Elizabeth Hale's artistic journey began with formal studies in painting and drawing at the University of New Mexico, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1978. During her time in New Mexico, Hale was a regularly exhibiting artist, represented by the Clarke-Benton Gallery. Her exhibitions in Santa Fe and Albuquerque gained recognition in esteemed publications such as Art in America and Artspace Magazine.

 

In 1985, Hale's relocation to Los Angeles marked a significant shift in her artistic focus towards graphic design and art direction. She served as an art director at the Los Angeles Times Magazine until 2008. Following her tenure at the Times, Hale's career further evolved to include a specialization in surface and pattern design. This new direction was supported by her studies at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), where she earned a Professional Designation Associate of Arts degree. She later became an adjunct professor at FIDM, teaching textile and digital design. Hale also contributed her artistic sensibilities to the design of products for the Hollywood Bowl and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, merging her fine arts background with textile and surface design.

 

In 2020, Hale returned to painting full-time after moving to Los Osos, California. The central coast's landscapes have inspired her to interpret the scenic features of the region. Her work delves into the decorative rhythm of the landscape while considering the transient qualities of agricultural and estuary environments. Often starting with traditional landscape depictions, her paintings undergo a process of distillation and transformation. Hale identifies shapes and constructivist elements in her surroundings, blending formal and expressionistic uses of color and composition to convey a unique sense of place and movement. Through diverse materials and multi-layered techniques, her work imparts a dynamic and intriguingly textured surface, reflecting the passage of time and the fragile nature of the agricultural and coastal settings she portrays.