Derek Jackson: Welcome back to my channel, Canvas Commentary, where art meets conversation. Today we're talking with Elizabeth Woodrow, an artist who believes life is a little more colorful when you're willing to think outside the lines. Working in modern impressionism, Elizabeth transforms everyday subjects into vibrant, unexpected works of art. Her colorful approach reminds us that art doesn't always have to follow the rules. Sometimes the best things happen when you let creativity lead the way. If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like and subscribe to the channel. And now here's my conversation with Elizabeth. Hi Miss Elizabeth, welcome to Canvas Commentary. I am so happy to have you.
Elizabeth Witherow: Hi, Derek. I'm so glad to be here. Thank you for having me.
Derek Jackson: my pleasure, my pleasure. You are super talented. I cannot wait to talk about you. So in your own words, will you explain what you do as an artist?
Elizabeth Witherow: So what I do as an artist, I just I paint with acrylics and I my process is pretty simple. there's some people against this. I don't freehand, I'm not a good drawer. I can't just like draw something. So I do use reference photos and I use templates so they're easy to get my, you know, the subject that I'm that I'm wanting. so I start with the basic. subject. I like to do single objects. I don't do anything really complicated because I feel like I can express my my colors, which I love using colors. I can express that more through a simple subject. So I get my template and then I just kind of I think of what can I use as far as colors to pop out the the what I want in that in that subject. you know, like my owl, his eyes was probably one of my favorite, favorite parts of the owl. So I
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: yeah, so I don't use I don't use your basic colors. I so when you look at a subject and a lot some artists like to do they feel like they had to exactly mimic that I that subject. And I don't like to do that. I like to go out of the box and use colors where you wouldn't really expect it. so you know, I do my basic my my tracing or I'll sometimes I use my my projector and kind of get that on the canvas, outline it, then I do my my under washes colors because there's obviously as an artist you want to use certain things to make your your primary top. paintings to to the colors to pop out. so I do my underwashes and and then yeah then I just come up with my color scheme of what I want to pop colors out on certain areas. and like I said I don't use the exact colors you would expect in the in the in my paintings.
Derek Jackson: That's awesome.
Elizabeth Witherow: It's fine.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. So when did you first realize that art was more than a hobby for you?
Elizabeth Witherow: my gosh. Okay, so real funny. Growing
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: up in school, like even all the way through elementary school and all the way through like high school and everything. So I didn't go to college. so I wasn't really trained in painting. but in school, I was a horrible artist. Like I was the worst student in art. I was always the one to say, I need another piece of paper or I need more because I would always mess up. And it made me feel horrible. Like I even took a pottery class. and I I made some kind of like it was supposed to be a dish. And mine was like the worst. It was flat, it was cracked. I was like, I was not really artistic at all. So I was
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: mostly a musician growing up. So I played piano, French horn, trumpet. yeah, anything I could. I was musical. that was that was that was me. I was in music. So Growing up through life, you know, had the family, had the kids, and I never really thought I had painting, like artistic abilities until I took a small online class. so my instructor is an online instructor. I've done I don't take classes with her anymore, but I took classes with her for two years. she's Allie Kay and she's from out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She has At this point, she probably has about 7,000 plus students and it's global. So I was one of her students, and it was one of those basic instruction classes. I kind of like to describe her as like a Bob Ross. Like we would sit and, you know, watch her and kind of follow the steps and learn that way. So I took classes with her for two years. I've only been painting for actually my third year anniversary is coming up. In September. I started in September. Yeah, so I've been painting for three years and I have not stopped. I found that I found that little zing in me when I started painting. And of course, it was a hard journey to begin with. In the beginning, I there was times where I was like, this isn't good enough. It took me a while to even start calling myself an artist. And she encouraged her students. that when you're creating, you're an artist, you know, we kind of doubt ourselves a lot. So getting out of that, like that from the beginning to really being able to call myself an artist, that to me was like the the the first step and say, my gosh, I can do this. Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: So what themes come in your paintings the most consistently in your work?
Elizabeth Witherow: consistently, I would definitely say the the color, the pops, the the weird kind of little like even even in like my owl, you know, there's there's some purples and blues and it's like, okay, well, I might have a brown feather here or or whatnot, but I want to add like some purple, you know, so that to me is the is like kind of my little addition to to my art. Yeah, to kind of add like the little colors where you wouldn't expect it. You know, like in an animal's eye, which to me, the eyes are one of the most important. Like if you can't get the eyes right in in your subject, even my little bird, then it just to me it doesn't seem because the eyes are almost like it's the window. It's just like eyes are the window to, you know, to people, it's to me, it's can show in your paintings as well. So in my eyes, I'll even put like a little dab of blue or a little the little light that's in the eye, it might be like a little dab of yellow or not just white, you know. So kind
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: of add that little pop. Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: That's really cool. so from start to finish, what does your creative process look like?
Elizabeth Witherow: well to begin with, when it starts, it looks like a mess.
Derek Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth Witherow: It will, which is, I guess, a typical messy, you know, there's a lot of messy middle parts. So yeah, to start with my sketch and then my my underwashes is is kind of the reverse, reverse of what when you first look at it in the beginning, it's like, how how is this gonna work out? But again, it's one of those during the process, you just have to keep pushing yourself and like, no, it's gonna turn out. Like it sometimes I even surprise myself like throughout the whole process from start to finish. And from the beginning to the end, I always think to myself, what am I gonna do to stop? Because at some point you have to stop the painting, you have to stop messing with it. You know, so yeah, you have to get to that end to where like, okay, it's good. I have to trust myself. And some people like I like to leave it overnight. Sometimes I'll say, Okay, I'm gonna stop and I'm gonna come back and have a different perspective of it the next day and know, okay, it's the finished product. So yeah, from the beginning it starts kind of messy and then to the end is like, wow, okay, you're finally happy with it.
Derek Jackson: So what would your sixteen year old self think of you right now, of your current work?
Elizabeth Witherow: I would never believe it. like I said, I was not, I was not really artistic, like painting-wise. I've never done, of course, I only do acrylic. I haven't tried watercolor. So I've always looked at other people's stuff, like, my gosh, how can they do that? And even at 16 years old, I don't think I would ever think I would be here. I mean, I'm selling, I'm selling my art. Like the first time I sold my art was like, whoa. Wow. So like I would never imagine myself at that age like where I am now. Yeah. I was like, there's no way.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. I know me I would think the same way. Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: Exactly.
Derek Jackson: My sixteen year old self would be like, What in the world? have you had to overcome any fears as an artist?
