Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Amira, Contemporary Expressionistic Abstract Painting, Modern Art, Original, Missouri Artist Elizabeth Chapman

'Amira'
Acrylic on a 48" x 60" x 1.5"
Available by contacting me: Elizabeth



Trusting in the process is probably one of the most important things I have learned as a painter. Today, I had a friend/ex-colleague/student over for her Tuesday art lesson. I am smiling as I am writing this post, because Dina and I worked side by side as art teachers just a few years ago.... and now she has asked me to give her art lessons. We are having a lot of fun.... but are we getting anything done?! Why... yes... She has a beautiful fall landscape painting in which she is building layers up and she worked with a palette knife. Dina, like so many others already has everything she needs in herself in order to be an excellent artist. I am simply helping her to see that. As we were chatting and exchanging ideas while she painted, she said "You just have to trust in the process".  Bingo!!  

This is a very large painting (4ft. x 5ft.) which hung on my studio wall as a blank canvas for a while before I was ready to approach it. The process for this painting actually began long before I put the first stroke down, as I tossed many ideas around.  When I did begin, it was with a palette knife building and layering colors just to see...and well one thing led to another and then the next and...  
 I believe the longer you paint the more relaxed and easier it is to trust in the process!

It isn't over yet as the next step is now the selling of the painting!  Where it will go...I have no idea...all I can do is trust this part of the process as well.


www.melizabethchapman.artspan.com

Friday, July 22, 2011

Gregari, Abstract Painting, Contemporary Expressionism, Modern Art, Original, Missouri Artist Elizabeth Chapman

"Gregari"
Acrylic on 12" x 12" x 3/4" canvas


SOLD





Gregarious:  fond of the company of others; sociable.  ....just in case you were wondering about the title.   I sat down one afternoon this week to work with these cool colors....could it have maybe had something to do with the 100 degree weather we are having?!  Another small abstract.. always a shift from working on the larger canvases.

To see more of these colorful expressionistic abstract paintings please visit:


Let me know if you see a favorite!

Monday, July 18, 2011

Rhapsody, Contemporary Expressionism, Modern Art, Original, Abstract Painting, Elizabeth Chapman

'Rhapsody'

Acrylic on 36" x 36" x 1.5" canvas
To purchase contact me: Elizabeth

SOLD





a rhapsody....is the direction that this painting took!  It actually began in a totally different note with a much quieter softer tone.  There were several stages were it appeared finished, but yet it seemed to continue to challenge me.  So on I went... into a full explosion of color and movement and  I love it!!  Seems to be playing it's own symphony.

 My husband who often helps with the titles of the paintings will ask me what I was thinking while I was painting.  Well, I am  often thinking of food!!  kinda a funny thing as I was contacted to be a guest blogger on this exact topic...check out this mother/daughter collaboration of food and art on the Art Epicurean's blog, click here.

I titled this painting!...as the hubby was disappointed with the turn this one took and already had a title picked out..."Gold Dust"  I believe this one went just exactly as it was suppose to and the one that is to be will happen in it's time.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Sugar-n-Spice, Modern Art, Contemporary Expressionistic Abstract Painting, Original, Elizabeth Chapman

"Sugar-n-Spice"
12" x 12" x 3/4" canvas


May be purchased by contacting me: Elizabeth




Another revisited painting.  Not much painting this week....but I have learned to embrace these dry spells and look at them as just another part of the creative process.  Instead, I spent my week doing other things....I do feel a painting brewing and hope to get to it this weekend!

I feel very honored to have gotten my work accepted in the Abstract Artist Gallery, click here to check it out.

www.melizabethchapman.artspan.com

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Adela, Modern Art, Contemporary Expressionistic Abstract Painting, Original, Elizabeth Chapman

'Adela'
Acrylic on 24" x 36" x 1.5"
Available




Most photographed painting ever ........ This one has gone through many stages this week.  I often photograph when I'm at a point where I feel the painting is completed.  There is something about seeing the image on  a flat screen that helps to see it differently and confirm my decision.  But this one, even with the final version, I had to continue to photograph to get just the right amount of light.  There are metallic golds and coppers in it, which could have contributed to the difficulty in photographing it.  Kind of ironic because as I was in the last stages with this work, it was my desire that the painting would speak about the light overtaking the darkness.  This last picture is very close to the original painting. Click on image to get a closer look at the metallics and textures.

What does it remind me of? What was I thinking as I was painting this one?  These are questions I often get asked by Donnie, who I call "title man", my husband who titles nearly everyone of the paintings. Well, that also went through many stages and this one actually got titled before it was completed. In the end it reminds me of Christmas ........ and I know that is a little strange as this is July and there are heat advisories of 100 plus degree weather here. As I was finishing up, I thought of this painting as a story that was being told ...... the light of angels from above rejoicing and singing. 


Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Continuum, Modern Contemporary Abstract, Original, Expressionistic, Revisited Painting, Elizabeth Chapman

'Continuum'
Acrylic on 40" x 30" x 1.5" canvas
Available




(revisited)



(before)


To revisit a painting is to rework it long after it has been declared as finished or maybe even exhibited, as this one has been.  The before image of this painting is from 2009 and I had really enjoyed the simplicity of the design from the beginning.  As time went on, I would look at it and feel as if perhaps others couldn't see what I was seeing, thinking maybe I had just stopped to soon.  So, I went back in using the original design as the foundation to elaborate on with the intention of keeping it much the same. Well, one thing led to the next, then another and so continued.

I did a little research on this topic, because I was wondering about how to sign a painting like this on the back.  Is it o.k. to change the title? Do you list it as revisited? Well, what I found was interesting. I learned that there have been many well known artists that have had exhibits showcasing only their paintings that have been revisited.  I don't think I'll ever be a famous artist or have enough of these for one single show, but I will sign the back as revisited with the year and keep the original title.


Saturday, July 2, 2011

Love Flow, Contemporary Abstract Heart Painting, Original Art, Palette Knife Painting Elizabeth Chapman

'Love Flow'


Palette Knife Painting
Acrylic on 11" x 14" canvas
Available by contacting me: Elizabeth




Love Flow...for me painting is a form of communicating the expressions that are from the heart.  Staying true to these isn't always the easiest thing.  It is those innermost expressions from the soul that speak to another soul...love flowing.