Today we’d like to introduce you to Elisabeth Eckert.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My journey as an artist has been anything but typical. My mother was a volunteer art docent at our local Elementary School. This was during the budget cuts for public schools which affected the arts. So, at five years old I found myself helping my mom test and put together art projects for my brother’s third-grade class making sure kids still got the opportunity to be creative. I loved this and was far too excited about the next project to take a breather or slow down.
I was always that kid running around with scissors and glue from a young age. Art and creativity were always nurtured in me, I know this is a blessing because a lot of parents are not supportive of their children pursuing the arts because of the “starving artist” stigma. In high school, I really took my pursuit as an artist seriously. I had an art teacher named Eric Possell, an eccentric middle-aged man who gave me a foundation I’m still able to build upon. He taught me art history, color theory, painting tricks and budget ways to make wood canvases at Home Depot. Eric helped me grow in my technique, painting with acrylics, and for many years I thrived using this medium. I always look back on those classes fondly. School wasn’t always easy for me because of my dyslexia, but dyslexia did help strengthen my creativity; I could see things differently than a lot of people. Eric later spurred me on to go to art school to further my education and skills. I took his advice and got to the point of applying when I heard a talk from a Worldview professor who spoke about how art and worldview go hand in hand. The art that I’ve seen coming out of art schools at this time was not coming from a worldview I could identify with, and I wanted the work that I created to be authentic and beautiful. I took a different path and studied business marketing and realized I wanted to use my business skills with my art to pursue my dreams of becoming a thriving artist. I still revel in the surprised reaction I get from people when I tell them I went to business school, not art school. Post-graduation I was offered a job after an internship with The Erin Hanson Gallery. Erin Hanson is a prolific and very successful landscape oil painter. She also did not go to art school and decided she wanted to market herself and buy her own gallery. While working with Erin, I learned a whole new way to become recognized as an artist by joining street festivals and displaying one’s artwork to be sold to the public. I continued working for Erin learning everything I could, she also introduced me to a whole new style of contemporary impressionism called “Open Impressionism,” a term she herself coined. I loved watching her paint, and it influenced me greatly. I also have a love for old impressionism, and I enjoyed seeing Erin put a contemporary twist on it. When I first started working with her, I set aside my acrylics and pulled out my old oil paints. Today I mostly paint with oil, and I’ve fallen in love with the rich color and texture of this paint. Now I am taking what I’ve learned from Erin Hanson to further pursue my own artistic journey. You will likely see me at various art festivals around San Diego. I paint more than ever right now, and I’m excited to continue inspiring people and “Making the world more beautiful” one painting at a time.
Please tell us about your art.
In middle school, I noticed a theme in my life, that was turning into a sort of mantra, “Making the world beautiful.” This statement has woven through all the work I create and the reason I do it. I want to create art that is beautiful and make a way for people to see the world the way I do. When I was a girl, I was inspired by the outdoors and the beauty of creation. I still cannot get enough of how the light dances on the water and streams through the trees. I paint landscapes and people with bright colors you wouldn’t expect. I’m fascinated by smaller details in nature, and I like to capture the hidden beauty in the world that you have to seek out. It’s not as obvious as an incredible sunset, but it’s still there waiting to be appreciated. Things like the smooth curve of the agave plant, gnarled branches on a tree and the bright moss on rocks by the ocean, inspire me to paint. I have also made it a point to do a lot of traveling to places like Amalfi, Italy, and Rome, where a lot of classic art was created. In my oil painting, I try to capture the charm and feeling I had in these places. I want to give people the feeling of wandering around and finding charm in unexpected places. Two years ago, I started a traveling sponsorship program, where people would give a partial upfront investment into a painting, and I would paint them something inspired from the place I visited. Though my main medium is oil, I also do large scale chalk art projects for corporate events and festivals like the Gesso Italiano in Little Italy. I also do large colorful chalk art displays for SDG&E at their annual events.
Do you have any advice for other artists?
1. Do things differently. Don’t assume the only way to “make it” is going to art school. Try taking art classes and if you want to take it to the next level, take your success into your own hands, share your work on social media, and participate in art festivals and build a following.
2. You can be a thriving artist. I believe every creative who wants to pursue what they love and make a living doing it could benefit from some marking and business knowledge.
3. Everything you are and everything you have learned and everything you believe comes out in your art. The more you learn, nurture and absorb the better your art will be. Go exploring, read more books and consume good art!
4. Just keep creating and finish your creations. Don’t expect every creation to be a masterpiece, if it gets hard you need to finish. You will learn from your mistakes, and it will make you a better artist! The sheer volume of work you create will help you to be a better artist. This is what Erin, my boss always told me, and I could not agree more.
5. Show your work. One of the most inspiring books I’ve read was about this is Austin Kelon’s “Steal like an artist.” Read this book, it explains everything.
6. Create what you truly want to create. Don’t give into any expectation of what you should be creating as an artist. But other than yourself listen to your fans. For this read, “The Creative Curve” by Allen Gannett
7. Your art matters, and it’s powerful, and I’m going to quote Spiderman on this one, “with great power comes great responsibility.” For this read, “Culture Care” by Makoto Fujimura
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can see more of my work on my Instagram: @elisabeth.eckert or #endlisarts or go to my website at www.endlisarts.com
You can support me by saying “hi” at my upcoming festivals and events listed on my website and social media. You can further support me by purchasing some of my art that you fall in love with. Email me for more details about my travel sponsorship program, commission requests or inquiries about pieces endlisarts@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.endlisarts.com
- Phone: 6195598898
- Email: endlisarts@gmail.com
- Instagram: elisabeth.eckert
Image Credit:
Profile picture taken by Ben Dulay, Action chalk art picture taken by Joseph Wilson
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
