About Elise
Elise was drawing as soon as she could hold a crayon. The feeling of creating something from start to finish along with her family’s unwavering support led to Elise’s passion for art from an early age. She doesn’t believe the talent was something she was born with, only the desire. Hours and hours of enjoying drawing refined her skills, making her enjoy it even more.
Elise took her first art class at 7 years old. She loved everything about it, from experimenting with new materials to meeting other people who shared her love for art. Elise continued taking art classes both in and out of school for many years.
Elise’s continued exploration of new things brought her extraordinary opportunities, including winning an award in a children’s art show put on by American Fork City, and having her art featured in a magazine for young women.
When she was in Jr. High School, Elise discovered a new love for acrylic painting. She spent more time painting, building mastery in the medium and using it to express her thoughts and emotions in a way she hadn’t done before. Thanks to an amazing art teacher, she was encouraged to continue on this path, and her art began to tell a story of the things closest to her heart.
Inspired by her own experiences, Elise began teaching her own art classes each summer at the age of 14. She still holds a strong belief that nobody is “bad” at art, they just haven’t found the medium or subject matter that sparks joy to them. She found fulfillment in planning art lessons for children that revolved around learning about new skills, new materials, and new ideas, all while creating an environment where everyone builds each other up. In high school, Elise had the opportunity to intern with her Jr. High art teacher, who was an amazing mentor and inspiration to her.
In High School, Elise devoted most of her time to art. She continued teaching art classes each summer, and joined the AP art program at her school during her senior year. This led to many new experiences and achievements like participating with a group in a local chalk art contest and winning a congressional award at the Springville Art Show. Elise also took on new challenges in art, experimenting with media she was less familiar with and creating bigger pieces than ever before.
After High School, Elise attended Utah State University as an art student on a presidential scholarship. The art program was extremely challenging but very rewarding. Elise was pushed out of her comfort zone with her art, leading to mastery of new skills. She enjoyed group critiques and met friends she still has today, bonding over love for art and exhaustion from many all-nighters. After her first year, Elise ultimately decided to leave the program due to many struggles with her mental health.
In February of 2020, after many years of battling with mental health, Elise spent a week in inpatient treatment at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute in Salt Lake City. While this was a scary time for Elise and her family, it was also a time of intense growth for Elise. The healing process is difficult and never-ending, but it is rewarding. One of the most useful coping skills Elise found through her own hard times was using her art to lift others up. For multiple years, everything Elise painted was gifts for others: Postcards for people she met at HMHI, paintings for friends who were going through hard times, pieces of art to show love and gratitude for family. Using her art to uplift became a part of Elise’s core identity and gave her a sense of purpose. In September of 2021, Elise self-published a coloring book called Hues of Healing, containing meaningful quotes and skills she had learned in her own journey with mental health. The following year, with the help of friends and family, Elise donated over $300 of art supplies along with copies of her coloring book to HMHI.
Elise believes her journey with art has only just begun. In July of 2024, she left her job to pursue art full time. With this website, she hopes to share her passion for art in new ways and with new audiences.
Elise is incredibly grateful for the support from friends and family who encourage her and promote her art to others. This new venture truly feels like a lifelong dream coming true, one that hadn’t always seemed possible. Elise is excited to share these moments with you and to see what’s to come in the future.
