Elizabeth Sennett

Painting What You Know

I am a real believer in the fact that your paintings are a reflection of you; who you are, your life experiences, and your knowledge of your subject and your medium. Being a realist I am more concerned with the quality and not the quantity of my paintings. I paint the places I've been and the things I know. The painting at the left of this article is a place that I pass every time I go to town. Since we spend a lot of time in Maine, I paint nearly as many Maine landscapes as there are Connecticut landscapes. I am an avid gardener. I do not believe you can paint a flower very convincingly if you do not know the structure of the flower you are painting. Painting many of my paintings "plein air"gives you a real feel for the place. Nearly all of my paintings have a story behind them. My still life paintings are all painted from arrangements I have set up. I have lived in the "country" my whole life and that is reflected in my paintings. I don't paint anything unless I am excited about capturing my subject for others to enjoy.