Artist Profile: Elizabeth Person

Editor’s note: Welcome to our first artist profile; a new column featuring local artists from around the Everett area. We’re kicking things off with a familiar face here on Live in Everett, our pal Elizabeth Person (who you may know from her Sketchy Everett series). We hope you enjoy learning more about Elizabeth and the many more artists to come. Cheers!

Name: Elizabeth Person

Hometown: Lake Stevens

Current City/Neighborhood: Everett/Bayside

Your Medium/Craft: Illustration (visual story telling) using ink pen and watercolor

Years doing your craft: Seven years in my current style

How did you first get started in your craft?

Though I studied illustration in university, it took me about ten years of exploration and distractions to find my style and subject matter.

One sunny Sunday in 2012, I was inspired to find my watercolor palette left over from a college class and paint some flowers. I never enjoyed watercolor because it's difficult to control, but that day something clicked and felt like I worked with the medium instead of against it.

I still don't love the medium, but I love how it looks, so it's motivated me to stay with it.

Favorite Artist(s) and/or Inspirations?

As far as inspiration - living in walkable North Everett inspires me! I'm also inspired by information and curiosity which is why my pieces typically have an educational component.

N.C. Wyeth (father of Andrew Wyeth), Carl Larsson, Frederic Remington and Charley Harper are some of my favorite illustrators. I also find inspiration from children's book illustrators like Carson Ellis, Steven Kellogg, and Trina Schart Hyman.

How can people be supportive of the arts?

I love this question. Follow the City of Everett's Cultural Arts facebook page. There are many free ways to experience art in our city from summertime concerts at the marina to the latest Schack Art Center exhibit.

If you want to be more involved, consider volunteering for the Cultural Arts commission. Attend "The Wendts" (Richard Wendt Award and Mayor's Arts Awards) every February to get a glimpse into the active arts community.

Favorite place in Everett to hang?

I often bring my laptop to The Independent Beer Bar and work on the business side of being an artist! Invoicing, scheduling, stats, ordering... it's not all flinging paint. 😉

What's next for you?

I illustrated my first children's book! It's called To Live on an Island, written by Emma Bland Smith and published by Sasquatch Books of Seattle. The book is about a day in the life of a young boy living in the San Juan Islands.

It was a dream come true to be asked to illustrate a book. It took me three months to complete all the drawings. It will be released on May 14, 2019! (You can see the cover preview here.

Where can people see more of your art?

I have a busy holiday season of market and art events coming up around the sound. I'll be at the Everett Markers Market for "Shop Local Saturday" on November 24 at Black Lab Gallery.

Then to the Nordic Museum's Yulefest, Urban Craft Uprising Winter Show at the Seattle Center, South Lake Union Winter Market, Home for the Holidays in Ferndale...to name a few.

All my holiday events are listed at facebook.com/elizabethpersonart.

Do you know a local artist who would like to be featured? send them here for a chance to be our next featured artist.

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