Hello and welcome back everyone! I am so excited to share this next student artist with you! This artist has a wide breadth of skill and talent, and her hard-working nature shines through every piece. Every detail in this artist’s work is realized with such purpose and dedication. Jack of all trades, master of all . . .
Liz Cowgill
Name: Liz Cowgill
Year: 2028
Major(s): Illustration
Minor(s): N/A
Clubs: MU Players, Zeta Omicron Kappa Pi, CMYKlub
I am majoring in Art because…
I have always loved all forms of art, whether that be performing arts, writing, or visual arts. Art has always been a big part of my life, and I love the way that art can tell stories and connect us with people and their experiences. There is no better feeling than reading a good book, or seeing a beautiful painting and having it speak to you. I want to play a part in giving that experience to other people. I want to create something that is true to myself, but also that gives other people joy or makes them feel seen. I am majoring in visual arts in particular because I have always felt a very strong passion towards it and I think there are so many ways that having a formal education in art will help me improve my technique, so that I am able to create more art that is accurate to myself and my imagination.
The kinds of things that inspire me are…
Mostly the world around me and books, particularly fantasy books. I’ve always loved to create personal pieces, like the oil painting I made of my dog Lucy, and I also love to depict pieces in nature because I find nature to be very calming and tranquil. Otherwise I also get a lot of inspiration from fantasy books. I particularly love depicting magical creatures like dragons and unicorns in my work.
My favorite art class so far was…
This is a tough question but in terms of studio art classes I would probably have to say 2D Design and Color Theory with instructor Romina Godoy. A lot of the projects I did in that class challenged my creativity and forced me to approach new compositions and concepts I would have never previously thought of. Outside of studio classes, I also loved both Art History I and Art History II with instructor Cathy Noto. I never previously studied art history before I came to Marywood, but I very quickly found a new passion in it. I think it is so fascinating to see how art has evolved and changed over time with the changes in humanity.
When I am not in class…
I am admittedly probably doing homework, but in my few moments of extra free time I love to hangout with my friends, write, read, and perform. I’ve always loved acting and performing onstage, and while I’m not in any shows this semester, I participated in last year’s musical, Natasha Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812, and I hope to participate in the spring musical again this year. I also love singing in a choral setting, and I am a part of the Marywood Chamber singers. Otherwise, when not doing homework or hanging out with my friends, I love writing and reading. Particularly, I love reading fantasy books such as The Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and The Once and Future King by T.H. White.
The coolest thing I have done at Marywood so far was…
Either the NYC bus trip to the MET Museum of Art, or something that I will admit is unrelated to being an art major, the Marywood Chamber Singers Florida tour in 2025. The New York City bus trip was amazing because it gave me the opportunity to see many of the amazing art works I saw in art history in person, which was particularly exciting for me since I love art history, and looking at art is one of my favorite activities. It was so cool to see so many famous artworks in person. By contrast, I also got the opportunity last spring to go on the Marywood Chamber singers Florida tour, which gave me the opportunity to perform all around Florida, and see all kinds of attractions there, including art related attractions such as The Wynwood Walls and the Dali Museum.
When I graduate…
I would like to hopefully find a job in a creative field. I primarily think right now that I would love to work in children’s book illustration or in some other form of design, but ultimately I have no idea where life will take me, but I will be happy with any career as long as I can just continue to keep art and creating in my life forever.
I would recommend the Art program at Marywood because…
Of the incredible faculty and opportunities. The faculty are always so kind and supportive. I have never been in an environment where I was more sure that everyone around me wanted me to succeed, and there are so many amazing opportunities Marywood presents to us, like getting to go on bus trips to art museums, and all the clubs around campus. I already feel like I have learned so much during my time here and I am so excited to learn more in the future.
What excites me most about Art is…
The ability to tell stories, and connect with people. I have always loved the ability that art gives us to create something totally new and to tell our own stories and share those with other people. Whenever I am creating I always try to create something that I think will bring joy and happiness to other people while also staying true to myself. Ultimately I think art’s ability to bring people together is truly the most incredible and exciting thing about it.
If you were any kind of art tool or media, what would you be, and why?
I think I would be an oil pastel, even though I barely use them. I feel like their bright colors align with my general sense of optimism about the world, and my cheerful nature, as I always try to see the good in things even though I sometimes struggle. I also feel like their softness aligns with my own gentle and non-confrontational nature.
“…but I’ve learned that while you should always try your best, you should also remind yourself why you are majoring in art, and always try to find joy in the process even if the project feels particularly tedious”
Liz Cowgill
What keeps you motivated to continue with art when projects get difficult?
I will admit that this is something I frequently struggle with, but I found that the best way to stay motivated is to not focus as much on the result as on the process. I feel like I sometimes get paralyzed by nerves when working on a project. I’m so afraid that the result I create will be bad that I don’t start creating, but I’ve learned that while you should always try your best, you should also remind yourself why you are majoring in art, and always try to find joy in the process even if the project feels particularly tedious. I find that when I remove the pressure of creating a perfect result I have a lot more fun creating, and my result actually ends up better because I’m doing something with passion and joy.
Liz’s work is amazing, and her attitude towards her art and progress as an artist is truly an inspiration to us all! I love looking at her wide variety of work — she really knows how to represent as many media as possible. Not only can she clearly work well in a variety of two-dimensional media, but she can sing, write, and act! Liz really encompasses art in everything she does, and is the definition of an artist! I’m in love with the portrait of her dog, Lucy, as well as the drawing of her sloth. I have had the great fortune of knowing Liz for a while now, and as demonstrated in these pieces, I am always impressed by her eye for detail and her delicate pencil/brushwork. It is so evident that she puts a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into her work, and it pays off!
I hope you all enjoyed learning about Liz’s art and process as much as I have!
