Elise Spaid-Roberts of Terre Haute is River City Art Association’s October Artist of the Month at the Vigo County Public Library at Seventh and Poplar streets.

Elise is well-known in the art community for her small paintings, painted figurines, blackout poetry and mixed media creations.

Tornado Alley by Elise Spaid-Roberts

“My artwork is a form of catharsis for me. Art making allows me a chance to process or
escape the world. I find purpose in creating. Most of my art is small scale works or blackout
poetry. My tiny art varies from relief sculpted scenery within bottle caps, to landscape paintings
on a penny, and miniature figurine painting. My blackout poetry inspires larger paintings of
abstract landscapes. I turn entire books into blackout poems. I have showcased my small works
and blackout poetry books locally and through galleries in the United States.
Subject matter for my work is heavily influenced by a trip I took to the Outer Hebrides of
Scotland. My adventure was in 2011, but the landscape, sea, and Gaidhlig language has left a
lasting impact on me. Other inspiration comes from the extreme weather and cloud formations
in the Midwest. I easily get lost in the process of painting storm clouds and colors found in
extreme weather.”

Leafpileart.com