April 2024
Wellspring Mother Artist Feature
Elizabeth Steingass
We’re delighted to introduce Elizabeth Steingass, a painter, author, illustrator and muralist from Northwest Ohio. She works primarily in acrylic and watercolor to produce a myriad of delightful illustrations and commissioned works. Elizabeth shares how she finds inspiration from daily life, mundane moments of motherhood, and nature. Currently, Elizabeth is fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a children’s book illustrator, having published three children’s stories. We encourage you to visit her website: www.elizabethsteingassart.com to see more of her artwork and follow her on Instagram: @elizabethsteingass
Enjoy!
Mia + Jess
Self Portrait of the Artist, Elizabeth Steingass, (2023) digital painting.
WELLSPRING: To what do you attribute your style of making or where do you look for inspiration?
ELIZABETH: My watercolor pieces are illustrative, drawing on my childhood dreams of being an illustrator and reading many children's books. My acrylic painting style is more impressionistic, it keeps painting fun for me. I accidentally painted in an impressionist style for a high school art project and it is a style I return to again and again.
I find inspiration from daily life, the mundane moments in motherhood, nature.
WELLSPRING: We’d love to know more about the space where you create. What does it look like? Is it within your home? What is the view like outside your window? ect...
ELIZABETH: I have claimed a portion of the play room to be my studio. It has two big windows that let in beautiful light. I curtained off my little 8x8 section to give the illusion of privacy. On the walls, I hang my favorite art pieces. Some are my own, others are from other artists or former professors. The furniture changes but every nook and cranny is filled with art supplies.
A beautiful view outside Elizabeth’s home!
WELLSPRING: How has your motherhood journey impacted your creative process or your way of seeing / thinking?
ELIZABETH: Motherhood has completely defined my art practice. I actually put down my paint brushes when I graduated college and did not pick them up again until I was pregnant with my third child. I began a "nap time produce" series, where I painted pieces of produce while my children napped. I later began my "Motherhood Series," where I paint scenes from my life as a mother to young children. I have even written children's books for my children and self published them via Amazon. It seems as if my art does not exist without motherhood, and I like it that way.
“Motherhood has completely defined my art practice.”
WELLSPRING: One of our new favorite questions: Do you have a favorite children’s book? Either from your childhood or from reading with your own children?
EMILY: I adore Beatrix Potter's works and the Madeline stories when I was a child. As a mother, I am particularly fond of the illustrations in "Little E".
WELLSPRING: How and where you see your faith intersect with your creative expression as a mother artist?
ELIZABETH: When I began my Motherhood Series, I was suffering from PPD. I began the series to find the beauty in the mundane moments of motherhood - moments that drowned me as I fought PPD. They helped keep me afloat and remind me of the blessing that motherhood is and was. My new series is uncharted territory for me, but I am very excited about it. I simply turn on worship music and ask God what he has for me to paint. An image usually flashes in my mind and I paint it, or sketch it out for when I have time to paint.
WELLSPRING: What excites you about what you are working on right now?
ELIZABETH: I have begun a spiritual/religious art series which has been deeply healing for my soul. I am also working on multiple children's books.
“ I simply turn on worship music and ask God what he has for me to paint.”
WELLSPRING: What encouragement or wisdom would you share with another mother wanting to pursue her creative call?
ELIZABETH: Do it. Your children need to see you being you, not just mom. Show them that hobbies are wonderful. Show them that mom can have a hobby or job she enjoys. And chances are, when you find that thing that reminds you of who you are in addition to being mom, you become a better mother.
WELLSPRING: Thank you so much for responding to our interview questions! Would you please share with us where we can see, read, or experience more of your creative work?
ELIZABETH: I am on Instagram as @elizabethsteingassart I am also on Facebook: @elizabethsteingassart. Lastly, I have a website for my art, elizabethsteingassart.com Selections of my paintings as well as links to my children's books can be found at my website.
We hope you enjoyed this Wellspring Mother Artist feature!
Stay tuned for more features within each newsletter. Are you Interested in being featured? Send us an email over at wellspringmotherart@gmail.com with a statement of interest and share your Instagram @ handle or other social media presence.
