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Born in Flushing, Queens in 1969, Elizabeth was too young to
attend Woodstock. She began drawing at the age of three, using
crayons and chalk on flower pots. At age six, she lived in London,
England for a brief period of time. She found herself drawn to the
mummies of the British Museum and the turrets and dungeons
of Warwick Castle. This love of travel and the macabre would
influence her artwork for years to come.
In 1978, Elizabeth moved to Long Island and spent
many angst-ridden years in suburban limbo. She sought refuge
in an art program at Sanford H. Calhoun High School. Here,
taught by Dan Christoffel, she learned to paint. The Reagan
Years provided her with a wide variety of outrages
to depict on canvas.
Elizabeth attended Binghamton University from 1987 through
1991. As she worked towards obtaining a BFA degree
in upstate New York, Elizabeth's art reflected her surroundings.
The aging former manufacturing town provided a dark backdrop
to her work. Crumbling factories and assorted collected antiques
were favorite subjects depicted in dramatic black and white
pastel drawings and oil paintings. Her mentor, the artist Charles
Eldred, taught her the importance of keen observation and
exploration. Elizabeth believed that every object could have a
unique personality and worked diligently on the portraits of
mechanical creatures.
Upon graduating from college, Elizabeth returned to Long Island.
She struggled to begin her career as a graphic designer and
continue painting. In 1994, she chose to devote herself to her
professional development. Elizabeth was fortunate to take part in
the Internet boom of the mid to late 1990's and worked long hours
at a number of start-up technology and media companies. During
these years, she honed her skills as a Web designer.
A 1999 trip to Paris was instrumental in her return to creating her own work. The collected works at the Louvre and the magnificent city itself filled her with joy and rekindled her desire to paint. She began taking art classes at NYU and SVA. Her new work is colorful and filled with energy.
There is a sense of strength in her paintings enhanced by artistic growth and maturity. As she emerges as an artist, her paintings reflect the movement and vitality of 21st Century New York City.
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