8 Questions for Elisabeth Anisimow

Twelve-year-old Elisabeth Anisimow started painting as ____ toddler. Now

her work has been seen around ____ world, including at ____ International
Museum of Children’s Art, in ____ Norway. The California-based artist spoke
with TFK’s Kio Herrera about her process and her Living Art series, in which
she paints live models in ____ historical settings.

1. You’ve accomplished so much as ____ artist—and you’re only 12!

How did you get interested in painting?
I started painting at a very young age. I’ve always enjoyed going to ____
museums and ____ art exhibitions—anything related to art.

2. What’s the best part of being a painter? And what’s the hardest part?
The best part of being ____ painter is that I can express myself. There’s no
real limit in ____ world of art, except the edge of your canvas, of course! But
then there are other canvases you can use instead. Being ____ painter is a
lot of ____ work, but so is any other kind of creative process.

3. What art has inspired you?

I’ve been inspired by impressionism and ____ artists such as Edgar Degas
and Pablo Picasso. I like all the colors and ____ different styles they use.

4. What does ____ normal day look like for you?

I start by doing ____ schoolwork. Once I’m done, I go to my garage and
measure everything out before setting up my ____ work space. Sometimes,
I go to ____ thrift store to look for ____ props or ____ costumes. I take time
to look around and figure out what fits with the piece I’m working on. Usually,
I already have ____ idea of what I want to do. I kind of get ____ rush from
____ creative process.

5. We’d love to know more about your Living Art series. How long does
it take you to create a portrait?
It’s ____ long process. I usually start with ____ idea. Then I try to find ____
items and ____ clothing that would match ____ time period, such as ____
Renaissance. Other times, I see something in ____ store and it changes my
original idea completely. But every portrait brings something different and
new to the process.
6. How do you choose which model will appear in each Living Art
painting?
People usually contact me to be in my ____ paintings. But when I get to
choose, I try to imagine how the person would look in ____ time period that
my painting is set in.

7. Your artwork has been auctioned off for charity. Can you tell us about
that?
____ C/charity work is really important to me. It makes me feel excited and
proud to know that my artwork is helping ____ people. I recently created
____ sculpture called Wonder Heart that took me ____ month to complete.
It was auctioned off to raise money for ____ Loma Linda University
Children’s Hospital, in California.

8. Do you have any advice for kids who want to become ____
professional artists?
Believe in yourself, and believe in your ____ work. There will always be
people who will like your work and others who won’t. Follow your heart.