Elizabeth Witherow: Yes, yes. And actually, it started, let's see, so I've I've only been painting for about three years now, but in the beginning, when I first started finishing some of my pieces and actually thinking to myself, well, I wonder if people would buy my art. I went to one of my my local shops it was in one of the little towns near us and I my husband and I actually went in there and I was asking the lady I said hey would you would you want to put some of my art in your shop and she was she said no she didn't have space and and whatnot and come looking back on it now I knew it was like that wasn't the right place anyway but it was just a shot in the dark you know I just why not try and get out there right so My husband was like, Well, why don't we go to the little artisan shop across the street? And I was like, No, no, no, no, no. I was so intimidated and and nervous because the first lady, you know, it wasn't a complete rejection, but it was just more like we just didn't have room. But I was like, I could like, who? Cause it was almost like a relief. And my husband said,
Derek Jackson: huh.
Elizabeth Witherow: Why are you so scared? I'm like, Because I don't know if people are gonna want my my paintings. I don't know whether if they would actually buy my art. And he said, Well, let's go over there. And we went over across the street to the little artisan shop, and she fell in love with my stuff, and she immediately knew she wanted to have it in her shop. So my paintings have been in her shop for two and a half years. from from beginning just about the beginning up until now. They're still still there and still being sold. And now I actually have a following, which is really neat. but yeah, my fear was definitely just getting out there and actually. having the courage to have people possibly want to buy my stuff. It was like a real realization. Yeah. But I got over it and I'm so glad I did. Yeah.
Derek Jackson: That's awesome. do you create more for you or for an audience?
Elizabeth Witherow: more for me, and I say that, well, I can say both because I definitely paint what I want to paint. And I don't do a lot of commissions because unless they know they're specifically wanting my style. I've had people, you know, ask me, do you do this? And I'm like, that's not my comfort zone. That's not my So so I wouldn't really do it. So I like to paint stuff that I I love to paint. You know, I've and luckily when I've done that, I've found that people still they still want my stuff. I don't have to please them. They want what I'm painting. And I'm I love what I what I do. So I don't kind of veer off the the side road to something different that's not me. Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: what is your biggest professional lesson that you've learned so far?
Elizabeth Witherow: Don't undersell myself. So I learned
Derek Jackson: Mm.
Elizabeth Witherow: yes. And I would, I would actually, I've told some young artists. I actually had a a youth art show. It was really fun. my husband and I did it ourselves. We kind of did it in a small little venue. We had like six to eight young artists just invited kids to come show their art, and it was super fun. But something I told them and something I've had to tell myself throughout my whole journey is do not undersell yourself. You are what you're worth. Your art is worth what you what you believe it is. And people will pay for for your art because they can't do what you do. so the one I started off low when I was first beginning. Because you know, you're just getting out there. And I did some research and I know artists are technically beginner artists for the first three years and something I didn't I didn't know. But in the same sense, even when you're starting and you know people are are liking what you're putting out there, you if I sell myself short, then they I think you get less respect or less following. from that, if that makes sense. You're
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: you're not really they people will take they'll start taking advantage of you. Say, well can you paint this? But you know, remember you only charged me this last time and like you can't do that. Like you're you're worth what you're worth. And I think too many people really start off really too too low because of that confidence. And I had that issue in the beginning myself because I didn't have that confidence like, well I don't know if they really if they really enjoy this piece or I don't know if I you know what the time you put in and the and and the talent is where people kind of short themselves. Like you so that's one of my that's one of my biggest things and that's that's something I've told the young the young artists, you know, kids even starting off just don't don't sell yourself short. Yeah, that's that's hard. 'Cause there's there's some people
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: like I said that will try to will well you can give me a deal, but then that's that's to me that's kind of it's not really respectful as an artist and it's almost I've learned now throughout my
Derek Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth Witherow: my three years of painting that it's just kind of in a way disrespectful like well I wouldn't hire a carpenter and say, well, d the job wasn't worth that much, you know. Can I have a discount?
Derek Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth Witherow: Like why would you do that? I don't know. Yeah, so that's one of my things.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. That's true.
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Derek Jackson: What are you obsessed with right now? What theme, thing, whatever?
Elizabeth Witherow: and see, that's funny that you use that word because I will get obsessed and I will get on a on a kick, like I at one point I was doing birds. Not only did I really enjoy painting different birds and different species because they are bright. They have colors. but I found out that my followers, I have collectors and a lot of people look for birds. I have some people that just want my yellow birds and this like certain You know, like the pink one. If it has a pink background, they love that. so that was an obsession for a while. But what I've gotten on to lately,
Derek Jackson: yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: I have been doing landmarks, which is really fun. because I'm trying to yeah, I'm trying to get away from I love animals, I love doing different animals, different all kinds of different species. but I wanna get more into like landscapes and and sceneries. So, you know, like right now I'm working on the Taj Mahal, which is really fun. yeah, it was a a lesson piece through through Alley Kay through studios, but I've just kind of like I'm winging it on my own now. Like I said, I don't really take her classes anymore. So I was like, I'm gonna really do that. But I've done I've done the Sydney Opera House, which is one of my favorites. I've done the London the it was called the West. Westminster Bridge, I believe. but a lot of them have sunsets because again, the color. yeah, so I I do love that. I'm obsessed with just like sunsets and and landmarks and stuff right now. but I do kind of go off and undo some side stuff because I don't do really large pieces. that's another thing too. I think a lot of artists feel pressured and say, well, I've got to do this humongous canvas. But sometimes you can do small stuff and and just have just as much fun with it. so I I don't do a lot of large pieces. so off to the side, as I'm working on my my landmarks are basically like 11 by 14 most of the time. but I'll also do some like I'll do like my like my fun little sushi
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: is only like a five by five and it's like fun little stuff like that is Yeah, it's those to me are fun too. So I kinda I like food series. I love food. I did a big a giant cheeseburger, a giant stack of pancakes with blueberries on top. I mean it's just, you know, fun fun stuff like that. But
Derek Jackson: wow. And
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm.
Derek Jackson: I raised my hand when you said the Sydney Opera House because that is one of my favorite paintings too.
Elizabeth Witherow: thank you. Yeah, that
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: was a that was a fun one. with the bridge and the the the darks and then the sunset in the back. To me, that was
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: just I've always wanted to go there. I'm a I'm a huge fan and yeah, it's one of my favorite places. I I would love to go there one day. So I was like, you know what, why not paint it? No.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. So what does success look like for you as an artist?
