Biography
Artist Biography
Liz Sullivan
Visual Artist
I grew up in southwestern Ontario surrounded by fields, woods and lakes. A “love of nature” and an early interest in art inspired me to go back to university in my early 30′s. In 1997 I completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a double major in drawing and painting, from the University of Calgary. Since then, I have divided my time between art teaching and art production in my Inglewood studio.
My art explores sublime experiences: the golden glow of meadow and field, the dazzling red of chokeberry leaves in autumn, or the majesty and power of mountain and sea. I am captivated by the ephemeral beauty and intricacies of landscape. I walk and explore the natural world with my sketchbook and camera, responding to the awe and wonder of each place. Larger works I develop in my studio that begin with a red underpainting. The subsequent layers of vibrant colour and texture result in a personal expression of my connection to landscape.
Active in the local art scene in Calgary, I participate in local and traveling exhibitions with the Alberta Society of Artists and Visual Arts Alberta. A large public landscape work, entitled “Sense of Place”, is on display at Banker’s Hall, Calgary; this 12 ½’ x 11 ½’ canvas painting required alternate studio space in a warehouse to complete! In 2006 it was extremely exciting to be one of five artists in the Triangle Gallery’s “Artist Home and Studio Tour”, a yearly event in Calgary.
In addition to Western Canadian landscape, I visually explore a variety of international landscapes through travel experiences. In 2002 I attended the Cill Rialaig International Art Residency in County Kerry, Ireland and completed a series of pastoral landscapes for a solo show in Calgary. Many of these paintings are in private collections in Ireland. Current works explore abstraction in landscape. Recent residencies include a return visit to Cill Rialaig, Ireland in 2008, as well as the 2009 Emma Lake Artist Workshop in Saskatchewan.
I hope you enjoy my artwork through this website and welcome your feedback. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are interested in any of my colourful pieces.