_edited.png)
Now that most people are staying home more often, don't you want your home to reflect who you are? I mean really inspire you. On a daily basis, just by sitting down, eating, or walking down the hall?
"Often times, the client ends up having a stronger emotional connection to the piece than I do. And that is when I can say it's a job well done. " -Elizabeth Sheats
So what makes art speak to your soul? Is it the perfect combination of your favorite colors mixed with a scene that you recall from childhood? Is it a likeness of a face or curls on the back of a toddler's head that draws you in? It could be a sense of place, a sense of time, a memory of a loved one, a sense of belonging that you might not have felt for a while.
All the time, I have clients tell me that an artwork of mine speaks to them. I'm always curious about how this happens. I usually ask them to explain, and most of the time they can't put it into words. Often, their reply is "I don't know exactly, it just is a feeling I get when I look at it." And I know better than to pry. It's personal--I get it. It's happened to me too.
Often times, the client ends up having a stronger emotional connection to the piece than I do. And that is when I can say it's a job well done. That is when I feel the validation that maybe I am actually in the right career.
I try to take myself out of the equation when it comes to art. When I try to take too much control, the piece gets overworked, too tight, and downright ugly. When it's late at night and I can't sleep and I stumble to the studio to paint, I imagine that God is smiling and saying "hey Liz, let me hold that paint brush real quick" and before I know it, I'm staring at something amazing that was blank an hour ago. It's happened a few times, not often enough.
We have all heard of dopamine and how your brain releases it when you fall in love. Did you know it's also released when you view art that you love also? Check out this article from the Huffington Post. It has a video that explains the findings of Dr. Semir Zeki at the University College London, where he is a Professor of Neuroesthetics.
In today's world, we could all use some more dopamine. Isn't it a good time to load up on local, original art that makes you smile? Visit my Etsy shop on my website, or contact me to do a heartfelt commission for you.