Elizabeth Witherow: honestly, I wanna say where I am right now. I'm not really shooting to be, you know, some like crazy famous artist. Of course, there's there's so it's so competitive out there to begin with. There's a lot of great artists. success for me is just honestly having a piece. go into someone's home knowing that they're they have it on their wall or wherever in their home and they enjoy looking at it. Like they just enjoy having that pop of color or whatever subject that makes them happy in their home. And that was honestly one of the first best feelings I had as an artist, knowing that my pieces are being sold from the shop and sold, you know, privately if people message me and and all this and It's like one of those one of those feelings like proud, like I'm the proud mama, like that's like my baby. And then I'm so
Derek Jackson: yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: proud. I'm like, my gosh. And especially for having my stuff in the little artisan shop, the owner, she's she's so amazing and so sweet. She's I'll go in there, she says. You know you have a following now. You know there's people that come in here asking for your stuff. And that's the best feeling. I'm even though
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: it's local and it's small, I am so content with that. It's it makes me so happy. But yeah, it's it's exciting. Yep. Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: h have you had to handle criticism and how do you handle criticism?
Elizabeth Witherow: I don't nothing nothing major, nothing that really like, you know, struck me real hard.
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: I had I did do a outside art festival one time in the in our small town and it was more like I had a young an a young artist come to me and she said something about She's like, well, well what do you well what do you use in the in the background or underneath your paintings and stuff? And you know, she wanted to basically tell tell me how to do it. And I said, Well, but I explained to her, I said, Well, that's my process. I said, Well, however you do your processes, that that's that's great. You know, you do it how you like. but I explained my process to her. So I don't know if it was one of those like she was trying to critique, like, well Well, I would do it like this. Why would you do that? Why would you do it like that? And, you know, then I explained to her how my my color balances and everything. So I think it was maybe because she was just young or you know, learning herself. So I was I was polite about it and just basically explained my process and, you know, understand that, well, that's everybody's gonna do it differently. And so she seemed like she understood, but I don't think it was really criticism. I did have another person, you know, they'll come up and they'll say, well, well, have you ever done this or would you do this? I'm like, No, that's not really that's not really me. You know, I wouldn't really do that, you know, basically stuff like that. But I've had a lot of positives too, which is a good feeling. So
Derek Jackson: Yes, that is always a good feeling. is there a painting that has changed you as an artist?
Elizabeth Witherow: That's a good one. I don't I don't really think so. So I did veer off I did go off on a different a different style, I guess you could say, for a little bit in the beginning. And it didn't really didn't really change me. I thought it was because you know how you want to try different things and it's like, okay, well, because I'm still trying to find my style. Like I said, I've only been painting for less than three years now. And I'm still trying to find like I love this style. I love that. So I've I've been on that kick, but I'm like, is there something different? You're always thinking in the back of your head, is there something different? And again, like you said, if I do go down a different route, would it change me? So what I did, I was playing around with very minimum colors, very simplicity, like, but I wish I had some to show you, I'll have to show you later. so I did a series that's called an Eden in Motion series, and it was about 10 or 12, I think it was about 10 or 12 paintings. So I would take people. So I started to take just figures, a f a figure skater, baseball player, I did you know, sports, bodybuilder, and what I did is I did mine a little bit different than how I do these. So I would just pencil, sketch the figure, and then do like one color wash over the whole thing. And then I did an outline, but I only used like maybe two, two or three different colors in each painting. Like, yeah, so I would do the wash, the outline, and the actual like Well, the shading, but the different shades, but use the same colors. very, very simple colors. And amazingly to me, they came out really well. I haven't thought of a different series to do in that style yet. but I do want to play around with that a little bit more. And again, I'm not sure if that would change my entire, you know, artistic, or it's just something that I could try out, you know, on the side, which It it was fun and it was really interesting, but I'll I'll definitely share those with you so
Derek Jackson: perfect. And I'll put it in post production and I'll put them on. I can't wait to see them.
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: what advice would you give to emerging artists?
Elizabeth Witherow: a lot. But my but
Derek Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth Witherow: my first one, like I said, when you're starting out and you're you're trying to find that style and you're trying to find who you are, do not change for anybody. There's like I said, there's some people that will come out and say, but if you did this or could you do this or no you do you so And don't undersell yourself. That was my biggest thing, too. It's
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: like don't when you're starting off, don't be discouraged. the biggest thing, because these are all things that I went through. These are all things that that hit me in the beginning. don't undersell yourself and the confidence. The first time that I called myself an artist was like an like an aha moment. Like I am
Derek Jackson: Mm.
Elizabeth Witherow: an artist. It kind of struck me. So I had I had said something to a friend at work and I said, I'm I'm a painter, I paint. And they're like, you're an artist. And I said, Yeah, I'm an artist. And that was like, wow, that was the first time it it hit me. So don't be afraid to admit yourself you are an artist and don't be afraid to get out there. Cause that was another one of my things is again was getting into the shop, is like just have the confidence to Be you, be who you are, and just get out there. Why not? I mean, you don't this is the old the old saying, you don't know until you try.
Derek Jackson: Yep. what is next for you creatively?
Elizabeth Witherow: I'm honestly I'm just gonna keep painting my heart out. I love finding different subjects right now. I'm working on, of course, we're going into the fall season, so I start looking ahead for you know what's gonna go in the shop. I'm doing some I'm doing a crow, a black cat, because I again I love playing with the the black colors, which I don't use black, but I love playing with the dark colors because I I can add different pops of blues and purples and just all kinds of
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: fun stuff. so I am looking forward to just doing starting my fall series, coming up with different ideas. I do paint for myself, but I also do kind of look at what what would sell in the shop, what people would look for or like to have in their home. so and nothing nothing real, real big. Honestly, this podcast is great because it's another thing to say, okay, yes, I'm gonna get out there and I'm gonna share, share myself and just put myself out there and share my art. So that's something I do want to do more of in the future. I had a a blog with artist close up as a magazine. Some people have I
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: wasn't put in the magazine. But it's just little things to kinda get you out there and and and get you known. So my goal is to is to do that more. and just keep painting. I I just I love it. I'm not gonna stop.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. One secret is I use their blog to find talent to come onto the podcast. So so I saw your work and I was like, Ooh, yes. And typed in email.
Elizabeth Witherow: thank you. That's awesome.
Derek Jackson: My pleasure.
Elizabeth Witherow: That's really cool.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. So well it it's it it yeah. so this first segment is called Art Crush. So who or what has influenced your artistic journey the most?
