Eliza Barnes

Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a 27-year-old painter and illustrator based in Melbourne. I pursued a career in law and worked as a lawyer until the pandemic hit and changed pretty much everything. Being in lockdown allowed me to focus on my art which up until that point had merely been a hobby. I became dedicated to improving my skills as a painter and finding my own style. I currently sell my paintings via my website and prints via Society6. I love being able to do something creative everyday and I hope that I will be in a position to continue my work for as long as possible. 

What is your favourite drink?
I'm a tea drinker. Purely because coffee often gives me a headache or makes me talk incredibly fast. I love Nerada Organics Chai and anything from T2 and Gewürzhaus.

What inspired you to start painting?
I have been painting on and off for the last 4 years. It started as a way to keep myself busy when I had just finished uni and was looking for jobs. I felt as though I needed a new hobby and for whatever reason felt an urge to paint. I bought a $30 watercolour paint set from an art shop and went from there. I grew to really love it but full time work often got in the way. Then when COVID hit I found myself again without a job and that's when it became a daily thing. 

What advice would you give other artists/creatives starting out?
Selling my art through Society6 was a great place to start for me because it doesn't take up much of your time, it provides a platform to get your work seen and it means people can buy your art at an affordable price. It was a super exciting moment for me when I first saw that someone somewhere in the world had bought one of my prints.

You can read more about Eliza Barne’s profile here.