stones, pine wheels, and canvas. Calcolo means “stone” in Italian, and my tagline—“Intention Set in Stone”—captures what my work is really about: infusing art with mindfulness and meaning.
Each piece is more than decoration—it’s a meditation in color and pattern, designed to invite calm, beauty, and reflection into the spaces where people live and work. My work has evolved from a personal practice of centering and healing into a growing brand and lifestyle that encourages others to pause, set intentions, and connect with the present moment.
In addition to my collections, I’ve also created public art pieces, including large-scale butterfly sculptures for the Rotary’s Wings of Change initiative. I’m currently developing seasonal collections, as well as workshops where people can experience the meditative joy of painting mandalas themselves. What makes Calcolo unique is that each piece carries both artistry and intention—it’s not just something to look at, but something to live with and use as a meditative piece.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was young, I was often seen carrying my dad’s camera. I excelled at art in grade school and high school and dreamt of attending an art school, but when it came time for college, I was told I couldn’t make a living as an artist. I set that dream aside and pursued degrees in photography and graphic design, but I never fully followed through on the creative career I envisioned. Instead, I spent decades working in other fields, always feeling like something essential was missing.
Now, after coming back to painting and discovering my passion for mandalas, I believe wholeheartedly that I was meant to be an artist all along. I was born an artist. Creativity has always been the thread running through my life, even when I tried to ignore it. Today, I embrace the truth that I am an artist in my soul, and my truest passion is to step fully into this calling as my life’s work.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There have been seasons where I almost gave up on the idea of being an artist. Especially after hearing others persuade me from moving in that direction. It was hard to fight for something I didn’t fully believe in yet myself. Then after earning photography and graphic design degrees but not finding a clear career path, I felt like I had failed and wondered if I had missed my chance. For years, I worked in other jobs while my creative side felt tucked away. For the biggest part of my life I firmly believe what I was told, that I couldn’t make a living in the art field.
What changed everything was learning that action creates clarity. Once I picked up a paintbrush and began exploring mandala painting, I realized I didn’t need to have the whole path figured out—I just needed to keep moving forward. That shift gave me a new sense of momentum. Now I see my journey as one of discovery: as long as I keep walking, as long as I keep creating, the path reveals itself to me. And I trust that if I keep showing up, I will eventually reach my destination and find the answers.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am wholeheartedly committed to building a life as a full-time artist. That is my goal. That is my dream. And I believe it can come true. Calcolo Art isn’t just a project for me—it’s the truest expression of who I am. Even if it takes years of steady work, learning, and growth, I’m determined to keep moving forward. Every brushstroke, every collection, every workshop is another step toward that vision.
I’ve learned that action creates clarity, and as long as I keep walking this path, it will continue to reveal itself. And since I’ve seen what it feels like to quit, I know I will not do that again. My art is too important to me—it is meant to be shared with the world. I believe I can help bring beauty into others’ lives while also lifting them up, and that belief keeps me going no matter how long the journey takes.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will say that I lived with intention and poured that into everything I created. That I followed my calling, even when the path wasn’t easy, and that I shared beauty in a way that lifted others up. I’d like to be remembered not only for the mandalas I painted, but also for the words I shared through Mandala Mondays—my weekly newsletter reflections that invite others into calm, creativity, and connection.
My deepest hope is that both my art and my writing continue to speak long after I’m gone, reminding others to slow down, notice the details, and honor the beauty woven into everyday life. If the story of my life can inspire even one person to pursue their own creative truth, then I’ll feel I’ve left something meaningful behind. And I hope the name Calcolo will carry forward as a symbol of intention set in stone—a reminder that art and mindfulness belong in the heart of everyday living.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.calcoloart.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/calcoloart
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/calcoloart
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@calcoloart
- Other: Substack: calcoloart.substack.com
Link tree: linktr.ee/calcoloart
