ART GALLERY

About the Show

 

Artist Liz Collins’ “Wild at Heart - Inspirations from Nature” is a tender, in-depth view of animals beautifully integrated into their habitat and surroundings. Just their eyes alone will grab your heart. Her animals are not just representations, she finds the animal’s beingness - their souls and spirits. You have a sense of a personality, still the ‘wild’ comes through.

 

Also included are Liz’s’ tranquil, breathing-space landscapes. Both animals and landscapes are done with liberating colors, that go far beyond the usual brown fur, green tree, blue sky colors; a fox’s coat has bits of pinkish and green hues, waterways are lavender with golden-hay tint, a leaping rabbit of blue melds into the yellow sky with streaks of aqua. She also adds maps, squiggling marks, and found paper, along with her movement-filled brush strokes, all blend perfectly.

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“Wild at Heart – Inspirations from Nature” marvels the viewer with dream-like animals and landscapes. One senses heartfelt awe and the wish to be close to the places Liz Collins creates.

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Artist Statement

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Artist Liz Collins talks about her show “Wild at Heart-Inspirations from Nature” at the Nevada City Winery Gallery.

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It’s never my intention to change my style year to year—it just happens. And this year, the most significant change started with a whiff of an inkling to paint animals. A small rabbit led to a coyote, to a buck, and with that, the passion began. My goal was to get beneath the physical aspects of the animal to capture a little soul, personality, or inner life— from the thrusting force of a wild horse to the camouflage of a rabbit, the nighttime mystery of the owl, or the still intensity of a great blue heron. Painting outside the lines, blending the natural surroundings with the animal, helped illuminate the wild. But I couldn’t hang a show without paintings of nature, for that’s where the animals live, yes? So, my love for painting landscapes where color is intensified is naturally part of this show as well. All my “paintings” are a mixture of acrylic, oil pastel, and found papers.

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About the Artist

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Liz Collins has carved a name for herself with her vibrant colors and unique perspective, transitioning seamlessly from oil pastels to mixed media with paper and maps. Her work has graced galleries from coast to coast for over four decades, a testament to her enduring talent. Her career has been adorned with numerous accolades, including prestigious awards from the Sausalito Art Festival and the Cherry Creek Art Festival in Denver, two of the most esteemed art shows in the country. She currently resides in Nevada City, CA, with her husband, continuing to create art that captivates and inspires.

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www.lizcollinsart.com