Elisabeth Sullivan

Biography

Elisabeth always knew she wanted to be an artist. "In fact", she recalls, "I've been drawing since before I can remember. My mother tells me she thought I would be an artist because I used to draw eyelashes on my stick figures when I was 2 years old." She took art classes throughout high school in her hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan. At the age of 17 she participated in her first juried exhibition and was also commissioned for her first mural. She attended Providence college in Providence, Rhode Island for one year and finished her education in Dayton, Ohio at the University of Dayton where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Design Illustration in 1988. Longing for a warmer climate, she moved to Austin, Texas shortly after graduation. She began her art career free-lance illustrating and airbrushing T-shirts which she sold at an outdoor arts and crafts market in Austin. Finding success with the T-shirts, she expanded to include a line of clothing which she designed, sewed, and hand painted. She retailed her line at juried art and craft festivals throughout the west. After a stint of fairs in Arizona she decided to move to Tucson in 1997. She continued with her clothing business for a few more years as well as some work in ceramics. In 2001 she changed her focus to Acrylic painting on canvas as well as murals and decorative wall finishes. She has been commissioned for numerous murals and decorative finishes in private residences in Tucson as well as Pediatric exam rooms in Coos Bay, Oregon. She now splits her time between Tucson and San Diego and is planning on relocating to San Diego in 2010.

Artist Statement

I hope to convey in my paintings the same feelings of peace and childlike wonder that I get when enjoying nature. The inspiration comes from the beautiful places I've been, the animals I've encountered, and a little imagination. I start with photographs that I've taken, along with hours of observation. I happily spend time hiking in the mountains, playing in the Californis surf, and watching thunderheads build over the Arizona desert. I could easily spend hours watching seals lying around on the beach, lizards doing "pushups", or a territorial hummingbird defending his turf. Rather than copying my photographs exactly, I'm more interested in creating a peaceful mood, evoking memories of a favorite place or a special trip, or depicting a scene that you'd like to walk right into and make up your own story about.

Art Education

BFA in Design Illustration. University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio. 1988

Awards

Solo Exhibition, April 2008 - June 2008, University of Michigan Medical Center Main Lobby Gallery. Ann Arbor, Michigan. Juried Art Fairs- Sausalito Art Festival, La Jolla Art Festival, Bayou City Art Festival. Corporate Collections- Caremore Medical Facility. Tucson, Arizona.