New Artist on the Lane: Lizzy Ragsdale
We are so excited to introduce you to our newest artist on the Lane, Lizzy Ragsdale! Lizzy is based in Nashville, TN, where she creates the beautiful art work now on display in our shop. Her use of bold colors and expressive brushwork translates into stunning pieces that we can’t wait for you to come in and see.
Tell us a little about yourself and your path to becoming an artist.
I’ve been making art ever since I can remember! When I was very young my teachers noticed my special interest in creating, and my mother decided put me in private, one-on-one art lessons, which was such a blessing. From there my interest grew as my resources grew; I love learning to use a wide range of mediums, and seeing that there were a million ways to create!
Where do you draw your inspiration?
My inspiration is ever changing, and that in itself is inspiring! Looking for inspiration in every part of my day is a crucial part of my creative process; for example, I went on a walk a couple of months ago on a beautiful day when the weather was finally starting to warm up, and I smelled what I like to call the “smell of spring” and that smell triggered a whole body of work for me in which I tried to capture that experience in my paintings.
Has your style changed or developed over time?
It is constantly changing! That is one amazing part of being an artist that keeps me coming back for more; there is never a finishing point. We are always learning more and more about ourselves through the art making process, and as life changes, we change, and our art changes. My style has always been more naturally loose and gestural, but through the years as I have become more comfortable with myself creatively, I have learned how to better use that looseness.
Do you work exclusively with acrylics and can you tell us a little about why you chose that medium?
I don’t work exclusively with any medium, ever — I love them all! I go through phases, and I’m currently in the acrylics phase. Acrylics lend themselves so well to the layering process for me. While oils are beautiful in their own way, I got tired of waiting for a layer to dry before working on the next one, so I put them away for a little while, and moved to acrylics. I like to switch gears every now and then and work with pastel, watercolor, charcoal, etc., and doing so can feel refreshing.
What pieces do you most enjoy creating?
That changes as my inspiration changes. Some weeks it’s landscapes and some weeks it’s abstracts, but usually one of the two! Right now my favorite to do are my abstracted landscapes.
Do you have an all-time favorite painting?
I change my mind about that frequently, but right now it is a big four-foot abstract piece based on the ocean, with thick texture and moody blues — it has me daydreaming about having my toes in the sand.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given as an artist?
“Step away from your work when you’re getting frustrated.” This has been monumental in my process! Overworking a painting can be easy to do when you are someone who takes pride in your work. Stepping away and coming back to a piece with fresh eyes can be a game changer. This is why my studio is constantly filled with 10 to 15 “in progress” paintings; if I get tripped up on one, I move onto the next. Usually by the time I circle back around to the one I was frustrated with, I have a new idea on how to approach it.
