Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elise Lyon. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elise, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

The best way to learn something is to be consistent, figure out what comes naturally and build on that. I grew up around textiles, wood and learning the importance of anything made from scratch. This has reflected immensely in my practice. The process of learning how to utilize these skills came with time, growth and understanding of the world around me. The foundation of those practices are valuable because they take time. Speeding up the learning process takes away from its worth. I can’t say I would want to speed up the process, as I am always learning. Patience is key. With any skill or craft, patience reflects in the work. It adds value and gains respect. It is also the only thing standing in the way of learning more when it gets away from you.

Elise, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an interdisciplinary artist with a background in fashion textiles. I paint abstract portraits through the use of shadow projection. My artwork celebrates social, spiritual and cultural differences. Often referencing the profound importance of self-discovery within these constructs, my work offers moments of contemplation. It explores the varying relationships between these physical and metaphysical worlds in hopes the viewer might expand in this liminal space. The use of shadow projection represents this identity in a metaphysical sense while movement, objects and color represent this identity in a physical sense. By using repeated layers of mulberry and acrylic, my process is sculptural-like giving the work a 3 dimensional quality.
Travel is an essential part of my artistic practice. It allows me continued growth. Spending time in remote places around the world, I get to meet some incredibly inspiring people. If they allow me, I will sit with them and ask them a series of questions while projecting their shadow in that space. These questions allow us to get to know one another but more importantly offer them time to get to know themselves better. I use their answers to help identify the feeling I want to capture in their portrait. My hope is that I will be able to gift them a moment of their truth.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In this ever evolving world of technology, artists are faced with new challenges every day. The learning curve is time consuming and can become an expensive investment. We don’t always get to spend our days in the studio. We are expected to be business savvy, salesmen, outgoing and organized. If you’re an artist, you know these things don’t usually come easily. The best way to support an artist is to support them in this journey. You can share advice, tips and tricks or Leave comments, share and like posts on social media. If you cannot afford to purchase work, offer connections, networking and support in sales. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Any small offering can go a long way.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

You could say my mission is to keep learning and share what I discover. I have always been intrigued by other points of view. The heightened friction in our country has been difficult for me to digest. I am fighting against it by showing that differences are a beautiful thing. When we slow down and listen, it becomes obvious we all have more in common than we think.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.eliselyonart.com
• Instagram: @eliselyon_art