Artist Spotlight - Elizabeth Nicholls
Elizabeth Nicholls
Graduate of LCVI
Artist Statement:
“Art has always been my passion, and I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. I was able to reach a high level of accuracy and detail with my drawings without being taught anything. But my drawing skills evolved to be even more polished when I attended the Academy of Realist Art in Toronto, Ontario. It was there that I learned shading techniques used by the old masters which allowed me to achieve a delicate softness in my drawings. Since then I have proceeded to have more success in the art world. I have had the huge honour of getting juried into one of the most renowned art exhibitions in the world, Birds in Art, at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in 2016 and 2019. And I have been accepted as a member of the prestigious group of world class artists, the Society of Animal Artists. Knowing that I’ve already achieved quite a lot for my young age, I’m excited to see what’s in store for the rest of my journey.”
Queen Polly
10¼” x 14½”
Coloured pencil on Fluid hot pressed paper
2019
“I took the reference photo for this drawing on a sunny day, causing the branch on which the parrot perched to be overexposed. My initial plan was to do my best to re-create the lost details and provide a background. As I worked, I realized that if I left the background white, I could draw the branch as it was in my photograph. This approach accentuated the shapes and colours of the bird in a striking way. I’m pleased with my decision. Showing the true intense sunlight of the moment and drawing less attention to the branch emphasized the macaw.”
