Elizabeth Schwartz:  RED

Red’s Allure :
acrylic on canvas :
36″h x 36″w :
by Elizabeth Schwartz

Q:   The work you made for your last show at WSG was about creating peaceful meditative spaces on the canvas and you purposefully used red sparingly.  You have a passion for the color red – what made you decide to just let go and embrace it?

A.  That’s an interesting question.  I begin a painting with a few spontaneous brush strokes to activate the canvas.  Then I wait, and listen to what the painting wants next.  This year, they all seemed to want more red.  I hope that doesn’t sound like a non-answer.  What I’m trying to say is that my process is intuitive and unplanned.  So when red keeps appearing, I just go with it.

Celebrating Scarlett
acrylic on canvas
36 x 36″

2.   Q: Some of the pieces in this show have a significant suggestion of depth, can you tell me if that was your initial intent with the pieces, or if it was more of a spontaneous development as the pieces took form?

A:  At the risk of sounding repetitive, as some of the paintings developed, a flat surface was called for.  But usually, due to the many layers of paint that I apply, depth comes about  somewhat naturally.  It’s pretty easy to accomplish depth with red, since red comes forward in a painting, while other colors – particularly blue – recede.  I did work harder to achieve depth in “Out in Crimson Space” because it is all shades of red.

Out in Crimson Space :
acrylic on canvas :
54″h x 56w :
by Elizabeth Schwartz

3. A. How did you first get in to painting?

Q:   I’ve been a left-brained attorney for many years.  Around 20 years ago, when an art teacher friend suggested I take his drawing class, commenting “I may not teach you how to draw; but I will teach you how to see”, I was intrigued.  Little did I know I would be hooked after the first class.  I couldn’t get enough, and continued to take art classes and week-long workshops.  I drew and painted during every free moment.  During the last 10 years, I’ve been able to devote full time to my art.  I feel so fortunate.

Mysterious Relationship :
acrylic on canvas :
36″h x 36″w :
by Elizabeth Schwartz

4.  Q:  What was your experience with art in your formative years?  Did your family have artists or makers in it?

A:  My father and three brothers are all attorneys.  Cousins, too, are either doctors or lawyers.  My mother was quite an accomplished dancer before marrying my father.  There were no visual artist influences in my family,  but I did love art class in school.  So nobody could be more surprised than I am to find myself where I am today.

In Good Spirits :
acrylic on canvas :
40″h x 30″w :
by Elizabeth Schwartz

5.  Q:  Tell us what are some epiphanies you’ve had about color and color relationships over the years you’ve painted.

A:  Learning how the placement of one color next to another affects the way each color looks.  This concept can cause a single color to appear as two different colors depending on what color is next to it.  It is fascinating to me that in this instance, the human eye is incapable of seeing the single color, but can only see the two different colors.  Although I don’t utilize this exact principle in my paintings, I do adhere to and apply the principle that spacial relationships of colors are critical to a successful painting.