Turning 58 and my energy is the best ever. I’ve really loved being in my 50s, they will go down in my life book as one of my very favorite decades. There is so much on the horizon for my new trip around the sun that I look forward to digging into. One in particular is a new series of large prints I’ve been meaning to get to over the last two years.

The wind down from Summer has now arrived and with it, a feeling of recharge and looking forward to cooler temps. I’m one of those oddballs who looks forward to stormy rainy days. Here in the Pacific Northwest, you can smell the rainy season coming into the air during September and October. There’s a certain motivation and set of rituals that the rainy season here brings. You can choose to be sad about the gray weather here or choose to see the beauty, colors, and comforts of home that beckon your inspiration. One of my favorite quotes that sits on my fridge is by Horace — “Rule your mind or it will rule you”. Everything in life and in creativity itself is a series of decisions and choices.

What’s in a Title? Naming an artwork and an art show is a process. Here’s how I arrived at Wonder Land. The titles of each work individually will represent aspects of all the show titles in one way or another years, along with the title of the show morphing and changing with me through time, and through life will continue manifesting as I complete the last pieces. Read on…

Relocating from Portland, Oregon to Astoria, Oregon on the North Coast where the force of the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean has been a big life change. Admittedly, I love the storminess of this part of the state and my work often references meteorology, climate, and geology. I can watch the storms land ashore from the constant horizon line surrounding me. Observing weather patterns and the greater connection to wild nature aligns with my creative practice, inviting me to focus. Now, as Winter makes way for Spring, the recent solar eclipse has ignited a surge of creativity that will catapult me to the completion of these twenty new works for my upcoming exhibition.

February 2024 Workshop and Studio Update

Over the decades, I've enjoyed sharing my artistic growth, discoveries, and innovations with students from around the world, helping them achieve their creative goals. In this Meet the Students collection, I present a glimpse of their aspirations and reflections.” —Elise