inspiration.

Highlight

Acrylic on 40" x 40" x 1.5" wrap canvas

SOLD!
Thanks Jennifer!

It worked!  The initial spark of this painting came to me while we were driving down the road.  My husband likes to do the driving, not that I'm a bad driver….just the way he is. Men. So, anyway what to do.  Well, for a creative person it's a great time to work on ideas!  I envisioned a landscape composition with a beach in the foreground, bluish purplish mountains and sky.  Not sure that the blue area looks like mountains, but hey maybe it's water.  Now you know the initial inspiration for this painting and the outcome is pretty much true to that idea.  However,  it could have taken a different direction and then I would have had to been willing to let go of that idea.  Either way, that first inclination drove this painting.


More of my abstract paintings can seen in my Web Gallery: HERE


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

another black and white.

Menange

Acrylic on 30"H x 40"W x 1.5" canvas

Available

The black and white painting "Limitless" that my daughter Emma asked that I do for her and Trey's home office has gotten the wheels turning on a black and white series.  This is the second one.  I have found these to be harder to paint than they appear.  It might  be since color comes so naturally for me that it feels as if I've got my hands tied when working with just black and white.  I would like to try one with color, then layer in the black and white with some color coming through.  The challenge is good. 

Here we are photographing outside using natural lighting.  With all the white in this painting this spot in the shade turned out to work the best.  Propped on top of a found object in order to keep the bottom edge from being in the sun.  Fancy photographing equipment. I then had to up the exposure in editing to get it to as close as possible to real thing, which is lighter than this.

This painting can be purchased from my Web Gallery or by contacting me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

completed.

Refractions
Acrylic on 36" x 36" x 1.5" canvas
Available

This painting has been in the works for quite some time and recently went back to give it some tender loving care.  There was a lot that I liked, but had too much not working for the whole.  I resolved it by focusing more on defining it's high horizontal composition, still retaining it's original identity.  I love the texture that is built up when layers upon layers of paint are built up. Many times it is not done intentionally just happens as I am searching for the flow/direction of a painting. Yet works. Unfortunately, texture is not one of the elements that is visible on images.  SO much more to appreciate in real.


Well, I'm off to start a painting today with an abstracted landscape idea that came to me as we were on our way to eat with our kids last night.  I also think about food while painting…Sky,mountains, beach scene.  Warm yellow/oranges, purple/blues and off white. Another large, large…we'll see where it goes. Perhaps work on a figurative too.  Weather is finally warming up, so time to start getting some outside work done.  Hoping to clean the garden and plant peas this afternoon.  Then back to painting in the evening.  Enjoy your day.


More of my abstracts can be viewed: HERE

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

inspiration.

Mother's Love
Acrylic on 10" x 10" canvas

SOLD

This was a commissioned figurative abstract for Elise Blaha from the blog: 'enjoy it.'  She contacted me as she is friends and works with my daughters Elsie and Emma of  A Beautiful Mess, inquiring if I would be interested in creating this painting of her and Ellerie. How could I not?! Such an adorable picture of these two.  The photo that I used is in part of her blog banner or instagram @elisejoy if you would like to see it.

I know, I know I need to keep painting these figuratives...


I did not know Elise and so decided to check her blog out.  I left reading her blog inspirationally pumped and I'm not through reading it yet. There is so much. You couldn't possibly miss finding something you would enjoy reading. She has been blogging since 2005. I found this post on posting in the section: Blog Content which caught my eye for ideas.  loved it. Currently, she is starting a birthday challenge called make29 for her birthday this year.  I'm not quite sure how she finds the time for all that she does.  She certainly, is an inspiration.


Interested in a figurative abstract painting?
email me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

better together.

Better Together

Acylic on 11" x 14" wrap canvas

Available

Happy Valentine's Day!

"Heart Series" can all be viewed/purchased from Etsy: HERE

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

luv.

LUV

Acrylic on 11" x 14" wrap canvas

Available

I have over the last several weeks focused a bit more on the "heart series".  The whole available collection can be viewed/purchased from Etsy. HERE

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

abundance.

