I’m Elize McKelvey, an illustrator and fine artist working out of my studio in Salida, Colorado. Before landing here I served in the Marines and held the title of combat artist. That background shapes how I see: I’m drawn to the reality beneath the surface, the things people carry that most of us never notice, and I try to render them with honesty and accuracy. My work moves between fine art portraiture and figure painting in oils, graphite, ink, pastel, and metalpoint, and commercial illustration for editorial, children’s books, and brand work. Clients have included Netflix, the Smithsonian channel, the Norman Rockwell Museum, and the Marine Corps Recruiting Command. Whatever the project, I bring the same care to a gallery piece as I do to a client deadline, and I love collaborating with people who want work that feels true rather than just polished. If you’re looking for an artist who can move between traditional and digital media and take a concept seriously, I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
