Elizabeth Power uses color and light to magical effect in her still lifes and coastal paintings

Living in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, with her partner and two young children, Elizabeth Power is a contemporary artist specializing in vibrant and colorful paintings. From nostalgic and iconic coastal scenes to still lifes of flowers and other plants, her artwork utilizes cheerful, vibrant colors to provide a sense of escape with an undercurrent of relaxation.

Graduating from the University of the Arts London in 2018, Elizabeth’s work has appeared in British Vogue, The Royal Academy of Arts, Home House, Soho House, Heals, The London Design Festival, John Lewis, Delphian Gallery and Art on a postcard. She is also the founder of ‘Babes in Arms’, a local organization that curates and hosts shows that nurture and support artist mothers in the area.

Now her work can be seen at an upcoming exhibition called Coastal Calm at 99 Projects, in Kensal Rise, London. We chatted with Elís about her technique, her inspirations, and how she found a better life for herself and her family.

Rare memories of calm

Enhanced by an elevated color palette, this new work captures rare moments of nature, featuring nostalgic and iconic coastal expressions, from striped deck chairs to seascapes and beautiful seaside architecture. The collection also features natural elements such as flowers and other flora, often depicted in vases made by local artisans, against a background of bright light against the heavy shadows of a midsummer day.

She paints mostly with acrylics, as she is drawn to the quick-drying nature of the paint, but always starts with a back-washed canvas for her signature pink or yellow. Working from her own photography, Elizabeth creates loose sketches on canvas, followed by expressive painted brushstrokes. Raw and organic, each piece plays with textures, exposed pencil lines and visible brush strokes to capture the atmosphere of the scene.

“I love to play with color and light in my work and I maintain a rawness and raw quality to my paintings,” she explains. “I love to capture the essence of the scene I’m painting but use an elevated color palette to represent how I want the world to look: full of hope and life. .”

And she wants to share that feeling with others. “I want to transport the viewer to a moment of calm, a happy place, and capture this still moment of peace in a painting that will last. I am very inspired by painters such as Matisse, Hockney, Bonnard, Tal R, Avery, and Dodd : people who use colors playfully and keep a level of abstraction and simplicity in their painting I’m not a fan of hyperrealism For a painting to be relevant today, it should be very different from what our eyes see, and full of texture and marked brush strokes.”

A magical coast

Her work effortlessly reflects the pleasure of the English seaside, an environment to which she feels a strong connection. “I grew up in the south east and was always visiting Brighton, Hastings and Eastbourne,” she explains. “The coast is magical: there is something charming about its decaying post-Victorian glory. The stone beaches, the piers, the amusements, the fish and chips, the sweet shops and the crazy golf with happy childhood memories.”

Yes, the UK coast is not famous for its great weather. And as Elizabeth points out wryly, “There is nothing more in Britain than a windy day watching seagulls from your shack while you desperately try to enjoy a family fun day out at sea. Living in St Leonards-on-Sea in Hastings, however, it really feels like we have more sunny days than not, and that the pace of life is so slow and life by the sea is so relaxed.

“I make sure I walk to the beach every day, and it takes away any stress,” she says. “It has an incredible artistic vibe and rebellious spirit that runs through everyone’s bones here, and the community is incredible. I’ve never felt more proud or felt more at home living anywhere in my life.”

Search for a new life

Moving from West London to St Leonards-on-Sea just before the UK’s lockdown, she is just one of many families drawn to the romance of the coast, seeking a different kind of life. Filled with creatives and freelancers, more and more ex-Londoners are starting new lives by the sea, inspired by the city limits during lockdown.

“We left just before the pandemic, so it wasn’t related to that and it was a coincidence of good timing,” she recalls. “I’d been living in the city since university, and although I loved my time there and had some incredible memories, especially from the music scene and being in bands throughout my twenties, I was feeling the pressure out and I don’t like it. longer to suit my needs.

“I had my first child and I had a tiny flat with no space,” she continues. “All my friends had left the city or my life was a very different lifestyle. And I had to work full-time jobs – albeit in the art world – to pay the enormous bills. the jumped to become a full time artist. Also, I was starting to hate that everything was so busy and rushed. I didn’t realize the stress and anxiety I was under until I left me.”

Like many, Elizabeth always wanted to live by the sea and have a slower pace of life, better air quality and more green space for her children. So she was delighted to find out that “we could have a house with a garden here and have the work-life balance we’ve always wanted. I knew a number of people in Hastings with families who had moved from London already, and their lifestyles seemed amazing. They were all very creative like-minded, and I knew if they liked it, I would. We visited a lot and fell in love with the place more every time.”

Beautiful surroundings

So, when she arrived, did she find the escape she was looking for: the tranquility depicted in her beautiful works of art? “Indeed, yes,” she said. “I feel really happy and lucky to live in St Leonards-on-Sea. It’s the most magical place, full of wonderful people, and I feel like I’m living on holiday most of all. most days. It’s so cold here, but still full of life. with lots of exciting things happening all the time, from food experiences to music festivals and art openings.

“Everyone is so happy all the time,” she says. “It’s hard not to be when you live in such a beautiful environment. I feel very supported by my community. I’ve never had that in the city. And let’s face it – I didn’t have a beach hut in London! “

Coastal Calm opens from 23 March to 23 April 2023 at 99 Projects, 99 Chamberlayne Rd, Kensal Rise, London NW10 3ND. Opening hours are 11am-6pm Wednesday to Saturday and 11am-4pm Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday). Prints start at £200, while originals start at £2,200.