The Vision & the Artist
A Note from lisa
I have always gathered visions.
Images, stories, and impressions have lived quietly in my mind for as long as I can remember — unfolding through dreams, shifting light, and small moments of beauty woven into everyday life.
Over time, those inner images found their way onto paper, slowly shaping the creative path that became Gathering Visions.
My work moves between dream imagery, energy-inspired artwork, and conscious design — yet all of it grows from the same place: curiosity, presence, and a desire to create something meaningful and beautiful.
I don’t separate art from living.
Inspiration arrives while walking, noticing reflections in light, or sitting quietly with a cup of coffee as colors and shapes begin to form. Some themes emerge through meditation or intention; others arise through imagination and playful exploration.
Rather than defining a single style, my creative journey continues to evolve — from early illustration and realism into symbolic dream imagery and later into abstract energy frequency art. Each phase feels like a natural unfolding rather than a destination.
~Lisa Nomikos
Gathering Visions
The name Gathering Visions reflects a lifelong experience of collecting imagery long before it becomes visible to others. What once lived quietly within has grown into a body of work that continues to expand — one image at a time.
Today, my work moves between Dream Vision Art, Reiki Soul Aura portraits, Crystalline Light Code artwork, oracle deck collaborations, and conscious graphic design & illustration — all shaped by a shared intention: to uplift, inspire, and create spaces where people feel connected to something meaningful.
Each piece offers a pause — a place where color, symbol, and imagination become companions in everyday life.
A Creative Presence
My life as an artist and my work as a designer continue to evolve side by side. Whether creating artwork or collaborating on design projects, I approach each piece with listening, curiosity, and respect for what wants to emerge.
In a world often saturated with negativity and overwhelm, I have made a conscious choice to create work that reflects light — moments of magic, goodness, and quiet hope. While many artists create from pain as a way of processing and growing, my path has led me to offer imagery that lifts.
My hope is to create art that gives the mind a gentle hand toward beauty, possibility, and connection — reminding us that there is always light waiting to be seen.
Creative & Professional Background
The path that led to Gathering Visions didn’t begin in a single moment — it has been shaped by a lifetime of creativity, mentorship, and evolving artistic exploration.
Early Creative Roots
I have been creating for as long as I can remember. From the moment I could hold a crayon, drawing became a language through which I understood the world. In the 1970s, artistic opportunities for children were limited, but my parents recognized how deeply I connected to art. They enrolled me in drawing and pottery classes through the Willow Springs Park District, where we worked from nature and explored a variety of creative mediums — a place where imagination felt alive and supported.
At twelve years old, I carefully recreated my grandparents’ wedding photograph — a piece I still have framed today — long before I fully understood that art would shape my life.
Mentorship & Art Store Years
At sixteen, I began studying oil painting with landscape artist Sharon Roman at Lynn’s Art & Drafting. Those classes became a turning point, not only deepening my artistic skills but also introducing me to a creative community that would shape my future in unexpected ways. There, I met Paula Ramsay, the manager of the art store at the time, who later became one of my most important mentors and allies. After two years of classes, she hired me to work at the store — a place that quickly felt like home.
When Lynn’s Art & Drafting transitioned into A.C.F.D. Art & Drafting under Paula and her business partners, my experience expanded far beyond selling art supplies. Under the guidance of Mary Frances Rafter, I learned the art of custom framing — gaining an appreciation for how presentation shapes the way artwork is experienced. Through John McGuire’s “Bits n Pieces of History,” I discovered a deep respect for storytelling and the way history lives within objects and imagery — something that continues to influence how I see art today.
I began my college education at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, where I explored fine art more deeply. During my sophomore year, Paula encouraged me to consider a more focused direction within the design field and mentored me through the process of applying to Ray Vogue School of Design. With her support, I shifted schools and completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Design with an emphasis in Illustration — a path that allowed me to balance graphic design with my love of drawing.
Design Career & Digital Shift
My first professional role as a graphic designer was rooted entirely in traditional production methods — working on art boards, preparing mechanicals, and building layouts by hand. About a year into that role, the industry began shifting toward digital tools. When computers arrived, I was given a week to learn the programs. I stayed late after work every day, teaching myself as much as I could. Our typesetter, Camille, generously helped me understand the basics, but much of what I learned came through persistence and curiosity. Over time, I became highly proficient in programs like QuarkXPress, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator — skills that continue to inform my work today.
