I started out as
an expressionist painter and printmaker, went
through several years of constant drawing with
graphite sticks and oil pastels, and in '88,
settled into ceramic tile mosaics as my major
medium. As a painter, I strive for a fluid,
colorful movement in my use of the rigid
materials.
I've also
moved more towards mixed-media all the time. At
first I'd throw in a little rock or shell, then
in 2000, began making tiles myself. Last
year I started working with concrete and the
floodgates opened!!!
The relative
immediacy of drawing into the clay molds and
finishing with paint allows for so much more
narrative detail to be packed into my work. The
characters and stories have always been of the
utmost importance in my work, and now I feel a
freedom to develop that aspect, harkening back
to my painting and printmaking days....only now
I've got another twenty years of life to draw
(or tile) from!
Much of the
imagery in my new work has grown from the
experience of traveling through Ukraine, Turkey,
Greece and Italy during summer '04. The
exploration of world history through religious
wars was one theme that keeps coming up; another
is the more personal travel story, with all its
stresses and delights. I feel as though I've
just skimmed both topics and find the most
interesting parts are where the two intersect.
I continue to
do both public and private mosaic commissions
and have been working with groups of school
children.
Since June
'96, I have presented mosaic workshops or
"Groutcamp" May through September at
my studio in Potter Valley, attracting students
from around the country.
I enjoy
lighting the lights of art in other people
through teaching them to create as well as
through sharing my vision through the work I
create.
This year
I'll be presenting workshops in several other
venues in addition to my studio (in SF, Oakland
& Chicago).
"GroutCamp in
a Box", my 90 minute instructional
video/dvd is also available!
Follow this link for
details www.eraybeemosaics.com
ELIZABETH
RAYBEE