Elizabeth Witherow: so I will say that again with my in motion series that I'm gonna share with you, I did one of the when I did my first first one or two pieces of that, I had somebody mention, that looks like a Henry Matisse. And I was like, who is Henry? Because again, I I didn't go to college for school for art, you know, I didn't know a lot of the the major like artist names. So I looked up Henry Matisse and the I started just researching his stuff and I was I fell in love with some of his stuff. And it's really n well, his early stuff because as he got older and he wasn't able to paint more, he started doing line just line drawings. So believe it or not, I I go thrifting a lot because I can I use I use thrifted frames sometimes for my art. you know, anything I can find to help. But I found a a Henry Matisse print in a thrift shop and I brought it home and it was just the simplest
Derek Jackson: Well
Elizabeth Witherow: little pencil drawing and it was just it's beautiful. It was just of a a lady laying down under some palm palm tree or some leaves. And it so like again I started researching him and some of his earlier stuff, the colors that he used and just a really neat kind of sporadicness and it wasn't again it wasn't exactly like what he saw, but he made it, you know, he made it look amazing. So he probably that probably inspired me even more. especially learning about his journey was really neat. So
Derek Jackson: No, sh he's amazing. I forget
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: what painting I used. I used paint I what was the it is I'm looking at the painting now. Icarus. I used a painting and copied Icarus and inspired. It was really cool. It was like the
Elizabeth Witherow: wow.
Derek Jackson: two of us, but then there was hearts and yeah, it was really cool.
Elizabeth Witherow: Yeah, I love that. That is really neat. Very nice.
Derek Jackson: so two on an easel. So this
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: two on an easel is what is your last piece and what is your favorite piece?
Elizabeth Witherow: well, off the bat, my favorite was the Sydney sunset. that was one of the largest, well it's a it's eleven by fourteen. and I actually did that
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: on watercolor paper. so it's acrylic, but it's on watercolor paper. Yeah, and it it worked out really well. but the sunset is just what drew me to to the photo. And of course it wasn't the again, it wasn't the exact photo. Cause I I kick it up a notch with my color. but that was really fun because it was challenging and it was one of those that I had to push myself through because of like the bridge and there's like little little details that I'm like I wasn't used to doing that kind of you know, like the land, the whole landmark at first. And then you want to get the colors right and the sky. once I had it completed, I actually shared it with a Facebook group. And one of the ladies was from Australia, and she told me, she said, You captured that perfectly. She's like, That is a Sydney sunset. So I was like, I'm gonna call it Sydney sunset. And yeah, she was amazed at how how well I captured it. And was like, Really? Okay. So I I was glad to hear that from a from a from an actual Australian. So that was pretty neat. And it's it's my favorite because like I said, I would love to travel there someday. And but that was a fun one. It was really fun. I pushed through. and yeah,
Derek Jackson: Good. I'm happy you did.
Elizabeth Witherow: thank you. And my most recent, I work on several at a time, but I would say I think my was probably the last one in my bird series. It was my my heron. And again It was just the colors. There's something about the magenta and the the oranges and everything in in a sunset to me is just it's just so relaxing. It's like I could just look at it all day. So that was probably I think that was the my last one was my long I call it my long legged bird series. and there's more to come with that because I think a I've I've got so much on my list, my to-do list, my my wish list, emu. An ostrich, you know, some fun, maybe funny birds, stuff like that. so mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. wow. So where to finish up a little bit, where can we find and support you?
Elizabeth Witherow: so my business account is elisabeth.withrow on Instagram. and you can also find me on Facebook, but mostly I do. I'm more recognized through my Instagram. So
Derek Jackson: Yeah. I'm the same way. Do you have a website? And I'll put all all of these on post.
Elizabeth Witherow: No, not yet. I wish I did
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: because I do also have prints available of only certain items, not much. so yeah, I am thinking about getting a a website and also because I'm new, I haven't done it a lot yet, but I'm also open to to shipping my art, which I know some that would probably help me a little bit more to to offer that. so I'm gonna make some kind of website or or statement, you know, on my Instagram or something
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: that said I can that I will ship because I don't think I don't think I'm just like local anymore. I think I have a lot of a lot of outside people like reaching out to me now. So it's like that's something I'm definitely gonna be looking more into and consider to to be able to get out there more. So yeah.
Derek Jackson: So if they want to print or anything shipping, contact you through Instagram.
Elizabeth Witherow: Yes, mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: Okay. I ha what other questions do I have? Well and you had any shows?
Elizabeth Witherow: so I have
Derek Jackson: Any festivals or
Elizabeth Witherow: I have a very small show coming up. So each year I do a a little art show at a local yoga studio. It's in Burlington, North Carolina. Yeah. So she usually invites about eight to ten artists and we have like a few pieces, very small stuff, so you know, cause limited wall space obviously. but they'll have a We'll set up our art on the walls and she'll have her yoga class and then we'll have the art show after the class. people can people can purchase our stuff, but it's fun because last year I brought a 18 by 24 elephant. No, 24 by 24 elephant. And it's multicolored. It's it's just crazy colorful. And all of the students after the class, there's like, I was focused on that elephant the whole time. It was beautiful. I wish it had sold, but it was good to know that that was the focus of the class was my elephant painting. It was really fun. But so I had that coming
Derek Jackson: Also
Elizabeth Witherow: up. Yeah. August 22nd. And then I have a small fall festival in Graham, North Carolina, coming up September nineteenth, I believe it is. So yeah, that's
Derek Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: So I s I'm assuming you're from North Carolina then? Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: Yes. Yes. I'm I'm in I'm in Burlington, North Carolina. I do a lot of like
Derek Jackson: okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: stuff in Mebin, North Carolina. I don't reach out I don't stretch out to like Raleigh or Greensboro yet. I'm just really really local so far, yeah.
Derek Jackson: Okay, I only ask 'cause I'm born in Fuquay, Verena, North Carolina. Yeah, so that's where I'm like, I know d I'm hearing words that I know.
Elizabeth Witherow: okay. Yeah, yeah. I know where that is. Yes.
Derek Jackson: Yeah, so awesome. I it was a pleasure speaking with you, Miss Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Witherow: Thank you. Thank you so much for having me again. I really appreciate it.
Derek Jackson: My pleasure and I can't wait to post this. And everyone don't forget to
Elizabeth Witherow: Yeah.
Derek Jackson: subscribe and like. And
Elizabeth Witherow: Yeah.
Derek Jackson: I hope to see you soon and I will keep a track of you online. I'm gonna follow you in everything. Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: Great. Thank you. Thank you so much, Eric. Thank you.
