The simplest mantras can be the most meaningful, and that’s certainly the case with the second of Steve’s 30 things.
Anyone who knows Steve can attest the things he loves are glitter and magic markers; he lives his life in a whirlwind of colour, texture, and dazzling creativity, and has built his business on strong, sparkly foundations. As Steve points out, when you’re passionate about something you become good at it – and if you’re good at it, people will want it!
This is certainly the case for young artist Elisabeth Anisimow, who discovered her passion and aptitude for art at the tender age of two. More recently, she has honed her talents in on a magical style known as Living Art. Inspired by the 19th century European tradition of tableaux vivant, eleven-year-old Elisabeth creates life size paintings with living people at the centre of the piece.
She starts with a painted backdrop, then adds paint to her props and models, daubing them in the same impressionist style before arranging them against the backdrop. She skilfully merges 3D bodies and objects with the illusory textures of an impressionist background. Finally, she takes photos of the finished project, capturing the pose of her subject and immortalising their role in a performance art piece. This image is printed on a canvas, which can then be sold.
True to Steve’s belief, Elisabeth’s pursuit of her passion has made her better at creating Living Art pieces, which are now highly in demand. Depending on the time each piece takes, and the materials used, they sell for between $2500 and $5000. She has already featured in exhibitions across the globe, including one at the International Museum of Children’s Art in Oslo. Recently, she took part in Laguna Beach’s famous Festival of Arts, creating a circus themed living painting featuring skilled young circus performers.
While we may not all be child prodigies like Elisabeth, we all have something we love doing. Find yours, and you can unlock your full potential!