Zaza

Acrylic on 30" x 40" x 1.5" wrap canvas

Ready to hang

Available

I have always just sold original paintings, but am working in new directions and will be making many of my paintings available as a print.  This is one of my most recent paintings and I have got it set up to be purchased as a print on Fine Art America: HERE There are many options available. It can be printed on to a canvas or matted and framed. The process is simple for both the buyer and the seller. Check it out. 

Fine Art America was one of the first sites I began listing on.  There are many paintings on their that go back, way back. I am currently going through changing and checking images for printing.   It has not been a site in which I have never been serious about selling my work as prints.  It's been more of a place for exposure. In that respect it's been good in that there have been several referrals for commissions and inquiries on originals, as it is a highly trafficked website.

"Zaza" the original painting is available for purchase from my Web Gallery: HERE

or by emailing me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

or now as a print!

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

sisterly ties

"Sistery Ties" on the easel

Figurative Abstracts

Commissioned

Sisterly Ties One

Acrylic on 10" x 10" x 3/4" wrap canvas

Commissioned

Sisterly Ties Two

Acrylic on 10" x 10" x 3/4" wrap canvas

Commissioned

My husband is so laughing at me, because one of my goals for this year was to phase out small abstracts.  Concentrating more on the large abstracts.  Well, here I went and joined the 30 paintings in 30 days challenged last month and to make it more manageable for myself, I painted a lot of small abstracts.  It was also a good time to try something new.  Figurative abstracts had been something that I had dabbled in a little with the "Pool Side Series", but after 4-5 paintings had dropped it.  So not exactly new, new…but was something I wanted to continue…

It has turned out to be a natural for me and really not to far from abstract expressionism.  It is really another emotional form of painting in which it is more about picking up the feeling or movement of the subject than creating a realistic depiction. Yet, there is just enough realism to connect with. This new style has turned out to be very well received  and I have been busy  painting several more since last month.  So, here I am painting more of the small abstracts!

This was a  special commission and one that is meant to be a gift to two sisters who share similar ties. I was contacted by their mother who was a regular follower of my daughters' Elsie and Emma's blog, A Beautiful Mess.  On their blog she had seen one of the paintings I had done for the January Challenge titled "Sisters". She fell in love with the painting as it was a reminder to her of her own daughters and 'sisters' with a unique bond. She asked if I would be willing to create a figurative abstract from a photograph that had appeared in a local magazine article of her daughters   ….and would I do 'two paintings' as they would be a gift to each sister.

The gift would  be given as a celebration for this years fifth anniversary.  The older sister is a recipient of a kidney donation from the younger sister.  Each year in May, there mother has given them a gift. It was all the information I was given. Since having completed the paintings I have been given more information and totally admire the courage that these sisters have had.  I've been told that "Sisterly Ties One" totally captures the personalities of these two daughters/sisters. 

Approaches to painting can vary, at least for me.  I wanted to keep the feeling consistent for each painting and so they were painted side by side back and forth.  They paintings are obviously alike in many ways  but yet there are elements from each one that I prefer and so in that respect I feel they turned out with a good balance of likeness.  What spoke the most for me was painting the area around there shoulders.  In the photograph the sister on the right has her arm wrapped around the other.  I couldn't get this to work and so their ended up being more of a merge occurring.  Frustration set in at first, but then I realized it was a part of the flow of the painting as it was a perfect illustration of their closeness. Knowing more now, it will be interesting to learn which painting each sister chooses.

Sisters… share so much.  Sure there are the occasional disagreements, but the love between them overcomes.  

To commission your figurative abstract email me: elizabethchapman@artlvoer.com

A full portfolio of my abstract paintings can be viewed and purchased from: HERE 

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

encouragers

Guess the last post got me to thinking about encouragers and how I have been inspired by those around me along the way. That along with just feeling like I REALLY want to try some new things on my blog is what this post is about.   This little painting is back from 2009 and at that time I did not change those image numbers to a title. So, don't remember the tittle to this small collage. 2009  is when I photographed  this piece. I really think it was actually painted  from a  few years before that  Probably about an 8" x 10" on watercolor paper, watercolor collage that has since then sold.

