ELIZABETH WARD

Most important question first: Fish and Chips with, or without vinegar?

With vinegar, of course, please & thank you.

Please tell us a bit about your creative background.

Being born and having lived here in Blackpool all my life, I was offered a place at Blackpool & Fylde College and therefore, was accepted on to the BA (Hons) Fine Arts and Professional Practice, after years of studying other fine art courses.
My creative background has taken lots of sifting through to eventually be at its more niche moment of the ‘Seascape’, and ‘Sand Dunes’ series I’ve made most recently. I’ve tried many themes and mediums throughout my art practice but feel more comfortable in nature and painting in oil paint, and oil pastel currently. There have been some paintings where I’ve really gone quite mad trying to achieve something which as a process didn’t work, nor did any of the final pieces. Trial and error. So, being comfortable in my work has taken some time to achieve. For instance, if I’m pleased with my work, then the viewer more often agrees. Paintingis, after all, subjective. I do enjoy experimenting in various mediums however, finding ideas for some abstract pieces which I also enjoy making. The paintings series I make are mainly large canvases. I make digital drawings for a range of greetings cards and journals as well.

Where are you based?

My studio is at home in Blackpool.

What kind of art do you create?

I mainly find a theme and try and create a series from an idea. It could be a subject or a colour scheme which inspires me to paint. However I would usually describe my work as more traditional.

Who/What inspires you?

Many visual artists have inspired me. Too many to mention. I’ve gleaned a lot from reading art books and studying other artists and their process or application, and it’s not always that easy. However, inspiration comes from many things. It’s a thought, a feeling, a scent or a memory. It’s not always a definite thing, it can be abstract too. I keep notes. I rest. I think, and I create what I can and from the resources I have. Sometimes from photographs and on other instances, from life.

What is/was your current/most recent exhibition about?

The most recent exhibition was my ‘Sand Dunes’ series. As the title describes, it was a series of views of the sand hills at Squires Gate. This exhibition was on view at HIVE Blackpool.

Do you currently have any other projects you’re working on?

Yes, always. I’m working on some preliminary sketches for ideas of bigger or more ‘finished’ work.

If you could become a master of any other creative art, which would it be?

Musician, chef, dancer…anything which I can’t do well!

What’s next for you?

Continuing my professional practice.

Where else can people see your work and learn more about you?

People can find me at:
Instagram.com/strawberry.bank.designs

This is an Instagram page, although it’s not always a working professional art site.

Any last words?

There are many mottos you can follow, always choose the right way.