As long as I can remember, all I ever wanted to be was an artist. My parents gave me great encouragement, and I got my first drawing lesson from my Father when I was 7. He showed me how to draw a bird. My Mother was the one who kept me going. She gave me paper, pencils, paint, signed me up for classes at the community center in Junior High, and never stopped me from taking the path of an artist. She is who I draw for. Sometimes I hear her voice, and I feel her nudging me on.
Much to everyone's astonishment, I did receive an art degree from San Jose State University, but it was my Tiles by Lizzie business that taught me what being an artist actually means. You put small little pieces of your brain out in the open for all the world to see. It is humbling, it is scary, and it takes an immense amount of courage to share this particular part of my life with people.
I work for a dentist. I get a lot of great inspiration just sitting at the front desk. There is an awful lot of talk about tooth pain, but working for a small family practice is about so much more than teeth. I can't imagine a better place to spend huge parts of my day than a dental office, and I mean that sincerely. I love yoga. I think that yoga would be the best thing for the entire planet. If everyone did yoga, not only would we all be bendy and strong, but it's hard to be nasty when you see love and beauty in everything. I also love hanging out with animals. They teach me so much. But mostly, I like doodling. I like coloring. I like walking around and seeing little paintings everywhere. At this juncture of my life, I make absolutely no apologies for the silliness of my work. I can't be serious and dark and brooding, because I'm not. I can't pretend to be tortured, because I know I am blessed.
My paintings come from my ridiculous heart, and my only wish is to spread a little joy in the world with my art.
Elizabeth Desiree Torbet
PO Box 17488
Seattle, WA 98127
206 706 7871
lizzie@paintingsbylizzie.com