Artist Biography: Liz Ebanks Teaches Environmental Stewardship

                                                                 Copyright 2010 Liz Ebanks

Liz Ebanks is delighting audiences with her Award Winning Children’s Art Workshops that champion environmental stewardship of our priceless Florida endangered wildlife.  Her vision as a mentor is to build a partnership between the children and the endangered animal heroes that have been successfully rescued, rehabilitated, and released into the wild. She connects the children to how they can overcome the title of disability and adapt to share their gifts with the community through merging creative writing, environmental stewardship, and illustration.

"Painting Shoes for Chihuly"
Volunteer Teaching Artist
Morean Arts Center
Liz Ebanks Copyright

The Teaching Artist’s passion to protect wildlife originated because, of her childhood summers scuba diving on the beautiful island of Grand Cayman, visiting family. Painting became a natural response to her as a fifth generation artist. Ebanks filled her sketchbooks with her adventures scuba diving the reef and wrecks.  Hawksbill turtles, manatees, and bottlenose dolphins fill her oil paintings and pastels with a fusion of animation and Impressionism.

In addition, to being selected for her signature inclusion techniques as the state representative for VSA Florida Ebanks was honored in Washington, D.C. through a Congressional Reception for her commitment to Inclusive Education 2010 VSA /CVS National Teacher Recipient. Ms. Ebanks was commended for her dedication to understanding each student's personal challenges and unlocking their hidden ability to adapt and excel. She links students with incredible animal role models and their stories of survival in their Florida habitats.
The Teaching Artist is honored to have had the opportunity to teach her Froggy Valentine’s: Gyotaku Adapted Lesson to the Varying Exceptionalities Classes as a Visual Artist at the High School in Tampa, Florida. Each masterpiece transforms Gyotaku the Japanese art of fish printing into laughter by embellishing frogs with glittery warts and lily pads made of recycled candy wrappers. As community ambassadors students life skills were emphasized in their  "Pirate Treasure Maps." Whereas, "Dolphin Gets Students with Disabilities Talking" with their pods as a team on a mural showcased at the Florida Capitol. As a mentor she empowers students with adaptive techniques. Ebanks celebrates differing learning styles by differentiating instruction and offering positive feedback. Her lesson plans incorporate the National Standards, Florida endangered wildlife, and fragile ecosystems.



"Take Me Home"
5' x 6'
Location: Tampa Bay Humane Society
Mural on Double Doors Leading to Adoption Rooms
Liz Ebanks Copyright

 Masterfully, she uses vibrant colors and creates windows for her viewers to escape from the everyday stresses of life. Her talents have been featured in Wildlife Art Magazine and showcased at HCC’s Presidential Reception at Neiman –Marcus, as well as Pacific Sunwear™. Ebanks’ passion to help animals is evident in how she details each creature’s personality and story in all of her artwork. The artist's stunning paintings reflect her attention to researching each subject in its natural habitat.  She focuses on color and value to comunicate natural lighting.

"Myakka River Valley Mural"
26' x 75'
Ringling School of Art and Design Collaboration
Location Sarasota Memorial Hospital, FL



Her murals have included the Tampa Bay Humane Society (6 ft X 6 ft) and teaming up with Ringling School of Art to complete the Sarasota Memorial Hospital project (75 ft X 26 ft). After earning her B.A. in psychology from the University of South Florida she continued her formal training in art at Hillsborough Community College and earned her Florida Statement of Eligibility in Art K-12.

"Manatee Mural Show and Children's Reception"
Location: Library Show
Liz Ebanks Copyright

As a National Art Teacher Award Recipient my fun classes are perfect for schools, camps, birthdays, and museums. To inquire about booking Liz Ebanks Children's Art Workshops in Tampa and        commissions email a request to: liz@rescueteam.com


The High School students from Ebanks' VSAFL Teaching Residency are sharing their art portfolios through the world’s largest children’s museum online at the link below:
http// www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?exhibit=263154

"Froggy Valenon of the Original)
Liz Ebanks Copyright 2010

Click on your guest pass to my lesson plan entitled,
"FROGGY VALENTINE'S CELEBRATE ABILITIES IN WASHINGTON" published at this link: http://www.artsonia.com/teachers/lessonplans/plan.asp?id=3661


Join me on my next post DOLPHIN ADVENTURE- MURAL SHOWCASED IN FLORIDA CAPITOL at this link:
http://lizebanksartgallery.blogspot.com/2010/09/dolphin-mural-showcased-in-florida.html




Thank you, for showing your support. The children thank CVS as a corporate sponsor for joining their art movement as environmental stewards to incorporate recycling into art to protect our priceless Florida endangered wildlife and ecosystems.