We recently connected with Liz Tran and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Liz thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

During my formative years from age 15 to 20, I immersed myself in the craft of building McKenzie River drift boats in a logging-centric town nestled between two rivers in Western Oregon. Every aspect of the process became second nature to me: crafting boats from scratch, assembling kits for customers and constructing oversized crates for safe passage across continents. I restored vessels to their former glory, sourced lumber from the mill, and secured anchors from local foundries.
Surrounded by predominantly older fishermen and river guides, I swiftly honed a resilience that shaped both my character and approach—a tenacity born of necessity in a traditionally masculine domain.
Throughout this chapter, I pursued my artistic tendencies in tandem, painting and immersing myself in art courses at the local community college. These endeavors, I realized, were not just hobbies but foundational steps towards a future as an artist—one that would later lead me to Seattle, where I earned a BFA from Cornish College of the Arts.
I did not doubt my ability to transition fully into the life of a professional artist. The skills and fortitude cultivated in the family boat business equipped me for the journey ahead. One must possess an unwavering, borderline delusional optimism, to stay the course in this challenging industry.

Liz, 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 a multidisciplinary artist rooted in the lush landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, dividing my creative practice between studios in Seattle and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. From my earliest memories, art has been my constant companion—my hands molding shapes with Play-Doh and coloring vivid worlds with Crayola.
My artistic exploration delves deep into dreamscapes, imagined terrains, the intricate structures of geodes, the vastness of outer space, and the landscape of our inner psyche. I reinterpret nature’s forms through a kaleidoscope of vibrant, synthetic hues, infusing my work with a magical quality that serves as a joyful antidote to the mundane.
While painting forms the cornerstone of my artistic practice, I thrive on projects that stretch the boundaries of my creativity. Whether sculpting, creating large-scale installations, participating in projection mapping, crafting evocative music video imagery, engaging in community-driven projects, or collaborating in the realm of fashion, I am driven by the pursuit of innovation and impact.
My paintings have graced the sets of television shows such as “Will and Grace,” “Glee,” and “NCIS,” while finding homes in public collections including the Wynn Las Vegas, Capitol One, and Harborview Medical Center. I’ve lent my artistic voice to initiatives for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation, showcased at the Aqua Art Fair in Miami, collaborated with Deloitte, and contributed imagery to the the Upstream Music Festival.
I am most proud of my community-based projects, including teaching, collaborating with arts non-profits and co-creating a mural with over 500 elementary school children and staff. Through my diverse body of work, I invite viewers to journey with me beyond the ordinary, where art becomes a bridge between imagination and reality.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

The misconceptions surrounding the life of an artist often stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of the profound dedication required to forge and sustain a career in the arts. In the United States, where arts education often takes a backseat, the public perception of artistic pursuits can be skewed, overlooking the relentless commitment demanded by this profession.
Being an artist is a vocation that intertwines deeply with every facet of existence. It necessitates a perpetual investment of time, energy, and emotional fortitude. From the years spent honing techniques and refining concepts to the strategic efforts in marketing and networking, the life and business of being an artist is all consuming.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

While NFTs hold promise by providing a digital provenance solution and offering artists a new avenue to profit from secondary art sales, my perspective is tempered by significant concerns, particularly regarding their environmental impact. The process of minting and trading NFTs, which relies heavily on blockchain technology, consumes vast amounts of energy. This energy-intensive process contributes to carbon emissions and exacerbates the ecological footprint of digital transactions.
Beyond environmental concerns, the NFT market is also fraught with issues related to authenticity, copyright infringement, and market volatility. The ease of replication and potential for unauthorized use of digital artworks pose challenges to artists’ rights and intellectual property protections.
I believe it is crucial to examine the broader implications of participating in the NFT ecosystem. While acknowledging the potential benefits, such as democratizing access to art and enabling direct engagement with collectors, we must also address the urgent need to minimize the environmental impact of digital art transactions. Responsible stewardship of our artistic and digital landscapes demands thoughtful consideration of these complexities, ensuring that innovation in art technology aligns with our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and ethical integrity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://liztran.com/home.html
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liztranstudios/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liztranstudios
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-tran-9b983418/
• Twitter: N/A
• Youtube: N/A
• Yelp: N/A
• Soundcloud: N/A
• Other: https://rovzargallery.com/artists/liz-tran/
  https://www.mortonfineart.com/artist/liz-tran
  https://www.bonnerdavid.com/artist-detail?at=LizTran&cat=1

Image Credits

Steven Miller, Liz Tran