The love of art and wildlife dates back to the early childhood of Lizabeth West. I always knew I wanted to be an artist and I always loved animals. My grandfather told me stories of wildlife in the woods near his farm which sparked my imagination. My family encouraged me, making sure I was never out of paper and pencils. West majored in art at Georgia [state] University. After college she experimented with, selling at juried art shows and marketing her work. Eventually moving to Tallahassee, Florida where West took workshops with the Tallahassee Watercolor Society and began working as a full time graphic designer.
Though I paint in several mediums, mixed-media watercolors is my favorite and perhaps most successful style, blending wildlife and nature in a unique way through a wet-on-wet technique.
Art awards [Some awards received under her former name - Peggy Perkerson. Includes graphic design awards.]
NC Wildlife Art Exhibition - First place drawing,1972; second place drawing, 1973; first place prints, 1974. The Atlanta Southeastern Wildlife Art Show - First place drawing, 1976; second place prints, 1978; second place drawing, 1981. Tallahassee Watercolor Society Art Exhibition, fourth place, 1986. Invitation from gov. Bob Graham, in appreciation for participation in the Everglades Art Exhibit at the Capitol, to attend a reception at the Governor’s Mansion, 1986. Florida Magazine Association awards for Florida Wildlife magazine - silver award for best graphic, 1990; silver award - best illustration,1992. Award plaque and certificate from the Secretary of State’s Office, Jim Smith, and the Florida Council of the Arts for the Florida panther auto tag design,1992 [according to 3M, the first all-vector graphic tag design]; award presented in recognition of skill in designing the new Florida panther auto tag, 1993; FL Davis Productivity Award, 1994 - cash award and plaque. Honorable mention, oils - Silver Springs Wildlife Festival, 1997. First place Printed Tools Category, Florida Public Relations Association, presented to the Habitat and Species Conservation marketing director for a media folder and inserts designed by West, 2005.
Illustrations
Outdoors in Georgia magazine, Sunshine Artist magazine, Wildlife in North Carolina magazine, Florida Wildlife magazine, Geojourney magazine, Tales of Historic Tallahassee book cover, the Limelight (Tallahassee Democrat entertainment cover), Animal Tracks publication.
Art exhibits
The NC Wildlife Art Exhibition, Raleigh; Southeastern Wildlife Art Exhibition, Atlanta; Fernbank Science Center, Atlanta; Tuggle and Mosteller Insurance Co., GA; Four Arts Gallery, Tallahassee; Market Days, Tallahassee; Tallahassee Museum of History and Natural Science; Wilderness Awareness Celebration - old Florida Capitol, Tallahassee; Creative Tallahassee IV - City Hall; Pelican Place Gallery and Emporium, Tallahassee; Old Towne Gallery, Tallahassee; Watercolor Society Exhibition, Tallahassee; Images of the Everglades exhibit at the Capitol, Tallahassee; Silver Springs Wildlife Art Festival; [In my younger days I also created genre art and short fiction for art shows at a major science fiction conventions in Atlanta.]
Commissioned work
Illustration for Heritage Advertising, NC; wildlife art, Danzinger Interiors, OK; T-shirt design, Mendocino Tee-shirt Co. and Rising Moon Design, CA; cover design - Environmental Service Center, FL; T-shirt design, The Pelican Inn, FL; whale prints, Whale Protection Fund, Washington, DC; wildlife designs, Country Cross-stitch, FL; cover and manual graphics for Wayne Coloney Co., FL; flyer, graphics for Indian Notions; logo, stationery for Peregrine, Inc. (outdoor gear manufacturer), GA; logo for Lutra, Inc., GA; T-shirt design and logo, St. Francis Wildlife Association, FL; Florida panther illustration, Tallahassee Museum of Science and Natural History, FL; quail auto tag design for consideration, GA; panther art, Panther Creek Sod, FL; illustrations, Birmingham Zoological Society, AL;
Florida black bear auto tag, Defenders of Wildlife; numerous private commissions.