THE POWER OF THE PERSONAL PROJECT - September 17, 2024

On September 17^th, 2024, Lancaster Photography Association will have the pleasure of Elizabeth Toller presenting The Power of the Personal Project as a creative strategy for both life and art.  We will meet at the Antelope Valley Senior Center from 6:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. We will have dinner at Greenhouse Cafe at 4:30 p.m. for members who are interested.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81230704389?pwd=1DdzkwAJH68HYPNR6yuacvkyOTCKck.1

We will discuss how treating our projects as integral parts of our lives and elevating daily tasks to the level of ritual, we create space for creative daydreaming. This intentional approach allows us to discover inspiration in the mundane, transforming ordinary moments into opportunities for artistic growth. Through personal projects, we nurture our creativity, find deeper meaning in our work, and continuously evolve as artists.

Elizabeth Toller’s background - Born into a creative family, creativity has always been a central part of my life. I began as a dancer and eventually became a professional ballerina. When I was about 10 years old, I was given a point-and-shoot camera, which I loved and took everywhere with me. Family and friends 

always admired my pictures. After a car accident ended my dancing career, I enrolled in college. Seeking a new creative outlet, I took photography classes and fell in love with the magic of the darkroom, realizing that photography would be my lifelong passion.      

After college, I continued my photography education through travel workshops and found gallery representation for my street photography. As my siblings and friends began having children, I started taking snapshots, which quickly turned into requests for wall portraits. Before I knew it, they were referring me to their friends, and I found myself with a growing business.

      For many years, I loved running my portrait studio, but then life took a series of difficult turns. The economy collapsed, my best friend passed away suddenly, my work lost its creative spark as I focused solely on what would sell, and my mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's Dementia. I eventually closed my studio to care for my mother.

      After her passing, I sought a creative outlet and rediscovered photography. I transformed my dining room into a studio and began working on a series of still life images for a gallery while also returning to street photography. 

      My purpose in life is to be of service to others.  This calling has inspired me to write a book called "The Power of the Personal Project." I intend this to help others looking to elevate their life and art to new levels.