artist statement
Hello! I’m Elise Weir, but you can call me El (she/they).
I’m an artist that works in a unique space between realism and illustration. My main inspirations are the natural world, animals, history & myth, gender, social justice, and in retelling common stories with a view of the oppressed or downtrodden as the foci. I am working on a series of pieces called Femina, -ae, which constitute a retelling of popular myths and historical writings, giving space for the maligned women of these tales.
On the other hand, I enjoy providing whimsical views of our beloved pets, or even simple everyday objects. Because of this, I regularly offer private commissions and design work because I love creating pieces that honor our furry friends & family members. There’s nothing like a piece of joyful art to make your home feel complete!
Outside of my work, I enjoy traveling (especially to Europe; really, Italy; well, Rome); I love to visit museums and see history, to walk in the footsteps of people long gone. It’s also why I love to read old texts - discovering Catullus felt the same grief as me, thousands of years ago, breaks down the barriers of time and space. It’s a rare and precious magic.
(Please note, I lost my beloved Indy to cancer on February 5, 2023, and I haven’t had the heart to update the below information just yet. Please bear with me as I walk through the stages of my grief.)
I also love to write, and to read, as long as Indy is snuggled beside me. She’s my built in best friend, my little soul dog - we do just about everything together, and love to volunteer with local elementary kids. Indy’s a local celebrity! She’s begun being spotted when we take her out with us - we are doing our best to make sure it doesn’t go to her head. Most of our lives happily revolve around Indy, and we wouldn’t change a thing.
My free time also consists of a lot snuggles on the couch with Indy (a given), watching The Expanse - my favorite TV show and book series; as well as rewatching other favorites like Gilmore Girls, Schitt’s Creek, Fleabag, The Great British Bake Off, and of course classics like The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Mummy, Jurassic Park, Wedding Crashers, and Titanic. My life partner Phil & I love nothing more than a good set of quotes turned into conversations - our favorites include “looks like meat’s back on the menu boys” (Uruk-hai dude, The Two Towers); “Americans…” (Jonathan, The Mummy); “who could’ve predicted this?” (Mayor Maywho, The Grinch); and “this was entirely unhelpful, but thank you nonetheless” (David Rose, Schitt’s Creek). Oh, and basically anything from Elf.
Back to my work, I suppose. It’s important to note that my neurodivergence, a relatively recent discovery, has led me to reconsider how my art shapes my world, and vice versa. I am autistic, with ADHD & GAD, and I try to create work that brings me joy (either to tell or to see) - as well as provide realist looks at my everyday life in the hopes of providing comfort and camaraderie to others. Sometimes life is fantastic, other times it’s hard, but it’s always worth it. Thank you for your interest in my work - feel free to follow along @itseliseweir .
In October 2022, Indy was diagnosed with metastatic pheochromocytoma, a cancer originating in the adrenal gland. I have been taking time off to help get Indy the care she needs as well as love her up the best that I possibly know how. If you’d like to know more, please visit my blog, where I’ve begun writing a series At A Loss to help me cope with the stresses of this journey.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Elise Ariadne Weir (she/they) is an American artist, illustrator, writer, poet, and painter born and raised in the Northeast. Raised in the heart of Pennsylvania woods and farmland, El developed a deep love and respect for animals and nature. Much of El’s childhood passed as a series of creative adventures, with El learning to love drawing, painting, writing, and playing piano.
El’s knowledge and love of animals, the natural world, history, and mythology play a significant role in their work and always acts as a compass for future projects and initiatives.
El believes in using art for good, and has operated a variety of fundraisers, using her art to draw people together from around the world. Her most famous fundraiser, Prints for Paws, has raised over $25,000 for rescue group French Bulldog Village. El also partners closely with wildlife rehabilitation center and rescue Gilbert & Friends, which focuses on rehabilitation, care, and education of Virginia Opossums. El has also completed projects for other animal-focused organizations like Living with Pickles, a California-based farm rescue.
In 2022, El launched an online studio space No Swan Songs, which focuses on approaching creativity in a non-capitalistic manner, and encourages a community of creative thinkers and makers. El also is a partner for the educational organization Opossum Love, which focuses on ensuring that correct information about Virginia Opossums is available for veterinarians, wildlife rehabbers, and rescuers. Through this organization, El has spread awareness about opossum rehabilitation through the fundraiser Pouch Pals.
Looking forward, Elise will be launching a stationery & design line titled El & Indy, celebrating her relationship with her best friend, soul dog, family member, and CEO, Indiana Jones Weir. Indy is an eight-year-old French bulldog that does just about everything with El and her partner, Phil. (Read more about Indy & her achievements below, and follow Indy on Instagram @indydoesstuff - you won’t regret it!)
To know El is to know Indy. The pair are a registered therapy team and provide services to local libraries and elementary schools. Indy is a bit of a local celebrity, and El creates coloring pages and encourages children who work with Indy on a weekly basis to keep reading via Indy’s Book Club.
commission or press inquiries
If you’d like to contact Elise for a private or public illustration or design opportunity, or are a member of the press looking to contact El, please email hello@eliseweirart.com or get in touch via our contact page.
For commissions, please submit a project inquiry request.
