Local artist achieves international fame

Published in the August 11, 2020 edition.

By GAIL LOWE

WAKEFIELD — North Ward resident and artist Liza Vaughn has been using her time wisely during the pandemic brought on by the novel coronavirus. Not only has she tightened her bond among family members, including her husband Ken and their three children Kenny, Ava and Jake, she is devoting more time to her artistic creations.

Vaughn developed a love of art at her mother’s knee. Her mother painted with oils and acrylics, and Vaughn was always enamored by everything associated with it.

“From the paints themselves to all the various brushes and tools and the freedom of creativeness—all of it fascinated me,” she said.

Vaughn considers herself a mixed medium artist with no particular favorite. Though most pieces ultimately involve resin to a certain extent, she loves to combine alcohol ink, spray paint and acrylic, to name a few.

“Texture is also important,” she noted. “I use crystals, stones, glass, gold leaf, cement among others.”

She has been fortunate to sell her art to people all over the world, and many locals as well as business concerns have purchased pieces.

One prominent business in Edgewater Office Park commissioned her to create a large tranquil beach scene, which was placed in a wellness room.

“I’m so happy that one of my pieces is used to help others relax and find peace,” she said. “This is why I love what I do so much.”

Her work has also been sold on Cape Cod, and she is actively working with others in the area.

Vaughn enrolled in a workshop in Lynnfield when she was about 14 years old where she learned techniques and created her first oil painting, one she still owns to this day.

Life as a young adult got busy, however, and she was unable to devote much time to art. She later attended Northeastern University to become a certified paralegal and built a career as a fast-paced real estate paralegal and executive assistant. Eventually, she became an at-home mom when her first child was born.

Though she couldn’t devote as much time to her artistic side, she did manage to fit it in when she could, mainly by making gifts of art for family members and also paintings for her own home. Then, about five years ago, life began to change. The children grew older, and she was able to devote more time to her art. At the same time, she was being asked regularly about the art she was giving as gifts or displaying in her home.

People loved her work and would often ask if they could request pieces and pay for it or buy it to give as gifts to others.

“I never thought it would go in such a direction but realized that people enjoyed my art and wanted to share it beyond family to others,” she said. Since Vaughn loved what she was doing, she decided to pursue it further and began making additional pieces for sale.

“This was the beginning and things took off from there to where I am today—selling pieces to people across the country and even internationally,” she said.

Vaughn especially loves to create art that calls for resin.

“What I love about resin is its fluidity,” said Liza. “It allows me to capture oceans and geode formations in an extremely realistic way.”

She calls working with resin “an amazing experience” because it allows her to truly express herself to the point where it has actually become a form of therapy that helps with any anxiety she might be experiencing. By letting go and diving into these pieces with all her emotion and soul, it becomes a channel for healing.

Each of Vaughn’s creations express a piece of her in some way, and each has a meaning, which she often explains to the people who purchase her art.

“Sometimes people who buy my art see it before I even explain it to them, and that is truly rewarding,” she said.

A typical day for Vaughn is a balancing act between creating art, being a mother and wife and staying in communication with clients and followers. “At times, the ability to be there for my children results in working many odd hours. It’s challenging but rewarding at the same time,” she commented. Vaughn also devotes some of her time to sewing and photography.

Like most people, the pandemic has impacted her in several negative ways. As an example, using resin requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), in particular a proper mask to filter out toxic fumes and gloves to protect her skin.

“It’s been a challenge obtaining PPE and still is to this day,” she said, adding that she has had to scale back international shipping due to restrictions.

The younger “apples” in the Vaughn family haven’t fallen far from the tree. They, too, show signs of creativity. Kenny, her oldest, for instance, plays guitar and is self taught. He is also talented in film and has helped his mother on several occasions with videos associated with her art.

Ava is extremely creative with crafts and is adept at making unique special occasion cards for family members. Jake also likes to paint creatively on canvas and has made several pieces that are displayed in his bedroom.

Vaughn lived in Greenwood while growing up and she and Ken both graduated from Wakefield Memorial High School (Liza in 1994). All three of their children are enrolled in the town’s public schools.

Vaughn would advise young artists to stay focused on self-confidence and never doubt their abilities because “there is no such thing as bad art.”

“Long-term success comes from something that represents you and your uniqueness,” she noted.

During the pandemic, the Vaughn family has coped well because they all get along and enjoy each other’s company.

“Getting to spend more time together, particularly during phase 1, only made us closer,” she commented.

There’s not much that Vaughn doesn’t like about her work. One favorite aspect is the connection she makes with so many people throughout the world. Social media, for instance, allows her to share her work with thousands. On Instagram, she has nearly 50,000 followers spanning the globe. And she is currently averaging over 500,000 monthly viewers of her artwork on Pinterest.

“Many of these people reach out to me daily and I’m able to communicate with them, which is very gratifying,” she said. “Speaking with someone from Europe about pieces I created or sharing tips with other artists across the world is wonderful.” She also finds connecting with locals through her art rewarding. She has been commissioned for custom pieces through many Wakefield residents and people in Lynnfield, Melrose, Stoneham and other cities and towns.

“I’ve met so many wonderful people through my art that I may not have otherwise,” she said.

“I get to discuss exactly what the client is looking for and work through the whole process to ultimately create a unique piece for display in their home, something I hope will bring them joy for years to come.”

Vaughn is also a brand Ambassador for Counter Culture DIY, a company that sells resin and all related products.

“It’s an honor and the beauty of this is that it allows me to work with many other artists and collaborate on new products and techniques while also promoting a product I love and use regularly,” she said.

Asked about the work of other artists, Vaughn said she would love to see the work of Claude Monet (“Water Lilies”) on display at the Musee de l’Orangerie in Paris. She said, “If I could travel anywhere in the world to see the work of a great artist, it would be his.”

To view Vaughn’s art, visit https://newbygallery.com/artist/liza-vaughn and https://www.miravalarizona.com. To make a purchase, visit lizavaughnart.com.