The Local Passion of Elizabeth Kanahan
She has been painting her whole life, and always loved it but didn’t believe it was possible to make a living at it. Durango is fortunate to have so many local artists, and has found the passion within one of our very own.
She attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro to study to be a dietitian after high school, completing two years before realizing that it wasn’t for her. She moved back to NJ, where she was raised, and worked for Continental Airlines in Newark, NJ up until 9/11. She then decided it was time to move away from the east coast and finished college at the College of Saint Elizabeth, in Morristown New Jersey, with a bachelors in fine art.
After saving her pennies, she made the move that would end up changing her life forever. A trip to Durango filled with opportunities and unique & amazing local artists.
Upon her arrival, she immediately got a job at the Art Supply House, where she worked for four and a half years, before stopping to pursue painting full time last December. Getting in touch with the local art community, meeting some of the most amazing people she has known, and developing a safety net for her next venture, Elizabeth was well focused to share her passion with those fortunate enough to experience it.
You can see a little bit about her reasons for painting in her bio on the web, but her goal is to be able to help support local and international animal causes through the sale of paintings. Animals have always been her biggest passion… she has been a vegetarian for 17 years, and really enjoys painting animals in a portrait-like style to show that they are each unique creatures, just as each person is a unique creature.
Working out of her home studio, she’s inspired by the things she sees often around her home… the hummingbirds, the robins, poppies, magpies, even the squirrels that search her deck for crumbs.
She is working on developing a style of painting that allows for a focal point of realism that dissipates into a background of abstraction. Part of her passion is playing with the edges of the subject, so that the borders between negative space and positive space are mingled, allowing for a truly outstanding piece of art. She keeps her palette full of earthy, warm colors, as she believes it radiates a more calm and pleasant image.
Another project she started over a year ago is a series of portraits of local women. She has completed seven or eight of the series so far, but hopes for about 15-20 before having a show of them, hopefully next spring. She has been busy with going out to farms to meet and photograph the animals for inspiration to paint them, and she’s always looking for more farm owners who may have some interesting or
beautiful animals.
Elizabeth’s art can also be seen at the second annual Super Amazing Art Show and Sale, happening at 537 Jackrabbit Trail in Durango on August 28th, 3pm to 8 pm. This year the same five artists are involved: Cindy Coleman, Miki Harder, Amy Vaclav-Felker, Heather Leavitt Martinez, and our new favorite, Elizabeth Kanahan. This year they will be showing strictly animal art and 25% off all sales will go to five local animal charities/organizations.
Currently her work can be seen only in Rain Dance Gallery at 945 Main Ave here in town, but she will also be on the open studio tour in September.
So give thanks & support to our local talents and passions and be fulfilled with exquisite art. You can visit Elizabeth online at ElizabethKanahan.com & see her fine art for sale today at Rain Dance Gallery.
