Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Dryden.
Elizabeth, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I began creating art as a child. I loved to paint and draw colorful animals that surrounded me like birds, or horses. I loved the way it made “grown up” people react when I would give them something that I had made. To see their faces light up and to return later and see it still on their wall or on their refrigerator, was always a rewarding feeling. I felt that I was giving them a piece or myself, or a gift from my heart. A connection or a form of communication that was deeper than simply using words to say “I appreciate you” or “I love you”. I could express much more through an image I created. Fast forward through troubled teen years, college, a marriage, a divorce, and many moves across the country, my artistic ability was always something that remained a constant in my life. It became a voice that I could use other than words to express myself. I began exploring paradoxes of good and evil, and using elements of art to portray the balance of the two. As a professional artist, I began with a series of horses while living in Lexington, KY. Inspired by their strength and beauty, while also viewed as a machine and income generator, the paradox leant itself to an interesting subject. My divorce leads me to my next venture, the “Caged Birds” series, which addressed the concept of being “caged” or disabled from reaching your full potential by some type of obstacle. These “obstacles” could be a career, a relationship, a location, finances, a disease, children etc. Exploring several new series including “Orchids”, the completion of a life-sized horse sculpture for the city of Lexington, KY, the designing of a “how to paint” at-home painting program called “Social Artworking” (sold at craft stores nationwide such as Joann’s), a Pet Portrait business called “Edryden Pawtraits” (which donates 10% of each piece to an animal shelter of the client’s choice), and multiple commission pieces, I have stayed very busy exploring different faucets of the artworld.
Has it been a smooth road?
Being an artist is definitely not a smooth road. The business of art is tricky, and it is a constant challenge to stay afloat financially. I have found that while many people understand and love my art, it is impossible to appeal to everyone. I often explore darker subjects with my art, and use it as a sense of personal therapy. Many people might not want to necessarily have those thoughts hanging on their walls at home, and I respect that. Some art sells much easier than others. I have found that finding a balance is very helpful between the art that I create for myself and the art that I need to sell to pay my bills. Creating a side business or finding a niche within the art world that can create a steady income, can free up time to concentrate on my individual explorations with what I create. My pet portrait business, Edryden Pawtraits, is a great niche that I not only enjoy due to my love of animals, but it enables me to make a steadier income using my artistic talents than just my personal explorations with art alone.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Elizabeth Dryden Fine Art – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I am known for a unique eclectic Mixed Media style of painting. I use other mediums on the canvas besides paint to add texture to each piece, and I love working with bold, bright colors. I am most proud of connecting to my clients through my art. It is a great feeling when people understand what I am doing and the messages I am portraying through my work. What sets my work apart is the different layers of mediums and messages that each piece embodies. I use the same style of art to create my “Pet Pawtraits”, which capture each pet’s unique personality. I am also very proud to be able to give 10% of each pawtrait to an animal shelter/organization of the client’s choice. It feels good to be able to use my art to give back.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I am very excited for the art scene here in Dallas. I feel that our city has expanded immensely in its creativity and accepting of the arts since I was growing up. The Design District was not in existence back then, and the city seemed much more conservative. I do, however remember going to Northpark and seeing all of the impressive art they had on display, such as Jonathan Borofsky’s Hammering Men, towering above the stores, and sliding down the planters designed by Raymond and Patsy Nasher in front of Neiman Marcus. It is fun to see the growth of the art world in Dallas since those days. The thing I like least about Dallas is the domestication of the unique neighborhoods with edge, such as Lower Greenville and Deep Ellum which seems to currently be taking place. I liked the originality and uniqueness of these parts of Dallas that now seem to all be merging into the same type of neighborhood.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.elizabethdryden.com
http://www.edrydenpawtraits.com (Pet Portrait website) - Phone: (214)702-1365
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethdrydenfineart/
https://www.instagram.com/edrydenpawtraits/ (Pet Portrait Instagram) - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edrydenpaintings
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