elisabeth hays

The ecosystems of Mobile Bay and the Gulf of Mexico influence the abstract, pastel-colored works of Alabama painter and mixed-media artist Elisabeth Hays.

The artist: Born in Alexander City, AL, Hays grew up in Fairhope and still lives there with her husband and two children.

After college at Auburn University, where she studied fine arts, she returned to Fairhope to work for a local interior designer. In 2010, Hays bought the design business, which she grew and loved. She sold it in 2018 to focus on family and create original art.

The company/studio: Elisabeth Hays Creative Collective started in 2018 in Fairhope. The artist has a studio in her home where she can get messy and create. Hays also has a new office and showroom in downtown Fairhope.

The art & materials: Mixed-media art made with acrylic paints, plus chalk and oil pastels for creating texture.

What’s popular: Butterfly Taxidermy Collection ($300 for a six-inch-by-six-inch framed piece to $1,000 for a 24-inch-by-36-inch work). Choose acrylic or wood shadowbox frames. No two butterflies are alike.

Each of the hand-torn butterfly wings are as unique as the mark-making and brush strokes that are layered with bold and distinctive color palettes.

Other favorites: Mardi Gras Medallion collection, a representation of traditional Mardi Gras coins, or doubloons, that are often thrown amid the revelry. The medallions are accented with the traditional purples, greens and golds, symbolizing justice, faith and power. They also include other colors and markings. ($75 for a single 8×10 or $295 for a 18×18 set of 9).

A favorite of hers: The Mullet Parade series of paintings on paper and canvas ($145 to $4,320). Living on Mobile Bay, Hays often has endless discussions with her kids on what the fish are doing under the water.

“The Mullet Parades are representations of those tales, including birthday parties in a sand castle to slumber parties in magical seaweed.”

Inspirations: Depends on the time and place but today, if she had to pick two:

Wolf Kahn for his unique use of color.
Gustav Klimt for his mark making and bold contrast.

Fun or special projects: The Grand Summer Ball, a fundraiser for the local hospital foundation. Hays’ butterflies will be featured on invitations, favors and background wraps for the August 20 event.

Where to buy: elisabethhays.com. Also at galleries, including: