The water, light, earth, and air of my home on the North Coast of Oregon in Astoria is both my muse and refuge. I feel worlds away from the adversity that set me on my course, and yet it is my constant companion. At 15, a near-fatal car accident altered not just my face but my very core, forcing me to confront mortality prematurely. My mother, Rose who is now 95, recognized the transformative power of art and provided me with drawing materials, sparking a lifelong journey of self-discovery and resilience. Art became my sanctuary amid adversity, guiding me through reconstructive surgeries and turning the loneliness of recovery into solace. Now, at 57, it remains the enduring thread in the fabric of my existence—a testament to the healing capacity of art.

My creative process reflects my commitment to embracing challenges, navigating breakthroughs, and continually pushing myself to discover and expand my creative language. Central to my artistic expression is the use of encaustic technique – a meticulous (and sustainable) fusion of beeswax, resin, and pigment. This serves as both inspiration and impetus for deliberate eclecticism, utilizing printmaking, oil painting, and wax embossing with textiles to communicate my ideas. The layers within my paintings embody the alchemic resilience that shapes my identity.

I have come to believe it was the accident that opened my mind to the majesty and mystery of life itself. My paintings explore and mirror both the individual’s journey and humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge. Whatever the reason, I have always found fascination in the macro and micro wonders of the natural world and our planetary universe. At the core of my artistic exploration is delving into the dynamic interplay between these wonders and the intangibles of the observer’s experience. I contemplate our role as observers and the transformative effects of our presence on phenomena—smoke in the air, pollutants in the water, excavation of the earth, and humanity’s urge to shed light on the unknown.

—Elise