Elizabeth Frank Artworks

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Tucson, Arizona

Q&A

Tell us how your work is made.

My artworks begin with fallen aspen branches. I make at least one trip annually to the mountains of the southwestern United States to gather the aspen that I’ll use over the course of the year. Each of my visits to the forest is like a pilgrimage. After the aspen is collected it’s dried in a room on my studio roof. Once dry I cut and shape the rough branches with a band saw. The pieces are carved in small components that are joined together with pegs and nails. The surface is painted with acrylic, metal leaf and wax. I combine my carved constructions with found objects often developing a series of pieces around a specific found item that enriches the narrative in each object.

What makes you passionate about the medium you work with?

One of my guiding principles is to walk lightly on the planet. To that end I use sustainable and reclaimed materials. Some of my happiest moments are spent wandering in the woods collecting the aspen that I use for my carvings. My work is really labor intensive but I bring the wonder and joy that I feel in the forest to every piece that I make.

What is something unique about you or your practice?

My work has often been called or compared to folk art because it may appear to be rough or naive. For me that is a visual, stylistic choice. People are often surprised when they see how intricate my process of creating each piece is. There are lots of steps... from harvesting the aspen wood in the forest to cutting, carving, assembling and then painting. It's not as simple as it looks!