Living Art and Timeless Images Debut at Belle’s Nest

Local artist Elizabeth Converse is in tune with nature. Her latest collection, “In Plain Sight,” reflects the inner peace and beauty she finds in her environment. The show debuted at in downtown Sierra Madre this month to a welcoming crowd of friends, family and art appreciators.

“The idea of the show is icons and elements,” said Converse. “They’re timeless ideas.”

Converse translated her inspiration into a variety of media: photographs, lush succulent gardens, bright paintings, collages, hand-crafted journals and paperwhites on the brink of blooming were on display.

See photos of Converse's collection on the right.

Her photographs capture images we see over and over again like a sunset, cloud-filled sky or a waterfall, but at their most impressive state. They’re framed in recycled barn wood, and instead of being put behind glass, the photos are coated to create a luscious velvet texture.

“The photographs have to do with the natural environment,” said Converse. “They’re things that are elements in the natural environment that bring us a sense of inner peace or beauty.”

Her bright paintings and mixed-media works feature icons that evoke a certain feeling in the viewer: swirls, flowers and shapes that are common in nature. The pieces are sturdy and can be picked up, touched and held.

“The idea of the icons is that, like elements, we tend to look towards symbols and designs to… give us stability within our environment,” said Converse.

Her succulent gardens and paperwhites represent the things we plant and grow year after year.

“It’s a garden, but you can actually hang these or prop them up and look at them… see them as pieces of art. So it’s the idea of living art,” said Converse. 

It’s no surprise that Converse’s collection revolves around stillness and nature. Her presence is calming and warm, and she is an avid yoga practitioner. Her smile can be compared to a sunrise— it slowly spreads across her face, eventually reaching someone all the way across the room.

Converse has been an artist since her 20’s. She formerly ran the nonprofit organization California Living Histories, which gave over 6,000 children the opportunity to work alongside professional artists. In 2010, she decided to pursue art full-time.

“I wanted to make a go of being a businesswoman…. In this economy the nonprofit world is very frustrating,” said Converse.

Converse has lived in Sierra Madre since 1989 with her husband Eddie. She said she developed her love of artistic impression from her parents, and it’s something she has passed on to her two children. Her son Will is a musician and her daughter Joanclair is a playwright.

Are you an artist in Sierra Madre? E-mail sierramadre@patch.com. We'd love to feature you!

Converse also blogs for Patch. Read some of her work here: