Meet Lisa Dunbar Solas | Archaeologist, Artist & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Dunbar Solas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?

I have always wanted to run a business. As a child, I often saw opportunities to build income streams. Then, in my late teens, I attempted to develop my first business idea, which was to open and run a craft and bookstore. The idea was inspired by my longing to become an author and illustrator. Eventually, I realised that the business wasn’t going to work; I guess it wasn’t the right time and l think I also needed to grow personally.

Then, after enjoying some incredible experiences as an archaeologist and an educator, my latest business found me.

While completing my PhD fieldwork in the central Andes, I was inspired to tap into my creativity again, after taking a long break. During my time in Peru, I observed just how resourceful and creative many people were. I also witnessed that they possessed a deep respect for nature: they view themselves as interdependent. With my creative fire reignited, I returned home and began to play with paint and paper again.

Around the same time, I started to work with children as an educator. I was most fortunate, as the children were curious and often asked me questions about South America. Meanwhile, I loved creating art and craft activities for them.

In 2017, I was in Washington on a short field postdoc at Dumbarton Oaks. During my stay, I visited the National Museum of the American Indian. This visit had a profound impact on me. While walking through the museum, I realised just how important it is to help children engage with our past. For one, it helps them develop an understanding of who they are.

So, after I returned home, I began to build a business providing educational resources and workshops for children. My ultimate dream as a creative is to write, illustrate and publish books for them, inspiring them to explore our amazing planet with respect and compassion.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an archaeologist and mixed media artist, who is passionate about history, mythology and nature. I draw a lot of inspiration from the living world. I’m always observing and recording the beauty I see with my pencil or my camera. Since I was a child, I have loved reading fairy tales and writing stories about nature spirits, such as the fairies. Then, as an archaeologist, I’ve completed interdisciplinary research examining the relationship between ancient Andean myths and the sacred landscape. My PhD examined the relationship between Inka sacrifice, ceremony and places. I feel that my research and experiences in the Andes have given me a unique way of reading and reimagining myths and folktales, as I’ve come to understand the intimate relationship between stories and places, both built and natural. While working in Peru, I also became intrigued by miniatures, which have played a vital role in Andean culture for thousands of years. During the pandemic, I started to play with a range of materials, including paper, clay and felt, and now, I just love creating miniatures and dioramas. I’m actually renovating a dollhouse at the moment. Meanwhile, I’m intrigued by ancient art and animation techniques, such as papier-mâché, and shadow play. I hope to help keep these art forms alive, especially since so many illustrators are turning to digital art techniques. Meanwhile, classical literature is a major influence, I adore the works of authors and illustrators, including L.M. Montgomery, Beatrix Potter and Elsa Beskow.

My artistic journey has been a gradual one. I began to recover my creativity, after living in Peru. I actually had a beautiful experience with a maestro from the Q’ero lineage, who read my coca leaves in Cuzco. As the maestro read the leaves, he told me that I had a lot of creativity inside of me and urged me to tap into it. I returned home to Australia and picked up the paint brush for the first time in almost a decade. Initially, it was a struggle, as my hands shook from anxiety and stress and I also found it hard to focus and compose works. Little by little, I improved.

Building an art practice has not only helped me tap into inspiration and joy, but also build my confidence and self-acceptance. As I have discovered, making art requires you to experiment and make mistakes. Each mistake teaches you something important and helps you reach the next stage of the process.

As an artist and educator, I love to inspire others to follow wonder and tap into their creativity so that they can rediscover and/or develop their authentic and unique voice.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a challenging question! There are so many wonderful places to explore. One place that immediately comes to mind is Cuzco City, Peru. Cuzco not only offers great food, but is the home to fascinating and important historic places, such as Qorikancha/Santo Domingo. During the Inkan period, Qorkancha was the temple of Inti, Father Sun. Before the Spanish conquest, the walls of the temple were covered in sheets of gold; the building would have shone like the Sun during the day! It would have been a most spectacular sight!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m deeply grateful for the love and support I received from the people of Ocros, Ancash Peru while conducting research in their community. They opened their hearts and homes to me. Meanwhile, their insights and wisdom helped me grow immensely as a person. I’m also grateful to my Peruvian colleagues, who helped me understand at a deeper level the history of their country, as well as my PhD supervisor, Ian Farrington, who worked in the Andes for over 30 years.

There were two high school teachers, who encouraged me to explore my deep interests: Bernie Howitt; and Ken MacDonald. I will always be grateful for their guidance and support.

During my business journey, I have been fortunate to receive much support. In the past, I’ve had two mentors. The first is Jane Simmonds, who was my mentor while I studied under the new business assistance program run by the Australian Government. The second was Vicky Murgatroyd, who was the founder of the Life Empowerment Project.

My beautiful family has played a vital role in my story, and in particular, my sister and my partner. They have not only provided me with ongoing emotional support, encouraging me to follow my dreams, but have helped me in tangible ways. For example, my partner has built my website through his business Edu Net Solutions. My sister, who is a talented photographer and runs Her Solas Photography, has also helped me overcome my fears of stepping in front of the camera.

I would also like to give a big shoutout to all the children I have explored the past with. They have brought so much joy to my life and I feel very honoured to have been able to share my passion for art, storytelling and history with them. They have also taught me many important lessons about creativity. I’m also grateful to the Children’s University, Adelaide. The program has given me the wonderful opportunity to share my online resources with children Australia-wide.

Website: www.lisadunbarsolas.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/lisadunbarsolas

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisadunbarsolasart

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsldhCr9aeESlG8octNhoBg

Other: I also sell educational resources on TPT at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ancient-Explorer.

Image Credits
I would like to credit K. Dunbar from Her Solas Photography for helping to edit my personal photo. Meanwhile, the photograph of me at Qorikancha/Santo Domingo, was taken by J. Dalco and me in the field, by M. Arteaga.