Elizabeth
Garat
“These oil paintings were created in my studio afterI returned from
my most recent trip to northern New Mexico, and Colorado. I work from
sketches and photos I make on location and from memory. Some of these
compositions are pure invention. You wil
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notice that color is the dominant characteristic of these paintings. I
use color to express my emotional responses, and to convey the power of
place.
I began painting landscapes while I was at North Carolina School of the
Arts completing an MFA in Costume Design. My painting teacher there, Phil
Link, was very encouraging. He told me that my painting was strong and
suggested I give up my plan of becoming a Costume Designer and become
a painter instead. As I was very close to completing my degree, I thought
this was an impractical idea, and elected to complete my planned course
of study. After working as a Costume Designer for a number of years, it
occurred to me that perhaps I should have followed Mr. Link’s advice.
I discovered through day to day work experience that, while I enjoyed
researching and designing costumes I did not enjoy spending so much of
my life in a dark theatre.
I grew up in California and Colorado. I spent a lot of time outdoors when
I was a girl. You hear artists say that the light in the West is different,
that it has a special quality. It is true. The light there intensifies
and enhances the colors. I feel deeply connected to the western landscape.
It was not until I moved away from the West and returned as an adult,
that I came to realize what a profound impact the landscape there had
made on me. My exposure to nature growing up led indirectly, to my painting
landscapes.
As much as I love the West, next summer, I plan to go somewhere new. After
all, Life is sometimes about picking up recurring strands, and other times,
it is about change. “
Elizabeth Garat is a visual artist, teacher and costume designer.
She currently resides in Memphis, Tennessee. You may contact the artist
via email at the following address: egarat@mindspring.com
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