Derek Jackson: My pleasure, have a great day and
Elizabeth Witherow: You too. This was fun. Thanks.
Derek Jackson: Well, thank you, thank you.
Elizabeth Witherow: Hi, Derek. I'm so glad to be here. Thank you for having me.
Derek Jackson: my pleasure, my pleasure. You are super talented. I cannot wait to talk about you. So in your own words, will you explain what you do as an artist?
Elizabeth Witherow: So what I do as an artist, I just I paint with acrylics and I my process is pretty simple. there's some people against this. I don't freehand, I'm not a good drawer. I can't just like draw something. So I do use reference photos and I use templates so they're easy to get my, you know, the subject that I'm that I'm wanting. so I start with the basic. subject. I like to do single objects. I don't do anything really complicated because I feel like I can express my my colors, which I love using colors. I can express that more through a simple subject. So I get my template and then I just kind of I think of what can I use as far as colors to pop out the the what I want in that in that subject. you know, like my owl, his eyes was probably one of my favorite, favorite parts of the owl. So I
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: yeah, so I don't use I don't use your basic colors. I so when you look at a subject and a lot some artists like to do they feel like they had to exactly mimic that I that subject. And I don't like to do that. I like to go out of the box and use colors where you wouldn't really expect it. so you know, I do my basic my my tracing or I'll sometimes I use my my projector and kind of get that on the canvas, outline it, then I do my my under washes colors because there's obviously as an artist you want to use certain things to make your your primary top. paintings to to the colors to pop out. so I do my underwashes and and then yeah then I just come up with my color scheme of what I want to pop colors out on certain areas. and like I said I don't use the exact colors you would expect in the in the in my paintings.
Derek Jackson: That's awesome.
Elizabeth Witherow: It's fine.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. So when did you first realize that art was more than a hobby for you?
Elizabeth Witherow: my gosh. Okay, so real funny. Growing
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: up in school, like even all the way through elementary school and all the way through like high school and everything. So I didn't go to college. so I wasn't really trained in painting. but in school, I was a horrible artist. Like I was the worst student in art. I was always the one to say, I need another piece of paper or I need more because I would always mess up. And it made me feel horrible. Like I even took a pottery class. and I I made some kind of like it was supposed to be a dish. And mine was like the worst. It was flat, it was cracked. I was like, I was not really artistic at all. So I was
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: mostly a musician growing up. So I played piano, French horn, trumpet. yeah, anything I could. I was musical. that was that was that was me. I was in music. So Growing up through life, you know, had the family, had the kids, and I never really thought I had painting, like artistic abilities until I took a small online class. so my instructor is an online instructor. I've done I don't take classes with her anymore, but I took classes with her for two years. she's Allie Kay and she's from out of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She has At this point, she probably has about 7,000 plus students and it's global. So I was one of her students, and it was one of those basic instruction classes. I kind of like to describe her as like a Bob Ross. Like we would sit and, you know, watch her and kind of follow the steps and learn that way. So I took classes with her for two years. I've only been painting for actually my third year anniversary is coming up. In September. I started in September. Yeah, so I've been painting for three years and I have not stopped. I found that I found that little zing in me when I started painting. And of course, it was a hard journey to begin with. In the beginning, I there was times where I was like, this isn't good enough. It took me a while to even start calling myself an artist. And she encouraged her students. that when you're creating, you're an artist, you know, we kind of doubt ourselves a lot. So getting out of that, like that from the beginning to really being able to call myself an artist, that to me was like the the the first step and say, my gosh, I can do this. Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: So what themes come in your paintings the most consistently in your work?
Elizabeth Witherow: consistently, I would definitely say the the color, the pops, the the weird kind of little like even even in like my owl, you know, there's there's some purples and blues and it's like, okay, well, I might have a brown feather here or or whatnot, but I want to add like some purple, you know, so that to me is the is like kind of my little addition to to my art. Yeah, to kind of add like the little colors where you wouldn't expect it. You know, like in an animal's eye, which to me, the eyes are one of the most important. Like if you can't get the eyes right in in your subject, even my little bird, then it just to me it doesn't seem because the eyes are almost like it's the window. It's just like eyes are the window to, you know, to people, it's to me, it's can show in your paintings as well. So in my eyes, I'll even put like a little dab of blue or a little the little light that's in the eye, it might be like a little dab of yellow or not just white, you know. So kind
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: of add that little pop. Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: That's really cool. so from start to finish, what does your creative process look like?
Elizabeth Witherow: well to begin with, when it starts, it looks like a mess.
Derek Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth Witherow: It will, which is, I guess, a typical messy, you know, there's a lot of messy middle parts. So yeah, to start with my sketch and then my my underwashes is is kind of the reverse, reverse of what when you first look at it in the beginning, it's like, how how is this gonna work out? But again, it's one of those during the process, you just have to keep pushing yourself and like, no, it's gonna turn out. Like it sometimes I even surprise myself like throughout the whole process from start to finish. And from the beginning to the end, I always think to myself, what am I gonna do to stop? Because at some point you have to stop the painting, you have to stop messing with it. You know, so yeah, you have to get to that end to where like, okay, it's good. I have to trust myself. And some people like I like to leave it overnight. Sometimes I'll say, Okay, I'm gonna stop and I'm gonna come back and have a different perspective of it the next day and know, okay, it's the finished product. So yeah, from the beginning it starts kind of messy and then to the end is like, wow, okay, you're finally happy with it.
Derek Jackson: So what would your sixteen year old self think of you right now, of your current work?
Elizabeth Witherow: I would never believe it. like I said, I was not, I was not really artistic, like painting-wise. I've never done, of course, I only do acrylic. I haven't tried watercolor. So I've always looked at other people's stuff, like, my gosh, how can they do that? And even at 16 years old, I don't think I would ever think I would be here. I mean, I'm selling, I'm selling my art. Like the first time I sold my art was like, whoa. Wow. So like I would never imagine myself at that age like where I am now. Yeah. I was like, there's no way.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. I know me I would think the same way. Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: Exactly.
Derek Jackson: My sixteen year old self would be like, What in the world? have you had to overcome any fears as an artist?
