We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Liza Hathaway Matthews . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Liza Hathaway below.

Liza Hathaway , appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

As a child, I absolutely loved to create! It could be anything from working with play-doh, crayoning in coloring books, weaving pot holders to finger painting. I was the little girl who enjoyed getting any art project or kit for my birthday and being busy for hours. I was blessed to have the best art teachers in elementary school and throughout high school that nurtured my passion further. My teachers love for art was contagious in every medium. A vivid memory that I have as a 5th grade student was with my wonderful art teacher, Mrs. Davis. The assignment was to carve a piece of soap stone into anything we wanted to do. It was a project that was a challenge with various files and sand paper needed to create that something. I decided to do a seal as the color of the soap stone was blended grays that reminded me of a seal. This particular project was something we worked on for weeks. I could not wait for art class each week so I could continue to work on my seal. Once completed, it was displayed in our school display cases. I was so proud of it and it gave me something that made my love for art come alive even more. I was given exposure to art teachers that introduced me to different mediums and processes. I wanted to try it all which led me to pursue art and art history into college. I attended Washington College with a concentration in art history’s and then transferred to Maryland Institute, College of Art where I graduated with a major in painting and a minor in interior design.

I knew I would always create after graduation. I paint everyday! My work has become more then paint on canvases. I have had the good fortune to collaborate with other creative companies to have my work transferred onto lampshades, wallpaper, outdoor pillows, travel accessories and leather cuffs. One of my first collaborations was with Anthropologie. I love this collaboration as they were able to take one of my floral chinoiserie paintings and have it replicated on lampshades and wallpaper. This particular design had come from a painting that had a silver metallic background with bronze and green branches throwing off pretty white blossoms, inspired by the beginnings of spring. As a collection, it is called ‘Rites of Spring’ and has a bohemian feel in pretty home accessories. This collaboration led to others with Cotton and Quill, Lema J Design and the Piper Collection.

I feel so fortunate and never imagined my work would take me to so many unique and different outlets. I continue to work with creatives, interior designers and art broker’s that make me think ‘outside of the box’ on how and where my work can be seen. I know none of this could happen without the support of my social media team from Pruitt Resources and my amazing family!

Liza Hathaway , 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 contemporary abstract artist and textile designer who lives in Baltimore, Maryland with my husband and three children. Radiating a contrast of luminous color, graceful form, and texture, my creations are inspired from nature, interior and garden design and pattern. Harmony and movement are in my work with mediums that range from oil and acrylic paint, ink, charcoal and pen and unique collage materials such as glass dust and more.

In 2022, I introduced floral (one of a kind) vases and a new linen collection of dinner napkins. I continue to think about new collaborations and seeing my work on as many surfaces as possible. I do commissioned pieces as well for retail, residential and commercial pieces in many different mediums.. I enjoy working with designers, art brokers and private clients to create canvases. My love and studies in interior design makes it easy for me to work with clients to find the perfect piece for a space. I will talk through options, do visual mock-ups and create ideas to think about for a particular wall. I enjoy a challenge and any opportunity to collaborate!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The support of creatives is so important in this day and age. Artists are in a saturated market on social media with a constant change and ever evolving platform. As a artist, I love the opportunity to support other emerging artists as I know how hard it is to market your work and create all at the same time. Most artists wear many hats daily to make it all happen while earning a living. A marketing budget is important and a understanding on what best to spend time and money on to make your business as visible as possible. I have the good fortune to work with Pruitt Resources who help me promote and market my brand.

Support your creatives so they can continue to do what they love!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of what I do as an artist, I get to do what I absolutely love everyday! I can continue creating and experimenting with recreating myself daily. I never get bored by challenging myself with different and unique projects.

I just did a large project that was for a beach house in Delaware. The project was to create a 72 x 72 canvas to emulate a abstract view of the reflection of water. I created a monochromatic look with swirls of shades of blue acrylic paint and ink though out the canvas. I used a clear acrylic gel and glass dust to also help with this sparkle and reflection you see on water. Your eye is led around this large canvas as you move around the room with a sparkle caught by the natural and artificial light. It radiates off the wall since it is such a large piece and it pulls you into to see the different mediums. It was such a great opportunity to go big and to use many mediums to help create this front foyer piece for this beautiful beach house.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lizahathawaymatthews.com/
• Instagram: @Lizahathawaymatthews
• Facebook: Liza Hathaway Matthews
• Linkedin: Liza Hathaway Matthews