035 / Pandemic Artwork Stories

3/15/2021


035 / pandemic artwork stories

WITH ELIZABETH ST HILAIRE


Where are you painting from and what have you been doing to keep busy?

I work from my home-based studio in Sacramento, California. As a full-time artist, I am always busy marketing, this takes many hours a day on the computer. Over the past year I have been filming and editing a lot of instructional videos, which keeps me more than busy. I am also painting a lot, not traveling to teach in-person workshops has given me more time at the easel. 

What is one positive that has come from this experience for you?

The best thing that happened to me this year was setting up my Patreon page. Since all my in-person workshops cancelled (this is the cornerstone of my income), I had to pivot in order to substitute that income stream with an alternative. I had been meaning to learn more about Patreon and set it up, but it was on the back burner. The cancelation of all travel workshops gave me the time and motivation to get my page set up. Patrons pay a $25 per month subscription and have access to weekly art instruction video content. It’s a lot to keep up with, but it’s a great substitute income stream. 


What is one of your favorite pieces in the collection from a fellow artist?

One of my favorite pieces from a fellow artist is Hai-Ou Hou’s “The New Fashion”. I love her loose brushwork combined with her beautifully rendered self portrait, donning a face mask and holding a toilet paper roll. The visual elements in Hai-Ou’s painting really represent a sign of the times this year. The darkness behind her and the brushwork give me a sense of emotion–I feel her stress, anger, frustration, and fear; something we can all relate to.

Learn more about Elizabeth's artwork and story 
here