Holiday Artists' Market Feature: Elizabeth Mayville

UICA's 22nd Annual Holiday Artists' Market is right around the corner and we asked the artists a few questions about their products for the market. Below Elizabeth Mayville answered our questions. 



Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm a painter who lives in a gray house with my husband, cat and dog in Grand Rapids. I have a strong love for all of the following: making things, birds and bird facts, the beach, burritos, organization and early morning dog walks. Painting has been a constant in my life for a number of years and I find the whole process to be challenging and completely beautiful from start to finish. 



What kind of products will you be selling at Holiday Artists' Market?

Small to medium sized oil paintings on stretched canvas, cards, and small sculptures.

What is your process for creating these products?

All my work deals with the idea of "home" and all the associated positives and negatives. Whether a painting of local flora & fauna, a still life of a Brita pitcher, or a portrait of my grandmother, everything is created with a sense of comfort as well as melancholy and longing. I paint from both life and from reference images, so my process begins with the hunt for an object or an image that conjures up a personal emotional reaction. I usually do one or two preparation sketches and then construct the image on prepared canvas. My aim is to communicate several thoughts, emotions and memories in each pared down image. 



You will be able to purchase Elizabeth Mayville's products at UICA's Holiday Artists' Market on December 3, from 5–9 PM, and December 4, from 10 AM–5 PM.