Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Joplin 2011 Tornado, "Salvation" Commissioned Painting, Contemporary Abstract Painting, Modern Art, Original, Missouri Artist Elizabeth Chapman

May 2012 bring peace and love to all!!

Happy New Year




'Salvation'
Acrylic on 36" x 48" x 1.5" canvas
Commission (Sold)

I was contacted by a family in Joplin, Mo., who had gone through the devastation that the May 2011 tornado left behind wondering if I would create a painting for their new home.  Thankfully, they had survived as they had huddled together in the center of their home, but the house had not.  I was so humbled and honored to have been chosen to create a work that they would use as a color palette for their new living area.  This painting is to hang above the fire place.  It will also serve as a reminder of that day and the salvation that they experienced.  

As far as the color palette, Monica suggested that she liked a painting that she saw on my website titled "Fidelity." (which now hangs in my daughter Emma's home, as I've been giving each of our children a painting, and she chose it)  Click here to see an image of it from a past blog entry.  Also, she liked another painting, "Desire" click here, for it's simplicity and the red in it.  It was from these two paintings that I worked with the idea for the design and color for their palette.  They also knew they wanted to title the painting "Salvation".  There was more though..... and I quote with permission from Monica. 

"-As the tornado approached, nine of us huddled together in our tiny laundry room located in the center of our home. Those 9 were: my family (me, my husband, and our 3 children), my in-laws, my brother-in-law, and a friend. One idea... perhaps incorporating something about the number 9 into the painting in some subtle way... maybe using one of the colors in 9 places... or perhaps using one shade 3 times to represent the kids and another shade 6 times to represent the adults. (??) Not a requirement... just an idea.

-As we all took shelter and the storm began to intensify, my daughter and I were praying aloud asking for God's protection and for angels to surround us. A little over half way through the tornado, after much of the front of our house was crushed and/or blown away, the roof was ripped off above us. At that terrifying point, as debris began to fall in on us, I truly gave up every shred of hope for our lives. My humanness was terrified beyond description, but much to my surprise, my spirit was calm and at peace. God felt just a breath away... it was an almost intoxicating, warm, and awe-filled moment. As I waited for the final blow that was sure to kill us all, my thought was... "Just a moment more, and I will finally see the face of Jesus."

-I now have a whole new understanding of and appreciation for Psalm 91:9-16. (note that last word..."Salvation")  :)    -Monica

Right from the start nine squares began emerging as I was painting and I knew these were to represent them in the center of the chaos.  As I continued, those nine areas became less defined and I was so desperately trying to pull them back out as I was finishing the painting.  It was at this point that my husband walked into the studio saw what I was doing and said, "But look, there is a nine right there".  He was pointing to an area in the center of the chaos that has a gold circle and it is subtle!

With the completion of this painting there was much symbolism for me as well.  But, never did I see what this family and friends saw when I sent them the completed image for approval.   They loved it just as it was and told me how they could see the face of Jesus in it.  I have inserted  the image that Monica sent with the superimposed faced, to help me see where they saw this.



Click on image to see both paintings side by side.

Below is an insert of an article about this tornado along with an image of the path of destruction that it took, although I don't feel that there are any words that can truly describe it:

May 2011 Tornadoes Second Deadliest Month

The first 3 weeks May 2011 Tornadoes were not too bad. However, that all changed on May 21, 2011 and lasted until May 26, 2011! The worst and deadliest tornado during this time ocurred in Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011. It was classified as an EF-5 Tornado.
The Joplin, Missouri Tornado killed 141 people and injured 900. It is recorded as the deadliest tornado in the US since April 9, 1947 (Woodward Oklahoma Tornado killed 181). Massive destruction tore apart large parts of the city of Joplin.

Street after May 2011 Tornado in Joplin Missouri

Monday, December 26, 2011

Ambiance, Modern Art, Contemporary Abstract, Original Painting, Missouri Artist Elizabeth Chapman

'Ambiance'
Acrylic on 12" x 12" canvas








So what's next!  Bringing in a New Year...2012!  Currently, I am excited about setting new goals for the near.   Honestly, I have never been a goal, goal oriented person.  More like go with the flow and make adjustments as needed.   But, I have been getting ideas for goal setting from my daughters who have always been pretty much goal oriented.  Click here for daughter Emma's insert and click here for other daughter Elsie's goal setting advice on the blog A Beautiful Mess.


Hope you are as inspired about these tips as I've been and are now ready to begin forming fresh ideas for the new year to come.  One of mine is changes for this blog, so stay tuned!






www.melizabethchapman.artspan.com 

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Bordeaux, Modern Art, Contemporary Abstract Painting, Original Art, Elizabeth Chapman



'Bordeaux'

Acrylic on 30" x 30" x 1.5" canvas

SOLD

Click on image for a close up.





The painting reminds me of one I completed a few months ago titled "Chateau", you can see it here.   It was purchased very quickly and if you really liked "Chateau", then now is your chance to grab a "Bordeaux"!

I worked on "Bordeaux" over many sessions.  Struggling to bring it to that point when you just know that the piece is finished.  Sometimes in painting it all comes together rather quickly and at other times, as with this one, it's just a matter of not giving up or settling for something that would be far less.  Winning through persistence!

