I’m so excited to introduce everyone to painter Elizabeth Boudreau! You can find Elizabeth’s work in her Etsy shop, Whimsical Weasels. You can also follow her on Instagram.

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself and your journey with art?

Sure! My name is Elizabeth Boudreau. I’m a working artist in Athens, GA, creating illustrative wildlife paintings. I graduated in 2017 from the University of Georgia with my BFA in Drawing and Painting. Since my childhood growing up on a farm in the state of Washington, I have always held a special relationship with animals. In my adult life, that relationship has turned into one of creativity and compassion.

One of my greatest pleasures in life is travel. I love to see the world, visit obscure corners of the globe and experience the wildlife and culture. Many of my travels have resulted in projects during and after the trip. An example that comes to mind is my Costa Rican field guide book, created almost entirely during my stay and displaying the creatures observed in person. This past summer I had the joy of visiting South Africa, where I was spoiled with wildlife! The result: 72 art cards to result in one large composite poster.

You see, I love drawing and I love animals. It’s heartwarming to have the chance to pursue my passion.

What is life like in Athens, Georgia? Any favorite spots that inspire you?

Life after graduation here is a creative journey! I spend most of my days in my studio, creating personal and custom pieces. The area has many artist-friendly venues that showcase and bolster the careers of young artists. I recently developed a great relationship with Trio Athens, a gallery that shows and prints for local creatives. It’s also fun to see quirky art projects pop up around town, like knitted gnome trees that hide around unknown corners. It’s the spunk like this that keeps my love for Athens burning strong!

What is the process like behind creating your animal paintings – do you sketch, then paint? How do you go about finding references?

Typically, I begin by lightly sketching out the basic shapes of my subject, creating a composition that feels right. After the main sketch is laid down, I boldly delineate the subject in preparation for my favorite part…COLOR! My primary medium is gouache, sometimes layered with watercolor or marker.

The true delight in painting for me comes from troubleshooting. I adore the feeling of satisfaction when a troublesome area suddenly resolves with a resonating ‘ding’ from the light bulb in my mind. It is a constant process of layer, step back, observe, tweak, move on. It is so satisfying to see a piece come to fruition.

References for me are a staple, helping me create anatomy and structure in my figures. Most of my reference material comes from photos during travel.

What are some of your favorite art products/materials?

Oh, there are many great materials floating around! I will list below some staples in my studio, materials I heavily trust:

• Winsor and Newton Gouache – Of any color/set!

• Copic Markers – I have tried many brands and styles of marker and find the Copic Sketch to be my favorite because of the ink and brush tip for blending.

• Moo Eraser  – Works for erasing or as a kneaded eraser! Very smooth.

• Strathmore Watercolor Paper Cold Press 140 lb – Any size!

Any exciting paintings, projects or upcoming events in the works?

Yes! The studio is in full swing right now preparing for the DragonCon art show! This is my first year participating and I am very excited. A few commissioned pieces are in the works and always ready for more. I love to create and see the joy my art gives others.

Click here to shop Elizabeth’s Etsy shop!

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