Elizabeth Witherow: Yes, yes. And actually, it started, let's see, so I've I've only been painting for about three years now, but in the beginning, when I first started finishing some of my pieces and actually thinking to myself, well, I wonder if people would buy my art. I went to one of my my local shops it was in one of the little towns near us and I my husband and I actually went in there and I was asking the lady I said hey would you would you want to put some of my art in your shop and she was she said no she didn't have space and and whatnot and come looking back on it now I knew it was like that wasn't the right place anyway but it was just a shot in the dark you know I just why not try and get out there right so My husband was like, Well, why don't we go to the little artisan shop across the street? And I was like, No, no, no, no, no. I was so intimidated and and nervous because the first lady, you know, it wasn't a complete rejection, but it was just more like we just didn't have room. But I was like, I could like, who? Cause it was almost like a relief. And my husband said,
Derek Jackson: huh.
Elizabeth Witherow: Why are you so scared? I'm like, Because I don't know if people are gonna want my my paintings. I don't know whether if they would actually buy my art. And he said, Well, let's go over there. And we went over across the street to the little artisan shop, and she fell in love with my stuff, and she immediately knew she wanted to have it in her shop. So my paintings have been in her shop for two and a half years. from from beginning just about the beginning up until now. They're still still there and still being sold. And now I actually have a following, which is really neat. but yeah, my fear was definitely just getting out there and actually. having the courage to have people possibly want to buy my stuff. It was like a real realization. Yeah. But I got over it and I'm so glad I did. Yeah.
Derek Jackson: That's awesome. do you create more for you or for an audience?
Elizabeth Witherow: more for me, and I say that, well, I can say both because I definitely paint what I want to paint. And I don't do a lot of commissions because unless they know they're specifically wanting my style. I've had people, you know, ask me, do you do this? And I'm like, that's not my comfort zone. That's not my So so I wouldn't really do it. So I like to paint stuff that I I love to paint. You know, I've and luckily when I've done that, I've found that people still they still want my stuff. I don't have to please them. They want what I'm painting. And I'm I love what I what I do. So I don't kind of veer off the the side road to something different that's not me. Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: what is your biggest professional lesson that you've learned so far?
Elizabeth Witherow: Don't undersell myself. So I learned
Derek Jackson: Mm.
Elizabeth Witherow: yes. And I would, I would actually, I've told some young artists. I actually had a a youth art show. It was really fun. my husband and I did it ourselves. We kind of did it in a small little venue. We had like six to eight young artists just invited kids to come show their art, and it was super fun. But something I told them and something I've had to tell myself throughout my whole journey is do not undersell yourself. You are what you're worth. Your art is worth what you what you believe it is. And people will pay for for your art because they can't do what you do. so the one I started off low when I was first beginning. Because you know, you're just getting out there. And I did some research and I know artists are technically beginner artists for the first three years and something I didn't I didn't know. But in the same sense, even when you're starting and you know people are are liking what you're putting out there, you if I sell myself short, then they I think you get less respect or less following. from that, if that makes sense. You're
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: you're not really they people will take they'll start taking advantage of you. Say, well can you paint this? But you know, remember you only charged me this last time and like you can't do that. Like you're you're worth what you're worth. And I think too many people really start off really too too low because of that confidence. And I had that issue in the beginning myself because I didn't have that confidence like, well I don't know if they really if they really enjoy this piece or I don't know if I you know what the time you put in and the and and the talent is where people kind of short themselves. Like you so that's one of my that's one of my biggest things and that's that's something I've told the young the young artists, you know, kids even starting off just don't don't sell yourself short. Yeah, that's that's hard. 'Cause there's there's some people
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: like I said that will try to will well you can give me a deal, but then that's that's to me that's kind of it's not really respectful as an artist and it's almost I've learned now throughout my
Derek Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth Witherow: my three years of painting that it's just kind of in a way disrespectful like well I wouldn't hire a carpenter and say, well, d the job wasn't worth that much, you know. Can I have a discount?
Derek Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth Witherow: Like why would you do that? I don't know. Yeah, so that's one of my things.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. That's true.
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm-hmm. Yeah.
Derek Jackson: What are you obsessed with right now? What theme, thing, whatever?
Elizabeth Witherow: and see, that's funny that you use that word because I will get obsessed and I will get on a on a kick, like I at one point I was doing birds. Not only did I really enjoy painting different birds and different species because they are bright. They have colors. but I found out that my followers, I have collectors and a lot of people look for birds. I have some people that just want my yellow birds and this like certain You know, like the pink one. If it has a pink background, they love that. so that was an obsession for a while. But what I've gotten on to lately,
Derek Jackson: yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: I have been doing landmarks, which is really fun. because I'm trying to yeah, I'm trying to get away from I love animals, I love doing different animals, different all kinds of different species. but I wanna get more into like landscapes and and sceneries. So, you know, like right now I'm working on the Taj Mahal, which is really fun. yeah, it was a a lesson piece through through Alley Kay through studios, but I've just kind of like I'm winging it on my own now. Like I said, I don't really take her classes anymore. So I was like, I'm gonna really do that. But I've done I've done the Sydney Opera House, which is one of my favorites. I've done the London the it was called the West. Westminster Bridge, I believe. but a lot of them have sunsets because again, the color. yeah, so I I do love that. I'm obsessed with just like sunsets and and landmarks and stuff right now. but I do kind of go off and undo some side stuff because I don't do really large pieces. that's another thing too. I think a lot of artists feel pressured and say, well, I've got to do this humongous canvas. But sometimes you can do small stuff and and just have just as much fun with it. so I I don't do a lot of large pieces. so off to the side, as I'm working on my my landmarks are basically like 11 by 14 most of the time. but I'll also do some like I'll do like my like my fun little sushi
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: is only like a five by five and it's like fun little stuff like that is Yeah, it's those to me are fun too. So I kinda I like food series. I love food. I did a big a giant cheeseburger, a giant stack of pancakes with blueberries on top. I mean it's just, you know, fun fun stuff like that. But
Derek Jackson: wow. And
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm.
Derek Jackson: I raised my hand when you said the Sydney Opera House because that is one of my favorite paintings too.
Elizabeth Witherow: thank you. Yeah, that
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: was a that was a fun one. with the bridge and the the the darks and then the sunset in the back. To me, that was
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: just I've always wanted to go there. I'm a I'm a huge fan and yeah, it's one of my favorite places. I I would love to go there one day. So I was like, you know what, why not paint it? No.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. So what does success look like for you as an artist?
