Meet the Correspondents--Elizabeth S. Smith

I spent my early years in the woods and waters of Iowa developing a love for plants and wildlife that I hope is reflected in my work. I believe that nature journaling can be a powerful instrument for learning, relaxing, and reconnecting. My personal style is self-taught but shaped by ten years in the graphic arts and by ongoing practice and occasional workshops. Recently I went back to school to complete my art degree and take postgraduate classes in education; I’m especially interested in art education and using the arts to heal. I hope that I can inspire others to take a moment to connect to nature and the amazing systems around us!

I’m currently working with my husband, Kevin, in our custom cabinetry business, but also do illustration and artwork part-time.

Past work in the graphic arts includes illustrations for posters, T-shirts, nature guides, magazines, and signage. Fine art paintings and assemblages are shown locally. Please see my website (www.lizardart.com) or email me for more details (elizabeth@lizardart.com). I keep a log of my sketchbook on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/elizabeth-lizardart/) as well as my attempts at making handmade sketchbooks.

I feel quite honored to be a part of this group! The interaction among my contacts at Flickr has been a positive experience in many ways, and I feel that this blog will be a wonderful pool of viewpoints about nature and the act of observing and drawing. Something happens when I paint nature; there is a pathway opened to an unknown mystery. Time changes, I am not the same afterwards.