About Me

Elizabeth Compton is an artist living in Austin, Texas. She studied painting with Nathan Oliveira and Frank Lobdell at Stanford University. In 1992 she graduated from Stanford with degrees in Art and English. She earned a Masters degree from Harvard University in the Arts in Education program in 1998. 

Elizabeth’s paintings are in private collections in New York City, London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, and Charleston. She has been commissioned to paint large-scale, site-specific paintings for corporate buildings as well as custom designed homes. She also paints pets on commission. 

Elizabeth has pursued two primary subjects in her paintings: landscapes and animals. Her inspiration comes from the rolling hills of Northern California and the subtle beauty of the Texas Hill Country. She constantly finds new interpretations of this landscape in the visual language of her paintings. Animals, and dogs in particular, are close to her heart and a favorite source of imagery in her work. She enjoys finding and portraying the unique personality of each animal. When commissioned, Elizabeth arranges to meet the pet, spend some time with him or her, and take extensive photographs. She then develops a one of a kind painting of the animal. 

To purchase a painting or to commission a pet portrait, please contact Elizabeth.

Artist Statement

I paint to express my wonder of the beauty around me. Nature and the environment have always spoken to me. Using oil paint on canvas, I seek to convey the sense of open space, big sky, and flowing water which I have come to love in each of the places I have lived. From the golden rolling hills of California to the subtle beauty of the Texas Hill Country, I have studied and reimagined landscapes throughout my career as a practicing painter.  Vibrant colors and bold compositions are my chosen visual language. Not completely abstract, yet not truly realistic either, my paintings are interpretations of actual views I have encountered and to which I feel a deep connection. I hope that viewers recognize the subject, but also see it in new, unexpected ways in each of my paintings, taking with them new insights about the beauty of the world in which we live.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and English, Stanford University, 1988-1992

Master of Education in Arts in Education, Harvard University, 1997-1998

Honors and Awards

Stanford University Humanities Center “Children in the Arts Fellowship”, 1992

Raina Guise Award for Creative Painting, Stanford University, 1992

Stanford University Art Department Materials Grant, 1992

Exhibitions

Austin City Hall, People’s Gallery, juried group exhibit, 2024

A05 Gallery, juried group exhibit, Austin TX, 2024

220 Gallery, “Water Weighs” juried group exhibit, Wimberley, TX, 2024

Women and Their Work, Artist Registry, 2024

Hockaday School Centennial Art Exhibit, Dallas, TX, 2013

Women and Their Work Artist Registry, Austin TX, 2012

Art Under the Oaks show in Scotts Valley, CA, 2005

California Teachers Association’s permanent collection, 2003

Almaden Valley Art & Wine Festival in San Jose, CA, 2002-2003

Solo exhibition of paintings and prints at the Hockaday School, Dallas, TX, 1992

Solo exhibition of paintings and prints, Stanford, CA, 1992

Four group exhibitions of student artwork, Stanford, CA  1989-91

Contact

Please find me on Facebook, Instagram, or send me an email!