Art kharma

I love discovering artists that are new to me.

I had the pleasure of several conversations with artist Liza Hathaway Matthews and scored a short interview.

1. Have you always made art? If so, what kind?

I have always been a painter but did take a hiatus for a bit to have children and I worked for years as a fundraiser for United Way of Central Maryland. I continued to dabble in it through the years but I have just gotten back into in the last three years. I now have a wonderful gal who represents me, Oriet Milmoe.
2. Which artist's work inspires you most?

I have always loved so many artists but Warhol, Frankenthaler, Wolf Khan, van Gogh, Monet, Manet and de Kooning have been a few of my favorites. Their use of color and light is always so perfect!

3. Do you collect art by other artists?

I have very different art in my home that are a very different representation of local artists varying in  landscapes, abstract figurative pieces and sculptures. One of my favorite pieces is a very large painting that my mother did for me that is an oil painting of a beautiful barn scene done in a snow setting. The colors, light and mood of the scene are a show stopper. That is featured in our living room! My mother is a wonderful artist that mainly is a still life and landscape artist. She really inspired me as well as my daughter to get back into painting three years ago.

4. Do you have works of your own that you are keeping because they are meaningful to you?

I have a few pieces that hang in my houses but that always changes as they are all for sale. :) One that recently sold that was in my front hallway sold this fall that was really my favorites but it went to a wonderful home and to a family that I adore.

Gazebo

5. Where do you paint?

I paint in a lot of different spots in my house depending on what is going…sometimes in my kitchen, greenhouse or with very large pieces in my garage.

6. What is the most gratifying aspect of your artwork?

When painting it is something I get completely lost in with a thought or a picture of a landscape, interior or image that has inspired me. I may start with a direction but usually it will go a whole different way. It can be very satisfying to just let go and see where it all ends up. I know I have finished a piece when that complete excitement over the piece comes over and I know I have gotten it! As my husband and kids say "walk away mom, just walk away". My husband and three children are my biggest fans and continue to root me on as well as be brutally honest. I love that! I have an 18 year girl senior, a sophomore girl and a sixth grade boy. I paint amongst the complete chaos of family life, love it!

7. Where did you grow up (city, suburbs, rural) and how may it have influenced what you paint?

We live a one street over where I grew up. We are in a wooded area that is beautiful and always an inspiration to me. My recent piece' meadow' was inspired from the sunset that occurs every day as the sunset goes down on our street which is called Meadow Road.

Meadow

8. Do you have a favorite brand of brush, paint, or other supply that you can't work without?

I use many tools when painting from brushes, palette knives, charcoal pencils sponge brushes, crisco oil, right down to my fingers. Anything in my kitchen is fair game! My pieces can range from 24 x 24 to 48 x 60. I am currently doing a series that is small (24 x 24) abstract landscapes. I do work part- time for NPR as the Major Gift Director. It all makes life very interesting!

 Many thanks to Liza. I love to introduce you all to artists' work that you may not have seen.