About Elizabeth Leese
“Rose-maling” = “rose painting”
An advertisement for “Rosemaling Lessons” in the local newspaper in 1981 sparked Elizabeth’s interest. She had been looking for a new hobby, so she decided to try her hand at traditional Norwegian folk art. The teacher, Leslie Roberts, brought several beautiful examples of painted Norwegian woodwork to the first class. So this was rosemaling! Elizabeth was captivated.
She subsequently studied under Mrs. Roberts, herself a former student of Vi Thode, a prestigious Vesterheim Museum Gold Medalist, for fifteen years. For Elizabeth, rosemaling became an indefatigable avocation, a perennial font of refreshment, as she strove to raise three sons followed by three daughters.
In 2001 Elizabeth began to share her talent, learning and love of rosemaling with students of her own. She also became active in the local chapter of the Daughters of Norway organization. Workshops in various regional rosemaling styles provided by Western Rosemalers Association expanded Elizabeth’s rosemaling repertoire.
Today, rosemaling continues to enrich her life, leading her to a more profound understanding of traditional Norwegian folk art and culture along with unexpected activities and unforeseen paths of friendship.
True to her heritage
“Rosemaling set my feet on the path of discovery of my Norwegian Grandmother’s love for her native land. As a result I became involved with the local chapter of Daughters of Norway of the Pacific Coast. Through this connection I have become acquainted with broad areas of culture in Norway: cooking, carving, music, dance, legend, and literature.
Rosemaling brings tradition to the awareness of new generations of Scandinavians. It enhances lives with it’s enduring, beautiful, useful qualities. It is connected to the great traditions of a richly endowed culture and interwoven into generations of every-day life in Norway. Rosemaling continues this tradition as a living art. My students reach for a connection to the past while bringing this creative tradition into the future.”
-Elizabeth Leese
At your service
Do you have a wood product or piece of furniture that you wish to transform into an heirloom by commissioning it to be rosemaled, or are you interested in learning the art of rosemaling for your own enrichment?
To inquire about commission painting or classes in traditional Norwegian rosemaling please contact Elizabeth.
Milestones
- 1981-1996Elizabeth studied rosemaling in the Rogaland style under the instruction of Leslie Roberts, a former student of Vi Thode, Vesterheim Gold Medalist.
- 2001After twenty years of academic and commission work Elizabeth received a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission for instructorship and she began to teach classes this same year.
- 2004For the first time Elizabeth teaches a workshop for the Daughters of Norway Grand Lodge Convention on Whidbey Island in Washington State. She has since taught at Grand Lodge Conventions in Tacoma and Bellingham in the Red Embroidery and Os styles in 2008 and 2012, respectively.
- 2005Elizabeth is awarded First Prize in the Advanced Category at the Western Rosemalers Association Competition at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle, Washington.
- 2006As a chaperon for the Young Scandia Dancers, Elizabeth made her first voyage to Norway to explore the land of her cultural roots and to gain inspiration for her craft.
- 2009-2010Elizabeth gave a demonstration in rosemaling at the Washington History Museum’s “With Our Hands” World Folk Arts Festival for two consecutive years. In 2010 a second Folk Arts Apprenticeship Grant was awarded to Elizabeth for the purpose of teaching her daughter, Maria, to rosemal. Also, an interview with Elizabeth was featured as a part of the “Cascade Loop Heritage Tour” by Northwest Heritage Resources.
- 2011Elizabeth exhibited her work in conjunction with the Grieg Piano Concerto by Knut Eric Jensen, performed by the Saratoga Chamber Orchestra.