ACCOMPLISHED ARTIST, ELIZABETH MCCEEVER FINDS AND EXPRESSES JOY IN CAPTURING THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE
By Eliza Chapman Bailey
he more time you spend with someone, the more you learn about their journey. The most unassuming person surprises you with a casual remark about a notable achievement they have accomplished. Elizabeth McKeever, an artist and fabricator, is one of these people. Moderated and tempered, she would be the last to say that she holds the Guinness Book of World Records certificate for “World’s Largest Sweet Tea” Creation/Fabrication, which she made for the Town of Summerville, or that she also graduated Summa Cum Laude from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a master’s in fine art.
After college, she moved to Charleston to accept the Gibbes Museum of Art instructor position. It did not take long for her to establish credibility; her work received local and international acclaim through Piccolo Spoleto, and she was chosen as Sotheby’s/Artlink International Young Artist semi-finalist. Her works are in the collections of her alma mater. In 2002, she was Rachel McAdams’s art instructor while filming “The Notebook” with New Line Cinema. She was honored as the Lowcountry Artist of the Year as the Griffith/Reyburn grant recipient. Her faux painting work was on the cover of Sherwin-Williams ProFinisher 2020, April/June.
Of Elizabeth’s many accomplishments, the creation of “Mason” is one of her favorites. She visits the installation regularly and enjoys watching the interaction of families, children, and individuals enjoying her larger-than-life art.
When asked how an accomplished realist and abstract painter was hired to turn a large plastic vat into a Mason Jar of Sweet Tea, she casually explained that she worked in manufacturing as a lead artist and sample manager for a cell concealment company. She reflected, “I went to a women’s college, Wesleyan. It was the early 1990s, and technology was new. The school’s revolutionary technology program gave all students a Mac Classic. During my undergraduate years, I worked in a computer lab and gained an understanding of the business sector, which is a nontraditional path for many artists.”
Elizabeth’s mastery of perspective and color theory depicts various styles and subjects in oil and acrylic. Her keen eye for detail captures nuances in light and shadow. The subtleties of her subjects evoke emotion and tell stories. Her composition captures the human experience, conveying depth in seemingly simple scenes that invite viewers to connect and reflect on the world. When asked about motivations, she states, “Painting allows me to contemplate and express joy that transcends temporal boundaries.”
Thanks to the collaboration between Public Works and Coastal Coffee Roaster, she will have an exhibit on the Art Wall at Coastal Coffee throughout December. 5% of all sales or commissions generated through this exhibit will be donated to Public Works to support Summerville’s local arts community. AM
For more information, visit expressionbeth.com
