Lizzy Javier: From Puerto Rico to Ashburn
by Michael Potashnik July 2025
Lizzy Javier was born in Puerto Rico. She discovered her love of painting at an early age and was fortunate to be able to study oil painting pastels with an acclaimed local artist, Bart Mayol. After graduating from the University of Puerto Rico in the mid-1970s with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy, she relocated to California to work as a Physiotherapist. At the same time, she continued her art classes at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena. In 2019 she retired from her physical therapy practice and devoted full time to the visual arts. Lizzy’s art comes from her life experiences, leisure travels overseas, as well as domestic trips. She has travelled to Africa, Tahiti, most of Europe, Iceland, Chile, New Zealand, Scandinavia, and regularly returns to Puerto Rico to visit her family. On her travels, the colorful vistas, scenic landscapes and natural beauty she encounters inspire her paintings. Her medium of choice is acrylic but occasionally she uses watercolors.
On her frequent visits to Puerto Rico, Lizzy came across a beautiful sunset in Dorado and captured it with the painting below. Lizzy has displayed her artwork at several local galleries: the Kyo Gallery in Alexandria, the Artists in Middleburg Gallery, Gallery Underground in Arlington, the Falls Church Arts Gallery in Falls Church, the Crossroads Art Alliance in Haymarket, and the Gallery One in Loudoun Government Building in Leesburg. She has also displayed her art at several Loudoun Public Libraries and Leesburg businesses during First Fridays, and at the Franklin Park Arts Center in Purcellville, and at ArtSpace in Herndon. Her paintings have also been featured on the Loudoun Arts website. Her portfolio of works are at: www.lizzyjavier.com In 2024, Lizzy was accepted to the Gum Spring Library Artist in Residency Program. The Residency lasted three months and during this period Lizzy collaborated with the Makerspace staff to provide one class a month to the Library patrons. Throughout the three months Lizzy created original pieces based on a different theme every month, and left a painting of an eclipse as a gift for the library Lizzy is an active member of the Loudoun Sketch Club, the Loudoun Art Council, the Falls Church Arts Gallery, Friends of Leesburg Public Arts and the Crossroads Arts Alliance. She paints plein air or uses her own photos. She teaches acrylic painting in her Community, Potomac Green. She believes “Art is like breathing-it is an integral part of my everyday life.” She also believes “paintings are portals with ideas and emotions.” Looking to the future, she would like to pursue more abstract painting while still inspired by the beauty and colors of nature. Michael Potashnik, vws |
On her travels through East Africa in 2017, Lizzy was moved by the Massai women she encountered and painted this beautiful portrait of one of them. On this same trip, she also was able to photograph and paint this dramatic picture of a lion.
