Liz works primarily in watercolor, drawn to its transparency, versatility, and luminous quality.

Although realism is not typically associated with the medium, Liz’s observant nature and instinct for noticing fine details shape the way she interprets and represents the world, making realism an intuitive approach rather than a deliberate stylistic choice.

Bringing realism to life in watercolor involves a thoughtful layering process at every stage. Each painting begins with a light wash to establish tonal values, then Liz gradually builds layers, employing techniques such as underpainting and dry brush to create depth, color, and texture.

Her palette is a carefully curated selection of transparent and semi-transparent pigments. She preserves the whites of the paper by leaving them unpainted, allowing light to emerge naturally from within the work.

Small works may take weeks to complete, while larger pieces can take months, with every layer reflecting her attentive approach and deep appreciation for the medium.

For Liz, botanical art is the perfect way to combine her love of nature, plants, and creativity.

As a child, Liz was always drawn to the outdoors. Captivated by the small details such as raindrops on flower petals or bees collecting pollen, she was fascinated by the quiet, everyday magic of nature. That same sense of curiosity and wonder continues to drive her work today.

She strives to portray plants with botanical accuracy and fine detail, highlighting the delicate beauty of each plant, the beauty that is often overlooked in everyday life.

She begins each piece with a thin wash, using an underpainting technique to establish tonal values, then paints in layers with a very fine brush - much like drawing with a pencil - meticulously building intensity and depth. She mostly uses a dry brush watercolor technique, which gives her a lot of control over the application of color. Her trusted OptiVISOR headband magnifier helps her capture even the smallest details.

Botanical art also connects Liz deeply to her Chuvash heritage. The Chuvash, an indigenous Turkic minority, have long lived in harmony with nature, relying on plants for healing and celebrating their relationship with the land through rituals and seasonal festivities. Her grandfather’s knowledge of herbal medicine and her people’s spiritual connection to the natural world continue to inspire her work. Through her botanical art, Liz honors her roots and expresses the deep respect her ancestors had for the balance between people and nature.

The Chuvash are an Indigenous Turkic people of the Atăl (Volga) River region, descendants of semi-nomadic warrior tribes known as the Huns. For millennia, they have lived in harmony with the forests and meadows of their native homeland, sustaining themselves through agriculture and animal husbandry. Their spiritual relationship with nature is rooted in beliefs in which plants are not merely resources, but living beings present in daily life, medicine, rituals, and stories. This deep respect for the natural world flows through Chuvash artistic traditions, where stylized botanical imagery adorns embroidery, woodwork, jewelry, and household crafts, carrying both beauty and meaning. Explore the Chuvash botanical symbolism and learn more about their bond with nature on my blog.