Liz Sivertson

North Shore Artist Liz Sivertson has lived near Lake Superior most of her life. Duluth, Knife River, Isle Royale, Lutsen and Grand Marais have all been called home. The great lake has been a constant element in the lives of the Sivertson family for generations. Liz´s great grandparents and grandparents have fished the waters of Isle Royale since 1892. Her father, artist and author Howard Sivertson, shared the island with his children early in their lives."Beaches, bonfires, picnics; moose, fox, fish and toads; riding big seas in little boats and these were all first experiences at Isle Royale. There is a family rumor of a fish box at the bow of the boat where my parents stowed at least one of us kids for the ride across the lake."In recent years Liz´s lake travel has been done by sea kayak, including extended expeditions to the Queen Charlotte Islands of British Columbia and the remote reaches of Lake Superior´s Canadian shore. "Kayaks are like an appendage to your person. They transform you into something more a part of the lake& like a duck or a fish. If given the choice, however, I prefer the duck."Today Liz lives just over the hill from Grand Marais. Set in a wooded lot overlooking the swampy headwaters of Rosebush Creek, her 16´ x 32´ living space boasts a sleeping loft, electricity, and a panoramic view."This little box I call home is a shining example of economic efficiency. I cook, eat, sleep, play saxophone, paint, and on a rare day, even tap dance here."Albeit humble, Liz´s place is extremely cheerful and full of bright color. Her easel stands near the north window. She paints looking out at a yard full of flowers and bears witness to the antics of her woodland neighbors. "I´ve seen moose, heron, eagles, owls, mink, martin and hoards of chickadees, ravens, and jays from this perch. Only minutes after I finished the last painting for NORTH COUNTRY SPRING, the curtain of leaves and ferns parted as a scruffy black bear ambled to center stage in front of my window. I applaud the hearty characters inhabiting the tangle of twigs and trees just outside my door. I savor the brief juicy moments when the veil is lifted and I can feast my eyes on their magnificent forms. Take a bow, bear! Bravo!"Liz graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1982. As illustrator for the children´s book NORTH COUNTRY SPRING, written by Reeve Lindbergh, Liz embarks on yet another adventure.