Elizabeth Witherow: honestly, I wanna say where I am right now. I'm not really shooting to be, you know, some like crazy famous artist. Of course, there's there's so it's so competitive out there to begin with. There's a lot of great artists. success for me is just honestly having a piece. go into someone's home knowing that they're they have it on their wall or wherever in their home and they enjoy looking at it. Like they just enjoy having that pop of color or whatever subject that makes them happy in their home. And that was honestly one of the first best feelings I had as an artist, knowing that my pieces are being sold from the shop and sold, you know, privately if people message me and and all this and It's like one of those one of those feelings like proud, like I'm the proud mama, like that's like my baby. And then I'm so
Derek Jackson: yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: proud. I'm like, my gosh. And especially for having my stuff in the little artisan shop, the owner, she's she's so amazing and so sweet. She's I'll go in there, she says. You know you have a following now. You know there's people that come in here asking for your stuff. And that's the best feeling. I'm even though
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: it's local and it's small, I am so content with that. It's it makes me so happy. But yeah, it's it's exciting. Yep. Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: h have you had to handle criticism and how do you handle criticism?
Elizabeth Witherow: I don't nothing nothing major, nothing that really like, you know, struck me real hard.
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: I had I did do a outside art festival one time in the in our small town and it was more like I had a young an a young artist come to me and she said something about She's like, well, well what do you well what do you use in the in the background or underneath your paintings and stuff? And you know, she wanted to basically tell tell me how to do it. And I said, Well, but I explained to her, I said, Well, that's my process. I said, Well, however you do your processes, that that's that's great. You know, you do it how you like. but I explained my process to her. So I don't know if it was one of those like she was trying to critique, like, well Well, I would do it like this. Why would you do that? Why would you do it like that? And, you know, then I explained to her how my my color balances and everything. So I think it was maybe because she was just young or you know, learning herself. So I was I was polite about it and just basically explained my process and, you know, understand that, well, that's everybody's gonna do it differently. And so she seemed like she understood, but I don't think it was really criticism. I did have another person, you know, they'll come up and they'll say, well, well, have you ever done this or would you do this? I'm like, No, that's not really that's not really me. You know, I wouldn't really do that, you know, basically stuff like that. But I've had a lot of positives too, which is a good feeling. So
Derek Jackson: Yes, that is always a good feeling. is there a painting that has changed you as an artist?
Elizabeth Witherow: That's a good one. I don't I don't really think so. So I did veer off I did go off on a different a different style, I guess you could say, for a little bit in the beginning. And it didn't really didn't really change me. I thought it was because you know how you want to try different things and it's like, okay, well, because I'm still trying to find my style. Like I said, I've only been painting for less than three years now. And I'm still trying to find like I love this style. I love that. So I've I've been on that kick, but I'm like, is there something different? You're always thinking in the back of your head, is there something different? And again, like you said, if I do go down a different route, would it change me? So what I did, I was playing around with very minimum colors, very simplicity, like, but I wish I had some to show you, I'll have to show you later. so I did a series that's called an Eden in Motion series, and it was about 10 or 12, I think it was about 10 or 12 paintings. So I would take people. So I started to take just figures, a f a figure skater, baseball player, I did you know, sports, bodybuilder, and what I did is I did mine a little bit different than how I do these. So I would just pencil, sketch the figure, and then do like one color wash over the whole thing. And then I did an outline, but I only used like maybe two, two or three different colors in each painting. Like, yeah, so I would do the wash, the outline, and the actual like Well, the shading, but the different shades, but use the same colors. very, very simple colors. And amazingly to me, they came out really well. I haven't thought of a different series to do in that style yet. but I do want to play around with that a little bit more. And again, I'm not sure if that would change my entire, you know, artistic, or it's just something that I could try out, you know, on the side, which It it was fun and it was really interesting, but I'll I'll definitely share those with you so
Derek Jackson: perfect. And I'll put it in post production and I'll put them on. I can't wait to see them.
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: what advice would you give to emerging artists?
Elizabeth Witherow: a lot. But my but
Derek Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth Witherow: my first one, like I said, when you're starting out and you're you're trying to find that style and you're trying to find who you are, do not change for anybody. There's like I said, there's some people that will come out and say, but if you did this or could you do this or no you do you so And don't undersell yourself. That was my biggest thing, too. It's
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: like don't when you're starting off, don't be discouraged. the biggest thing, because these are all things that I went through. These are all things that that hit me in the beginning. don't undersell yourself and the confidence. The first time that I called myself an artist was like an like an aha moment. Like I am
Derek Jackson: Mm.
Elizabeth Witherow: an artist. It kind of struck me. So I had I had said something to a friend at work and I said, I'm I'm a painter, I paint. And they're like, you're an artist. And I said, Yeah, I'm an artist. And that was like, wow, that was the first time it it hit me. So don't be afraid to admit yourself you are an artist and don't be afraid to get out there. Cause that was another one of my things is again was getting into the shop, is like just have the confidence to Be you, be who you are, and just get out there. Why not? I mean, you don't this is the old the old saying, you don't know until you try.
Derek Jackson: Yep. what is next for you creatively?
Elizabeth Witherow: I'm honestly I'm just gonna keep painting my heart out. I love finding different subjects right now. I'm working on, of course, we're going into the fall season, so I start looking ahead for you know what's gonna go in the shop. I'm doing some I'm doing a crow, a black cat, because I again I love playing with the the black colors, which I don't use black, but I love playing with the dark colors because I I can add different pops of blues and purples and just all kinds of
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: fun stuff. so I am looking forward to just doing starting my fall series, coming up with different ideas. I do paint for myself, but I also do kind of look at what what would sell in the shop, what people would look for or like to have in their home. so and nothing nothing real, real big. Honestly, this podcast is great because it's another thing to say, okay, yes, I'm gonna get out there and I'm gonna share, share myself and just put myself out there and share my art. So that's something I do want to do more of in the future. I had a a blog with artist close up as a magazine. Some people have I
Derek Jackson: Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: wasn't put in the magazine. But it's just little things to kinda get you out there and and and get you known. So my goal is to is to do that more. and just keep painting. I I just I love it. I'm not gonna stop.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. One secret is I use their blog to find talent to come onto the podcast. So so I saw your work and I was like, Ooh, yes. And typed in email.
Elizabeth Witherow: thank you. That's awesome.
Derek Jackson: My pleasure.
Elizabeth Witherow: That's really cool.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. So well it it's it it yeah. so this first segment is called Art Crush. So who or what has influenced your artistic journey the most?