It also can be a matter of perception.  I got to the point, after having spent so much time with it, that I had lost my objectivity.  I needed to step away and spend some time elsewhere, in order to regain my perception.  Photographing "Bordeaux" to capture it as true to real life as possible was also a challenge.  Those thoughts were all about yesterday .... and today ...... I LOVE it!!!


Happy Holidays to you and yours! ..... Elizabeth

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Interwoven, Modern Art, Contemporary Abstract Painting, Missouri Artist Elizabeth Chapman

'Interwoven'
Acrylic on 8" x 8" 300lb. paper
Available



Making my list and checking it twice!!   This is truly an exciting and magical time of year.  We had Penny over yesterday for the day and she helped to decorate, un-decorate, then decorate and finally left the tree half bare!  But the joy and twinkle in her eyes with the decorations was priceless.  At age two she is beginning to pick up the fun fantasies of the season and talking about Santa.  She is also  fascinated with a the nativity scene and the baby Jesus.  May this Christmas season be interwoven with the beauty of the love of God and the light of Christ to everyone!  Enjoy it!  Blessings to you!  Elizabeth

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Makeover...."Affluence" Modern Art, Contemporary Abstract Painting, Elizabeth Chapman


'Affluence'
Acrylic on 24" x 24" x 1.5"




SOLD

This one just got a makeover! If you would like to see the original "Affluence" click here.
Lots of colors and patterns!!  My husband will often ask me "what were you thinking about as you painted this?", as a way to get an idea for titles. Well, with this one I thought I about a high school art student I had had when I first began teaching.  Lindsay was an extremely artistically talented student that used all her electives on art classes.  Not only was she admired by the student body for her work but she also known for her eccentric and creative wardrobe.  Lindsay once told me, "If you put enough colors and patterns together, they'll match".   .... and that is what I was thinking as I worked on this painting as it was difficult to work with so much and pull it together.   Love it!!

I found the title to be much more fitting for this painting than it was for the original.  Guess, it was just meant to be taken to this level.. I don't like to change the titles when I revisit a painting because I would have to scratch it off the back of the canvas and just don't want it to look messy.  So, I went back and checked out the definition for Affuence----A great quantity; an abundance.  Most fitting...don't you think!

www.melizabethchapman.artspan.com


Sunday, December 4, 2011

Home Sweet Home.... "Callera" Contemporary Abstract Painting by Missouri Artist Elizabeth Chapman

Callera
Acrylic on 24" x 48" x 1.5" canvas
Sold



 I just posted this one several weeks ago and it was seen online and  purchased here locally in Springfield, Mo.  When I posted it earlier I had written about the technique I had used in painting this one and if you would like you can read about it here.  As I am posting it again today, I would like to share with you the completion of a painting.

As I have shared before from beginning to end the process of creating a painting is I believe an act of faith.  In the beginning I really don't have much of an idea other than perhaps a feeling of what I want to do, except when working with a commission.  The first colors and marks go on and from there one thing begins to lead to the next until the painting is finished.  And so I've been asked "when do you know it is finished?" Well, most usually this is when I just don't feel as if I can add one more brushstroke...sometimes it can be months later and I realize I really wasn't finished with that one.

But,  it is really finished and the cycle is completed when the painting has found it's home.  This too, I believe is a part of the process and of believing that there will be a place were it is much loved.  I haven't always had the opportunity to see this final phase when the painting has been sold by a third party.  So...here is the story:

I had been out to this family's beautiful home a few years ago and we had worked on a wall with another painting, colors, sizing, etc, but nothing was really just right.  I had thought of this wall from time to time and had wondered how it had worked out.  I posted this painting "Callera" just a few weeks ago and when Gina saw it online, she absolutely LOVED it!  She contacted me wondering if I might come back with this painting and see how it might work.  When we arrived Gina's eyes followed the painting in!  I learned it was the very same wall we had worked with a few years ago.  But when my husband held the painting up on the wall above the couch we could instantly see that is was just a bit small for the size of the space.  I could just read the disappointment Gina was going through and I so wanted something to work out for them. This is a very special room in which the family will all be together for Christmas.  

So we began brainstorming ideas...sometimes it pays to think outside the box!  Does a painting always have to be centered above a couch?  Between the four of us we came up with an idea of moving some shelves around and hanging the painting on the adjacent wall, as this was a wraparound sectional couch.  We all believed that this was the best option.  The painting would also now first be seen when walking into this room and from the kitchen as well.  I offered to leave the painting, as there was going to be some work in moving the shelves around.  Gina was hugging me on the way out!!

Well, the next day Gina called..."Perfect, we absolutely love the arrangement.  We're keeping the painting!", she said.  The painting's process was completed.  Painting and being involved in the creative process brings me much joy,  seeing this same joy in others completes the process.

 Randy and Gina,  thank you so much!! 

"It brings me much joy just to be the brush in the Master Painter's hand and to realize that His creations are made to bring great joy to all.  My paintings are a form of  song, dance and praise in response to the beauty of life. --Elizabeth