Where ART Lives Magazine Volume 3 Number 4 | Page 86

Elizabeth Chapman
How often do you paint? How many hours a week?
It changes. The first year after I left my position as an art teacher, I thought I needed to do this
just like a regular job. So, to the studio I would go at 8 am to paint, lunch break and then from
12-3 it was learning how to use the computer, take pics, etc. I was very disciplined. Some years I
found that painting worked best in the evenings or mostly on weekends. For the past few years,
it’s been early in the morning. We have an empty nest now and so find ourselves going to bed
early and being early risers. I can easily get a lot of painting done in about 2-3 hours, before the
day begins. Sometimes, I might paint in little bits of time throughout the day and then I might
have some weekends that I will totally crush it with painting, it just depends what’s going on in
our lives. I would say that it’s probably anywhere from 20-30 hours a week. I am totally
comfortable with not having to have a schedule now. I have learned that there are days or even
weeks that it just isn’t going to happen. I’ve also learned to not stress over these creative blocks.
Just let them happen. It’s a great time to clean house, try a new recipes, cook, read, etc.,
embrace it!
How would you like to be remembered?
Well, my children have always joked around about how they would write “it all worked out” on
my tombstone. It comes from them having heard me say that so many times as they were
growing up. So that will probably be how I will be remembered.
How do you know when a painting is finished?
How do you know when you’re in love? You just know. It can’t be measured in time. Sometimes
it can happen just as you’ve begun a painting. Most of the time there is a beginning stage and
then the struggle. This is the difficult time as you know it just isn’t happening and yet you can’t
let go until it does. Lastly, comes THAT moment. It may be just as you’ve laid a stroke of color or
line down and it clicks. You just know...it is good.
Where would you take your dream vacation?
I think that I tend to romanticize the Mediterranean area. Perhaps the south of France. I think of
all those little towns on hills along beautiful coastal waters, food and good wine. The other place
would be to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for a buggy ride through the countryside.
Tell us something that few people know about you.
I’m really a pretty private, yet passionate person. Maybe I’m working on creating a world full of
joy, one painting at a time!
melizabethchapman.arts pan.com
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