Elizabeth Witherow: so I will say that again with my in motion series that I'm gonna share with you, I did one of the when I did my first first one or two pieces of that, I had somebody mention, that looks like a Henry Matisse. And I was like, who is Henry? Because again, I I didn't go to college for school for art, you know, I didn't know a lot of the the major like artist names. So I looked up Henry Matisse and the I started just researching his stuff and I was I fell in love with some of his stuff. And it's really n well, his early stuff because as he got older and he wasn't able to paint more, he started doing line just line drawings. So believe it or not, I I go thrifting a lot because I can I use I use thrifted frames sometimes for my art. you know, anything I can find to help. But I found a a Henry Matisse print in a thrift shop and I brought it home and it was just the simplest
Derek Jackson: Well
Elizabeth Witherow: little pencil drawing and it was just it's beautiful. It was just of a a lady laying down under some palm palm tree or some leaves. And it so like again I started researching him and some of his earlier stuff, the colors that he used and just a really neat kind of sporadicness and it wasn't again it wasn't exactly like what he saw, but he made it, you know, he made it look amazing. So he probably that probably inspired me even more. especially learning about his journey was really neat. So
Derek Jackson: No, sh he's amazing. I forget
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: what painting I used. I used paint I what was the it is I'm looking at the painting now. Icarus. I used a painting and copied Icarus and inspired. It was really cool. It was like the
Elizabeth Witherow: wow.
Derek Jackson: two of us, but then there was hearts and yeah, it was really cool.
Elizabeth Witherow: Yeah, I love that. That is really neat. Very nice.
Derek Jackson: so two on an easel. So this
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: two on an easel is what is your last piece and what is your favorite piece?
Elizabeth Witherow: well, off the bat, my favorite was the Sydney sunset. that was one of the largest, well it's a it's eleven by fourteen. and I actually did that
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: on watercolor paper. so it's acrylic, but it's on watercolor paper. Yeah, and it it worked out really well. but the sunset is just what drew me to to the photo. And of course it wasn't the again, it wasn't the exact photo. Cause I I kick it up a notch with my color. but that was really fun because it was challenging and it was one of those that I had to push myself through because of like the bridge and there's like little little details that I'm like I wasn't used to doing that kind of you know, like the land, the whole landmark at first. And then you want to get the colors right and the sky. once I had it completed, I actually shared it with a Facebook group. And one of the ladies was from Australia, and she told me, she said, You captured that perfectly. She's like, That is a Sydney sunset. So I was like, I'm gonna call it Sydney sunset. And yeah, she was amazed at how how well I captured it. And was like, Really? Okay. So I I was glad to hear that from a from a from an actual Australian. So that was pretty neat. And it's it's my favorite because like I said, I would love to travel there someday. And but that was a fun one. It was really fun. I pushed through. and yeah,
Derek Jackson: Good. I'm happy you did.
Elizabeth Witherow: thank you. And my most recent, I work on several at a time, but I would say I think my was probably the last one in my bird series. It was my my heron. And again It was just the colors. There's something about the magenta and the the oranges and everything in in a sunset to me is just it's just so relaxing. It's like I could just look at it all day. So that was probably I think that was the my last one was my long I call it my long legged bird series. and there's more to come with that because I think a I've I've got so much on my list, my to-do list, my my wish list, emu. An ostrich, you know, some fun, maybe funny birds, stuff like that. so mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: Yeah. wow. So where to finish up a little bit, where can we find and support you?
Elizabeth Witherow: so my business account is elisabeth.withrow on Instagram. and you can also find me on Facebook, but mostly I do. I'm more recognized through my Instagram. So
Derek Jackson: Yeah. I'm the same way. Do you have a website? And I'll put all all of these on post.
Elizabeth Witherow: No, not yet. I wish I did
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: because I do also have prints available of only certain items, not much. so yeah, I am thinking about getting a a website and also because I'm new, I haven't done it a lot yet, but I'm also open to to shipping my art, which I know some that would probably help me a little bit more to to offer that. so I'm gonna make some kind of website or or statement, you know, on my Instagram or something
Derek Jackson: Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: that said I can that I will ship because I don't think I don't think I'm just like local anymore. I think I have a lot of a lot of outside people like reaching out to me now. So it's like that's something I'm definitely gonna be looking more into and consider to to be able to get out there more. So yeah.
Derek Jackson: So if they want to print or anything shipping, contact you through Instagram.
Elizabeth Witherow: Yes, mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: Okay. I ha what other questions do I have? Well and you had any shows?
Elizabeth Witherow: so I have
Derek Jackson: Any festivals or
Elizabeth Witherow: I have a very small show coming up. So each year I do a a little art show at a local yoga studio. It's in Burlington, North Carolina. Yeah. So she usually invites about eight to ten artists and we have like a few pieces, very small stuff, so you know, cause limited wall space obviously. but they'll have a We'll set up our art on the walls and she'll have her yoga class and then we'll have the art show after the class. people can people can purchase our stuff, but it's fun because last year I brought a 18 by 24 elephant. No, 24 by 24 elephant. And it's multicolored. It's it's just crazy colorful. And all of the students after the class, there's like, I was focused on that elephant the whole time. It was beautiful. I wish it had sold, but it was good to know that that was the focus of the class was my elephant painting. It was really fun. But so I had that coming
Derek Jackson: Also
Elizabeth Witherow: up. Yeah. August 22nd. And then I have a small fall festival in Graham, North Carolina, coming up September nineteenth, I believe it is. So yeah, that's
Derek Jackson: Mm-hmm.
Elizabeth Witherow: Mm-hmm.
Derek Jackson: So I s I'm assuming you're from North Carolina then? Okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: Yes. Yes. I'm I'm in I'm in Burlington, North Carolina. I do a lot of like
Derek Jackson: okay.
Elizabeth Witherow: stuff in Mebin, North Carolina. I don't reach out I don't stretch out to like Raleigh or Greensboro yet. I'm just really really local so far, yeah.
Derek Jackson: Okay, I only ask 'cause I'm born in Fuquay, Verena, North Carolina. Yeah, so that's where I'm like, I know d I'm hearing words that I know.
Elizabeth Witherow: okay. Yeah, yeah. I know where that is. Yes.
Derek Jackson: Yeah, so awesome. I it was a pleasure speaking with you, Miss Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Witherow: Thank you. Thank you so much for having me again. I really appreciate it.
Derek Jackson: My pleasure and I can't wait to post this. And everyone don't forget to
Elizabeth Witherow: Yeah.
Derek Jackson: subscribe and like. And
Elizabeth Witherow: Yeah.
Derek Jackson: I hope to see you soon and I will keep a track of you online. I'm gonna follow you in everything. Yeah.
Elizabeth Witherow: Great. Thank you. Thank you so much, Eric. Thank you.
Derek Jackson: My pleasure, have a great day and
Elizabeth Witherow: You too. This was fun. Thanks.
Derek Jackson: Well, thank you, thank you.
