Mixed media abstract artist Liz Cole creates joyful paintings focused on memorable and inspiring moments. See more of her portfolio by visiting her website.
If asked what I paint, I would have to say joy and color! This is in complete contrast to my years spent in the Midwest, where gloomy days were not uncommon. Now relocated in Florida, I find each day to be filled with amazing colors that inspire my work.
I have always had a passion for color and construction since my early years of art making. Throughout my training as a painting major in college, I consistently found myself developing layered surfaces of color held together through line work and rich, subtle patterns.
You will never find empty space in my canvases. It’s as if I need to give every inch of my painting a definitive response and a nod to its presence in the artwork.
My current work is centered on the idea of remembered moments and how they have come back to me to tell new stories.
Most prevalent is the house motif. A house is not just architecture. Within its walls are family stories, keepsakes and daily rituals that make each house unique both inside and outside.
Stir together all these memories with acrylic paint, collage papers and mark making tools, and you see the images that have found their way out of my soul and onto the canvas.
Seldom do I preplan my paintings, other than forming a concept, as I like the challenge of the unknown.
I often begin with a surface of color to eliminate the whiteness of the canvas and then add a random set of marks that begin to reveal a structure and direction. I love this part of the creative process, although there can be moments of frustration when passages don’t work and it becomes difficult to resolve.
But then there is the “aha” moment and I know I have solved the puzzle. It’s like being on a playground and discovering the rules of the game.
My studio is a place that provides a full retreat from the world around me. The moment I step into it, I can feel my creative juices begin to flow, ready for a new painting venture.
Artist Liz Cole invites you to follow her on Instagram.
Beautiful work. Full of life!