Liz Vaughn

About the Process

I often talk about beginning my painting career with an "Art For Personal Development" class. Was that truly the beginning, or perhaps just a place to begin my story? Either way, it eventually led me to oil painting, which I consider to be a great love. My work dwells in the loosely interpreted figure, most often feminine in nature. In my early work I often used a palette knife, and applied thick layers of paint in a very free flowing, gestural way. As my signature style developed I began to refine the process, and become more conscious of the narrative I was forming. What I present to the viewer is a character contoured by line and color, assembled from the poetry of words, passionately asking for engagement. I keep a working journal of words, phrases and poetry, as well as a digital board pinned with other artists work that I find inspirational. When we look at another artists work, we open ourselves up to a certain curiosity which in turn leads to greater experimentation in our own work. My current process incorporates sketching, mark making with chalk, pencil, crayon or oil marker, and a layer of acrylic underpainting before I begin to lay down oil paint. I even have a collection of spray paint cans that come into play on occasion, and the set of trusty palette knives is never far from the easel. All of these tools bring an extra layer of dimension and life to each piece, telling a unique story.