Liz Train

Liz Train grew up on Kauai, the daughter of two artists who operated a gallery called the Spouting Horn Studio. She received her Bachelor and Masters of Fine Arts degrees from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a major in Fiber arts. Her work has been exhibited extensively throughout the state and is in the collections of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the Contemporary Museum. Liz has taught in many environments including the University of Hawaii, Honolulu Academy of Arts, Temari, Iolani School, Waialae Elementary, and many Oahu elementary schools through the Artist in the Schools program.

American Craft Magazine article: Hawaii: Making It Work in Paradise (click on Slideshow View to see images of Liz's work.)

Artist's Statement

Water has been an important part of my daily life since I was young. I grew up swimming and snorkeling every day in the crystal clear Kauai ocean. Floating on the ocean is very relaxing and the multi-colored tropical fish beckon to me from below. I am inspired to recreate this watery world in my artworks. The transparent turquoise silk shimmers in the breeze like the ocean waves on a beautiful summer day and tentacles of green wool emerge like soft vines of seaweed. The "nuno" felting technique which utilizes warm water and pressure to merge wool and silk fibers seems to me to be the perfect medium to express my vision of watery places.