‘I paint anything that deserves a little spotlight’
Lizz Miles is an English-born artist who lives in South Dartmouth. Lizz and I sat down to talk about art, having an art business, and the special relationships within local economies. Here is our chat, edited for brevity and clarity.
How did you come to be an artist?
I’ve always been an artist—I would do art as a girl when I had to stay home during school holidays, in my father’s car garage. I went to art school in England, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that I started pursuing art as a career choice. I had started to sell cards in the florist shop I was working in at the time, and then when the pandemic hit, I began to paint daily, auctioning off the pieces on Instagram.
What is your medium, subjects and style?
I paint in gouache, and I paint anything that deserves a little spotlight on it. It could be a view, flowers, or trees; I’ll look at something and say, “I should paint you!” Often, it’s something that the light is hitting in a special way. I also paint cozy things. Things that feel like home. I’d say my style is colourful, vibrant, nostalgic. Often older women like my work. They say it reminds them of something, which I find so special.
What do you like most about participating in the craft shows and farmers markets?
Customer service is one of my superpowers—I love having a connection with someone, even if it’s just for one minute. I also love being surrounded by other vendors; everyone just “gets” it and respects it. Money and pricing can be the icky part of having an art business, but it can also be reflective of mutual support. Often price isn’t questioned; vendors and customers respect that the price is actually reflective of what went into it. The shows are not just for money exchange, but it’s also like an energy exchange. I think people here have a real awareness of what it means to buy and support local. I’ve been so much more supported in this province than anywhere else I’ve lived, because I think people here value peoples’ time spent on something. The markets are their own tiny little economy. I always go in and intend to put a bunch of money down at various booths. I don’t have a bunch of money, really, but I know it’s coming back to me, at some point. It was an incredible moment for me when I could finally buy my first original piece from another artist—a traditional Nova Scotian hooked tapestry.
You can find Lizz and her art at the Halifax Brewery Market, the summer Wolfville Farmers Market, and at annual shows like Halifax Crafters and Dartmouth Makers. You can buy her art online at lizzmiles.com and follow her on her Instagram at @lizzmiles_art.