Meet Liz Oliver

Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Oliver.

Liz, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
The path that led me to a career as a textile artist started when I took a weaving concentration at Penland School of Crafts a few years after graduating from college with an Art degree. It was there that I decided I wanted to be a Costume Designer. I enrolled in the local university at UNCC in Charlotte, NC, where I was living at the time to take some courses in Costume Design and Costume Tech.

My Costume professors began hiring me to work as a dyer on the productions that they were designing, and I instantly fell in love with the art of dyeing, and of color matching. I was introduced to Jack Taggart, who works as a costume textile artist in Hollywood, and he encouraged me to move to LA to work in film and tv, as there is a high demand for people that work in our specialized field.

I moved to LA in 2010 and worked at J&M Costumers for four years as their dyer before joining the Motion Picture Costumer’s Union Local 705. I now work independently on different productions for Costume Designers, doing color matching and surface design, as well as aging and breaking down costumes.

In the midst of all of this, I was also exploring my passion for Shibori dyeing, doing it when I got off work, on the weekends, or in between jobs. I recently decided to pivot in my professional path, and am pursuing a career as an entrepreneur, and launching my own textile dyeing business entitled Liz Oliver Studio.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Moving across the country to a huge city, after being surrounded by family and lifelong friends was probably the biggest struggle. The demanding schedule that is required in the film industry has also been challenging.

When working in Costume as a textile artist, every show is different, and you are often needing to (quickly) learn new aspects of your craft, along with constantly improvising, which can be intimidating and stressful. I am, however, grateful for the opportunities that I have had while being here. Being pushed forces me to grow as a person. I am also thankful for experiences that I have had working in the Costume realm because they have influenced my art in many ways. These past eight years have also allowed me to really develop my technical skill as a dyer, and my eye for color.

Please tell us about Liz Oliver Studio.
Within my business, I create wall art, wearables, and home decor. I specialize in the art of Shibori, which is a traditional Japanese form of resist-dyeing. Within this practice, a two dimensional, flat fabric is taken and through tying, binding, clamping, compressing, folding, etc. it is formed into a sculptural shape. This shape is then dyed and when the form is undone, the areas that were resisted remain undyed. The “memory” of the resisted shapes remain, which creates a pattern on the cloth.

I am someone with an explorative spirit so this medium is ideal because it allows for ample opportunities for experimentation. At the beginning of my process, I am often inspired by the universal patterns, as well as the colors, found within the natural world. The two patterns found within nature that I am most drawn to are water and wood. I am always mesmerized at how the grain in wood looks identical to ripples in a lake, and I love translating that into textiles. Designs from various cultures and art movements are also significant to my aesthetic. I utilize these elements, along with a nontraditional color palette, to influence my designs.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
North Carolina is such beautiful place, most of my best memories involve being outside. My favorite place to be when I was young was at my grandparents, close to the mountains in Western North Carolina. It was there, in its green lush hills, that you could run free and admire all the beauty of the natural world. I remember spending many hours peacefully swaying in their hammock, staring up at the trees above me.

Contact Info:

• Website: lizoliverstudio.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @lizoliverstudio.com
• Facebook: Liz Oliver Studio

Image Credit:
Alex Shaw

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