PROFILE POSTSCRIPTSDesert Island CD The sounds on the island would be enough to keep her musical cravings fed. From Dutchland to Deutschland: Passionate about travel, Liz got to take a trip to Germany that she says has been very influential to her artwork. Survey Says: Her favorite color is yellow. Music to Her Ears: She listens to all kinds of different music; the Decemberists in particular really inspire her. Miscellany She enjoys the outdoors, hiking, cycling, and studying the principles of yoga.
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Featured member:
Liz Masters
MASTERS of FINE ART
By Anne Kirby & George Hunter
When we pulled the name of this month's featured member out of the hat, I was very excited. Finally, I thought, I get to learn more about this talented artist, who-like her work-seems a bit of an enigma.
The first time I met CHL featured member of the month Liz Masters (a.k.a. E. C. Masters) was at the CHL Meet & Greet in June. Twenty-two of us had gathered at Annie Bailey's downtown to step out of our safety zones and take a chance talking shop with what turned out to be some of Lancaster's finest. After chatting with Liz, I felt I had known her for much longer than our brief twenty-minute acquaintance. I made sure to ask her for her business card and she willing complied. Her business card, which features a clean illustration of the artist herself, is a wonderful representation of her skill. "Wow, this girl's got talent," I thought. "Why haven't I seen her work all over town?" I felt I needed to know more about this E. C. Masters. A feeling that still today, I can't shake.
Christina Martin, Kelly Watson and I had the pleasure of sitting down with Liz at my dinning room table a few weeks ago and we came to know a bit more of this fine local artist and her work.
Born and raised in Elizabethtown to very artistic parents, illustration always came naturally to her. It wasn't until high school when faced with the decision on what to do with her life did a career in art become an option. Cute girl with good grades well off to pursue a career in social science or psychology you'd say. Well, not so. As Liz explained, “I always took art seriously. I just wasn't sure if it was something I wanted to pursue as a career.” When a guidance counselor told her that she should pursue something other than art, Liz did the exact opposite. With support and encouragement from her family, she embarked upon an education in arts; lucky for us she did.
Liz went on to graduate from Bradley Academy and the Pennsylvania School of Art and Design. Inspired by her professors, Liz honed her skill and mastered her craft. When asked if her education prepared her for a life as an artist she quickly answered, “yes!” She went on to say that her professors never sugar coated the reality. This prepared her for the challenges to come.
Liz’s pallet is very diverse, and her work ranges from Christmas cards to comic book illustration. She likes to experiment with illustrations taking it to the next level. While her preferred medium is ink and watercolors, she also enjoys photography, digital art and other forms of mixed media.
Liz's enthusiasm for art is evidenced by her love of a good creative challenge. Sometimes she'll challenge herself to start and complete a work in a single day. Ever prepared for subjects, her studio is mobile thanks to a portable easel and a laptop, so she can work outdoors.
As our conversation continued, Liz surprised me by saying that people sometimes get the wrong impression about her and her work. This confusion perhaps arises from a range of emotions and themes she expresses in her art. Some people like neat categories and one dimension; Liz-and her work for that matter-fit neither of these descriptors.
Anything but one dimensional (metaphorically speaking of course), her creations have an enigmatic quality, so I wasn't surprised to find out that, like Winslow Homer, the ocean is a major inspiration and reoccurring theme in her work for it's dark and brooding nature. This fascination stems from curiosity tinged with awe, as she explains, "it's so vast and no one really knows what is down there.” “It has a soul and life of its own," she said, "It is a force to be reckoned with." Indeed, the ocean provides the backdrop of a graphic novel she has been working on. Based on a dream, she depicts the story of a scorned lover that's pulled down into the depths of the ocean by sea monsters. While she stresses it's a work in progress, it is also a therapeutic piece, something she works on when she's feeling down. Being quite happy just now, her work on the book has come to a stand still.
Liz's art seems hauntingly familiar: it speaks to those primal, almost intuitive, human qualities of love, loss and redemption we all share. It is the depth and breath of her images that etch such a lasting impression. She is, in short, the artist of our collective unconscious.
A message from Liz: "If it was not for the support and encouragement from my loving family, a Fine Arts Education and Freelance Illustration Career would never have been a possibility for me. Thank you so much Mom and Dad!"
Want to learn more about Liz? Check out the September Podcast by Kelly Watson for the audio interview. Also be sure to check out more of Liz's work at http://www.ecmastersillustration.com