Pixie Eslinger

Teaches at The Art Center Highland Park

Born in the Pacific Northwest, Pixie’s childhood home was nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Maintains, east of Seattle. As a child her art interests included drawing, watercolor, clay sculpture, and leather work. Pixie started dabbling with wood carving in her early 20′s when her brother received a set of carving tools for Christmas. Over the years, Pixie became an avid wood worker. When she moved out of the country in her mid 20′s she left her brother’s carving tools behind and did virtually no artwork until 1999. It was then that her sister suggested she carve Santa Clauses. Armed with a few carving tools she had picked up in Japan, she carved a Santa as a gift for her sister. It was this carving that rekindled her interest. In 2001 Pixie and her husband, John (also an artist), joined the Antioch Fine Arts Foundation. Within this group of local artist they made several friends, most of which are watercolorists. Through these friends, Pixie discovered a talent for painting. While she enjoys trying different techniques in watercolors, her latest works are executed on Masa paper, which she uses to create a loose, almost batik look in her paintings. Pixie’s latest creative outlet is metal smithing. Combining her experience in sculpture and carving, she utilizes both construction and lost wax techniques in her work. Pixie and her husband live in Northeastern Illinois where they both enjoy working in their studios and each other!