Liza Hathaway Matthews: The Nature of Design
Liza Hathaway Matthews is an abstract contemporary artist who uses color, form, and texture to create works inspired by nature. Her work as a textile designer also inspires her paintings, which is evident in her strong use of pattern, harmonious color, and design.
How did your creative journey begin?
My creative journey started as a young girl in elementary school from loving any art classes right through to college. I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Maryland Institute, College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland. At this point, I was able to experience all mediums as well as art history classes and other required academic classes. I enjoyed learning how to weave, solder metals, participating in all drawing and design classes as well as sculpting and screen printing.This wide variety of creative classes helped me narrow my major down to painting with a minor in interior design. I do paint everyday and love working with designers to create pieces for clients spaces. I find that it brings all my creative interests together and keeps it always interesting and fresh!
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I find inspiration EVERYWHERE! I love gardening, design, cooking, waterscapes, landscapes and travel. Each of these interests brings color, texture, pattern and design to my work and I look forward to seeing how it all comes together with shapes and color combinations. I have a few different styles with my painting and they are abstract landscapes, waterscapes, and modern florals. Each of these subjects, are done at different times depending on the season and my overall mood. This summer, my daughter got married and I found florals were a feature in a body of spring and summer works. These pieces are full of color, movement and lots of paint to create a ‘impasto’ look. I love creating layers of paint that draws the viewer in to see more and wonder what the medium could be. I do use a range of mediums from oil and acrylic paint, ink, oil stick mixed into gels, glass particles and metallics to create my pieces. I love to experiment to keep my work fresh and different.
How has your work evolved over the last few years?
I have a short attention span, so changing things up within my work is very important. I also enjoy trying new things and thinking about subjects in different ways. This can be seen in my work over the years. I look at my blank canvases as an opportunity to recreate myself. It is important, I challenge myself and don’t rest on what I know I can do. I want to explore and put myself out there to try new things. There are times, I need to take breaks, reenergize and organize my thoughts before I move on. I now understand the importance of these hiatus’s from my work so I can continue to be proud and excited about what I am creating daily.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
Everyday is very different in my studio, I try to paint first thing in the morning. I am an early bird and with a fresh perspective, rested and a clear head, I am at my best! I love the quiet with my coffee and maybe listening to a podcast or a book as I gear up for the day. My early rising, helps me get a jump on the day! The afternoon is all about sending and returning emails, prospecting and organizing and scheduling social media. The social media is important but I really try not to get bogged down in it as I feel it can be a black hole that is not productive for me. I have a team that does this for me and they are good at it. I don’t have any interest in posting and much rather paint, garden and cook. These outlets are just other creative outlets for me.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
Experiences as far as travel, creating flower arrangements, thinking through new collaborations with home decor companies is what keeps me thinking of possibilities and opportunities. I look at my paintings as being something more than art but also as linens, textile designs, and other house accessories. My design background in college keeps that spark alive in me. I enjoy following designers and seeing new trends and color schemes. I have had the good fortune to work with Anthropologie to create lampshades, wallpaper and a travel accessory line from a silver chinoiserie painting. Some of these products are still part of their home decor line today. I work with a few other companies with my textiles and wallpapers that are offered to the design community. This continues to be of great interest to me and I look forward to building on these collaborations.
How has social media impacted your work?
I started social media in 2007 with Instagram and Facebook, it was all new to creatives and a wonderful way to be discovered. It continues to be today but much more saturated with creatives. When I first started my platforms, there were some artists and finding what you were looking was easy. It has become full time jobs for people in understanding algorithms, special hashtags and the timing of a particular post. I know all to well the importance of social media but it can take up a lot of time and money, especially for a small business. Sadly I was hacked on Instagram and FB account in early December, it has been difficult as I have had to start all over with these important platforms. This is something that I never thought would happen to my small business. It has made me pick up my boot straps, reinvent myself on my social media and rethink how I want to put myself out there. I had worked hard to gain a solid base of followers but I’ll get there again and I know it could have been a lot worse. All is well, I still have a business with private collectors, designer contacts and art broker representation. I feel fortunate for all of that and most importantly to get to do what I love everyday.
How does your work as an interior designer inform your work as a painter?
When working with interior designers, I can speak the language with making suggestions on a piece, size and framing. My design background gives me the confidence to suggest and share ideas. Designers have a similar eye as artists with just knowing how a a final look will come together.
My rule is usually not to match the art with interiors. I like the idea of something being a surprise to a viewer that becomes a focus as they enjoy the comfort of the overall room. I also think it’s important to move art around in your home. Art can change a room and look to create a new favorite space and give the room a new life.
Website: https://lizahathawaymatthews.com/
Instagram: @lizahathawaymatthewsart