Hello! I’m Elise, and I was made for joy.

I’m an artist and poet, just living in the in-between.

No one sets out to become an artist. I think it just happens. One day, you’re trying to make sense of your life, the next day, you’re picking up crayons and paint—suddenly, everything makes sense. Or at least, that’s how it was for me. As a young girl, I was drawn to art, music, and storytelling. I wanted to tell stories that really made people stop and think—either through words, sounds, or pictures.

I spent a long time ignoring this desire, trying to fit into the mold I felt everyone else wanted for me. But eventually, I discovered the only molds that exist are the ones you shape with your hands. So I decided to sculpt my life into something beautiful.

I enjoy Making meaning of our myths and stories.

My faith is a large inspiration for my work—most of my abstract paintings are intuitive and unplanned. I paint what I feel in my body, whether good or bad, loud or soft. I also love to paint abstracted versions of my favorite stories and myths, whether from the Bible or from popular literature.

Throughout my life, I’ve been drawn to different mediums, never satisfied with one story, one category. Whether it was music, dance, theater, film, creative writing, photography, fine art, or design—I’ve always loved trying out new forms of expression.

Lately, I’ve found a home exploring the intersection of art and text. I want what I make with my hands to collide with my words. I’ve had a lot of fun writing poems for my paintings and creating stories through portraits. I will probably never stop picking up new instruments, whether that’s a banjo or a box of pastels.

I love creating beauty out of chaos—bringing structure to places of unrest—and giving form to the unspeakable.

Formally, I have a long and winding resume that ranges from teaching British Literature, marketing software, and professional copywriting. I received my MS in Marketing and BA in Creative Writing from the University of Colorado Denver.

Most days, you’ll find me in the studio: weaving tapestries, playing with oil pastels, or making some kind of a big mess. Besides art, I am an avid reader and writer of fantasy and poetry. I have two magical little cats who love making a mess just as much as I do. You’ll likely find little pieces of them tucked away in all of my work.

xo elise