Even after beginning my professional design career, I continued working part-time at A.C.F.D. for several years because of the deep sense of connection I felt there. It was more than a job — it was a creative home filled with people who believed in me and helped shape the artist and designer I was becoming. Eventually, as my long-term design career expanded and later transitioned into freelance work, I made the difficult decision to step away from the art store, carrying with me the lessons, inspiration, and gratitude from that chapter of my life.
On December 8th, 2015, I founded Gathering Visions, LLC as a space where my artwork and conscious design could live side by side — each created from a place of authenticity, beauty, and upliftment.
Today, I bring more than 30 years of professional experience in graphic design and illustration, blending intuitive creativity with technical skill to support both personal artwork and collaborative design projects.
Energy Studies & Intuitive Practices
My awareness of energy began long before I ever heard the word Reiki. After the birth of my second child, I began studying Chen Tai Chi, eventually earning my black belt while nine months pregnant with my third child. Through Tai Chi, I experienced energy in a tangible way for the first time — feeling the subtle tingling between my hands as we practiced holding the “invisible ball.” It opened a doorway into an entirely new way of understanding movement, presence, and the unseen layers of experience.
One of my fellow students once handed me a book about Reiki. I skimmed through it briefly, not yet ready to fully understand what it meant. Years later, meditation entered my life more deeply. My mother and I attended our first energy class together, and I eventually signed up for Reiki attunements — realizing that what I was learning felt like a continuation of what I had first sensed through Tai Chi.
In 2015, I began meditation classes with local numerologist Philip Clark, who guided us through manifestation meditations. At the time, I set an intention to bring my artwork into art fairs — even though I was only creating one image per year and had no clear plan for how that might happen.
A few months later, I was accepted into my first juried art fair, Art in the Barn of Barrington. Instead of excitement, I felt overwhelmed. My husband looked at me and said, “Isn’t this what you wanted?” I laughed nervously — unsure how I would create enough work in such a short amount of time while raising three children at home for the summer.
When the school year began, I stepped fully into the creative process. Working in chalk pastels allowed me to move quickly, and something unexpected happened — my artwork shifted from tightly controlled, highly illustrative pieces into fluid, flowing imagery that seemed to arrive from somewhere deeper within. For the first time, I understood that I had never been lacking ideas. I had been gathering visions in my mind my entire life — and I finally allowed myself to release control and let those images emerge naturally.
Since that time, ongoing meditation, energy exploration, and shamanic training have continued to support my growth — not only as a practitioner, but as the artist I am today.
Trainings & Practices
Certifications:
Usui Reiki Master Teacher
Goddess Reiki I & II, Angelic Realm Practitioner
Light Code Reiki: Codes of Enlightenment
Cranial Sacral Reiki Practitioner
Life Force Shamanic Practitioner – Level 3
Life Force Wisdom Wheel
Spiritual Life Coach
- Quantum Field of Light Akashic Clearing: The Path to Awareness
D.E.B. Numerology
Meditation Practices:
- Self-Realization Fellowship Lessons
Facilitation & Collaborative Work
Healing Arts Intensive — Co-Leader, Life Force Shamanic Arts & Healing (Ongoing)
Women’s Empowerment Retreat — Co-Facilitator with Lisa Gniady, Mount Shasta (2023)
Women’s Empowerment Retreats — Creative & Energetic Support with Lisa Gniady (Ongoing)
Rather than defining my work, these experiences serve as supportive tools that deepen presence, listening, and creative awareness.
Join Me on This Journey
Explore artwork created with intention — visionary and energy-infused creations designed to uplift, inspire, and bring meaningful connection into everyday life.
Closing Reflection
"Over time, art has evolved into a way for me to understand my own thoughts, my world, and the people around me. The images that arrive often feel like quiet gifts — helping me heal, grow, and move through life’s challenges. I’m deeply grateful when others discover their own meaning within the pieces they feel drawn to, finding reflections of their own path along the way."
~Lisa Nomikos