Artist’s Statement
As I paint, I imagine what it would feel like to LIVE inside each painting, giving me the inspiration for the story within.
I use my vivid imagination to express how unusual our world can be. I want my canvases to feel like a joyride—a wild escape. Through my psychedelic journey of organic shapes and lines, I paint the possibility of a happier world.
Eliza Midgett
Bio & Education
L I V I N G L I F E I N
F U L L C O L O R
Eliza Midgett’s paintings are a celebration of color, joy, and imagination, offering a surreal escape into vibrant, whimsical worlds. Specializing in acrylics on canvas, she often incorporates humorous black & white drawings or cut paper to create her signature “Unconventional Colorscapes.” Her work transforms the beach environment she grew up in, blending reality with dreamlike elements and saturating each piece with bold, tropical hues.
Each painting is a playful yet introspective space, balancing the real with the impossible. Her imaginative landscapes, filled with unexpected color harmonies, abstracted shapes, and undulating lines, spark joy while exploring themes of longing and wonder. Eliza imagines what it would feel like to live inside each painting as she creates, which help the stories unfold, and the hidden elements come to life.
Eliza’s creative process is as unique as her art. She flips her canvas upside down to focus on composition first, letting strong shapes and lines guide her work. Color, which she calls the “icing,” is intuitive yet studied, with Eliza having explored its psychological, emotional, and design impacts in depth.
“Color has always been part of my life. As a child, I danced every color. Music still shapes what I paint. I don’t just use color—I understand it. In my paintings, colors are like people. I have to know who can sit next to each other.”
Eliza earned her BFA in Painting and Drawing from James Madison University and studied art history in London. After working as a professional artist and graphic designer, she took time to raise her two sons—now a geologist and an aerospace engineer. Eliza then spent a decade teaching art before returning to full-time painting.
Today, Eliza works from her studio in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. She has exhibited her award-winning work in Florida, Virginia, and Hawaii, placing in juried shows and earning recognition for her distinctive style. Eliza has completed public mural commissions and designed two shark statues for the City of New Smyrna Beach. She teaches Outreach programs that bring professional artists into public schools and inspire young creators.
Through her art, Eliza paints a brilliant world of color that stirs the imagination, and hints at whimsical stories unfolding just beyond the surface. Her boundless creativity invites curious smiles to uncover the secret adventures woven into every piece.
Testimonials
“Your imagination obviously is limitless.”
“You take an already magical environment and somehow with neon colors make it even more magical. Keep making magic! The world needs more of it. “
“I simply love Eliza’s work. I have already bought bought two paintings, one from her studio, and one commissioned piece. Her style and use of color is so incedible. I say this as someone whose mother was an artist and I am also a painter and a photographer. If you wander into her studio you’ll see why Eliza is one of the most followed and sought after artists here. Once you see her work in person, you’ll understand.”
“It was incredibly fun to present the idea to you and see where you would go with it. It is, of course, everything that I hoped it would be. I keep saying how I can't get over how perfect (and gorgeous) the colors are!”
“Every day I look at your painting and it makes me smile! I love it!”
“Your art comes from the soul of a child; innocent and radiant.”
“Eliza, this was one of the most warmly gratifying “journeys” in my life. Working with you, and watching the creative wheels start turning was inspiring. I love what you have captured, and this very personal art piece, more than I can express. Thanks for letting us be a part of it!”