Elizabeth Murray is an amateur artist who lives in Austin, TX.
Creativebin: When did you first start painting? What materials do you use?
Elizabeth Murray: I started painting at age 11, when I joined a Montessori school that had a fully-equipped art studio. I've played around in a lot of mediums, but I only use acrylics at this point: they're non-toxic and very versatile. If I had better ventilation, I'd use oils.
CB: Do you begin with a finished painting in mind or do your works evolve gradually?
EM: I think there's a degree of randomness and luck in creativity, and too much rigidity is stifling. But if you don't have something to say in the
first place, what are you doing? It's risky. I always have something in mind when I begin, even if I'm working out some details as I go along.
CB: About how much time do you spend on each painting?
EM: It depends on the painting. The better ones take longer, usually on the order of weeks.
CB: What is the relationship between your life and the art you create?
EM: I paint more when I feel creatively stifled in other aspects of my life. Painting is something over which I have total control. I also paint more
when I'm lonely, because it seems to draw people to me.
CB: How does that work?
EM: People find it interesting. And it's a talking point. Everyone likes to have a portrait done, and if you can do a flattering one it's even
a decent way to strike up a conversation at a bar.
CB: Name some words that you think best describe your work.
EM: graphic, human, social
CB: Finish this sentence: Art is ____.
EM: Art is personal.
CB: Does you work reflect your social values?
EM:
Not really. Maybe in the sense that my social values influence what I'm thinking about. I don't think I ever make statements about social values, except with regard to what I think is nice to look at -- including people.
Most people seem to like to paint women more than men, and that's probably because there are more ideas about the right and wrong way for a woman to look; there's a lot more to say about that visually. I also prefer to paint women, so maybe there's some social value in that, but nothing direct.
