Elizabeth Worthington began creating art as soon as she could sit up. Now, the retired teacher is showcasing her paintings at Reflections Gallery.
"I would sit in my crib and ask for colors," she said. "That's what my mother told me."
Born into a family of scientists, mathematicians and professors, Worthington said she nearly chose not to pursue her creative passions. However, she added, her father intervened to make sure she chose wisely.
"Growing up, my father was a college professor and both my brothers did science and math, but I always really enjoyed art and music," she said. "My daddy had a talk with me and said, 'You do what you want to do.' And art was always what brought me the most pleasure."
Following a lifetime of teaching others the craft, first in Virginia, then on Lookout Mountain, the East Brainerd resident continues to focus on her personal painting.
Worthington's current exhibit at Lee Highway's Reflection's Gallery was inspired by the spring and summer blooms. Irises are a favorite to paint, she said, but nature as a whole often serves as inspiration beyond the flowering blossoms showcased in the current exhibit, which ends at the end of the month.
Worthington's exhibit is free and open to the public. For more information on her work or the gallery, call 892-3072 or stop by 6922 Lee Highway during business hours: Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.