I wanted to find one of my first abstracts and this is it.  This was done with watercolors and stencils.  They were really a lot of fun and you might want to try it.  At this point, I had no idea I would one day become an abstract painter.  I was painting realistically with watercolors.  So here is the very beginningof the abstract track.  I would cut out shapes from the watercolor paper and place them on my painting surface. Then I would paint around these shapes with a the lightest layer of color.  When dry, I would then place those shapes on another area of the paper, overlapping existing color with another layer of watercolor. Paint over that… and continue on with that process. Darkest colors last. It was just fun using your imagination to find beauty in color, lines, shapes, textures.  Last thing, I would do was find a way to take the actual stencil pieces and work them into the piece. In this posted piece, you can find them glued to the the bottom of the piece. Can you see them?

Like I said, these were just for fun.  At the time, I was still working as a teacher.  My very first encouraging person was an absolutely wonderful person, mentor to me and artist, whom I love very much name Emily Frost.  We would meet now and then, kinda like art club and share art that we were working on.  Emily would just go on and on about my abstract pieces. Guess what…I would go home from her studio place and crank out some more pieces.  Each time we met, again she would take a  look at my new work…go on and on about it……I was like really, you think these are good. Lifted, I would go home to create more art.  Unknowingly, a seed was planted. 

She was and still is an encourager to me..we still meet, but now it's more like once or twice a year.  I linked her name to where you can view her work.  In case you missed it. here it is again.   She has quite the collection of found objects which she would use in creating these 3-D pieces. Presently, she is transitioning to working in a different medium.  AND  recently, I learned she will be moving to Texas.  Not only an encourager, but a very talented fine artist herself.  Thank goodness for the internet as that will be how we will meet to encourage one another.  Or perhaps a trip or two to Texas!  Find and surround yourself with encouragers, they bring life and inspiration.  Next weekend, I'll share with you another person who was instrumental in finding the artist within. 

My current body of abstract paintings can be viewed and purchased from this site: HERE 

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

"Happy Dance" Contemporary Abstract Painting

Happy Dance

Acrylic on 36" x 48" x 3/4" wrap canvas

Commission

It has been such an honor and a privilege to have created this painting for the home of Texas Artist, Laurie Pace.   I was contacted by Laurie who was looking for a fresh new piece for their newly acquired home.  She desired to use a specific color palette with a few ideas from some of my own paintings for compositional style.  Taking the ideas of others can be much like working with a limited color palette. Not a bad thing at all…in fact, when your a creative person and have got so many ideas, color choices and  directions that you can move in, sometimes it's kinda helpful to be given limitations. 

I began this journey back in 2008…wow hard to believe it's been six years of painting nearly everyday now! Previously, I had been teaching art at the high school level for ten years.  It was during those times that I began to discover the artist within me.  I painted/created whenever I  found the time, weekends, evenings and even in the classroom.  Down deep in my heart, I  knew I  was more of an artist than a teacher.  I felt as if I was working as someone that I was not made to be and not using that which I had been given. The time came, as my co-worker/friend so well stated,  "the pain of staying had become greater than that of leaving".  You see I was leaving a well paying secure job to pursue this passion.  Not something that I lightly advise doing.  For me, it was a very difficult personal decision.  

Long story, short.  I was working everyday like crazy.  I began posting a few paintings on line…which  was a whole new learning experience in itself.  You would laugh if you knew what my income was for that first year….fortunately I am stubborn and just kept after it.  One day, I received an email from Laurie Pace…I could not believe my eyes. This well known international artist from Texas had found some of my work and had written to encourage and give me advice.  She ended the email with….you have got to believe in yourself.  Just BELIEVE.  If your out there today, reading this, struggling, I hope that you will take those words to heart as well.

There is so much power in believing….and it's not just in myself but in God himself who provides when we place our lives in a position of trusting for His provision.  I am so thankful.

And Laurie, if your reading this…Thank you!

From our home to yours…happy dancing!!


More of my abstracts can be viewed and purchased directly from my Web Gallery: HERE
 OR if you would like to have your own custom made painting email me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

January Paintings Collaged

Collage of January's "30 paintings in 30 days challenge"


Created this collage of January's paintings using PicMonkey.  Kinda neat being able to see them all together. I actually painted a bit more than this last month.  Begun a couple of figurative abstract paintings that will be given to a couple of sisters from their mom. Almost, done. Also, a very large abstract that I will share next. Check back!

My Web Gallery is HERE

Elizabeth Chapman
Conemporary Abstract Artist