Photo by Kaitlin Bitz
Liz Landgren
Landgren’s studio overlooks Edgewood Elementary School’s playground.
If you live in Homewood you most likely know Liz Landgren. And if you know Landgren, known to children as “Mrs. Lizard,” you also know that most of her days are spent painting in her unique Edgewood studio, otherwise known as her “tower.” There, she works until her three children return home from school.
Landgren’s studio used to be in her basement next to the water heater, so the art studio she now has overlooking Edgewood Elementary School’s playground became a newfound haven when she and her husband, Brett, remodeled the space a few years ago. Liz picked out fun tile colors that she never planned to wipe off when they were spattered with paint. Her children, Bess, 11, Fox, 9, and Banks, 7, have a special area in her studio where they can come create their own artwork.
The spiral staircase, the only access to her “tower,” adds a modern flair to her home.
Liz, an art major at Ole Miss, started out by doing pet paintings.
“One day, I pulled out all my paints for a huge honking picture of my dog, and someone saw it. It was a snowball effect from there,” Landgren said. “Birmingham Magazine did a feature on my pet paintings, and I was able to quit my job in retail, which was a huge blessing.”
Since then, Landgren has expanded to painting many different subjects including trees, angels and children. She has continually changed her style and focus since her start, but she still does popular pieces such as her owl paintings.
Landgren also uses her art talent as a ministry to comfort others in their times of need. She has become known for sending pieces to parents who have lost children.
“I would hear about people who had lost children or were going through a hard time, and it was such a blessing to do a painting for someone,” Landgren said.
“Mrs. Lizard” can also be found around the schools helping children with various art projects each year.
Most of Landgren’s work is done through commission, but Facebook has also been an important networking tool. She usually does a couple of shows a year, including Hot Strings, which took place at The Preserve on Sept. 30.
She has two Homewood shows coming up this month: Holly Days on Nov. 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at 117 Eastwood Drive, and Homewood Creatives on Dec. 7 and 8. Paintings start at $20.
“My art is an escape for me,” Landgren said. “I’m something other than a wife and mom when I’m painting. I tried to be a serious artist for a while, but those pieces always ended up not so great. I realized I’m not a serious person. I decided to stick with fun and to stick with who I am as a person, which is happy, fun, weird and mom-ish.”
To contact Liz about a show or a commission, email liz_landgren@yahoo.com.
