Figurative Abstract Painting "Brother's and I" by Contemporary Abstract Artist Elizabeth Chapman

Brother's and I
Acrylic 16" x 18" canvas

Commission Sold

Visit my website to see more of my abstract paintings: HERE


I was contacted through my Etsy shop and asked if I wouldn't consider painting a figurative abstract. It was from a very special time in which these siblings had been re-united while visiting a brother who was recovering from injuries while having been deployed.  I was puzzled as Etsy was not the place that I had done these, so...how did she know about them?  Later, she told me she had seen them on Instagram and had really like them. Would I do one for her?  Immediately, upon seeing the photograph ideas began to formulate. So, how could I not?  Although, these always do make me a bit nervous to paint I will.  Maybe it's because I don't want to offend anyone by the way I have abstracted them and because I know how special the photograph means to them. It's really more about capturing a feeling for the painting than a realistic representation.

I don't do these often enough and should as they've been well received. I have decided to begin a listing for them in my Etsy shop. It won't be on there for a few more weeks, so in the mean time if your reading and think you might be interested contact me: elizabethchapmanart@gmail.com

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Painting

Contemporary Palette Knife Abstract Expressionistic Painting, Custom Order by Elizabeth Chapman

'Little Summer'

Acrylic on 24" x 30" x 1.5" canvas

Available as a custom order on Etsy by clicking; HERE

This painting has been one of my most popular paintings, if not most popular abstract on Etsy.  It was painted for a person who had an interest in the first painting that came out "Indian Summer"., 2009. Later there was a two panel commission, "Better Two" and then there was "Summer Splay" a 48" x 48" in 2013.

Because of it's popularity, I have decided to paint some more of these.  A custom order for a similar  painting to "Little Summer" can be purchased from the listing I created on Etsy by following the link above or email me: elizabethchapmanart@gmail.com

The paint is thickly applied with a palette knife on the canvas as colors are mixed and merged together. Beautiful!

Visit my website to see more of my contemporary abstract paintings by clicking: HERE

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

morning muse.

"Morning Muse"

Acrylic on 30" x 60" x 1.5" wrap canvas

Commission SOLD

Inspiration can come from so many different sources.  The important thing is getting an idea planted in your head and being so excited about it that you can't wait to put to a canvas.  That is the spark that gets it rolling.  Many changes from the original idea can occur, but that's ok….it's all a part of the process.

A commission is different in that the idea is going to come from someone else, the client.  Now and then there are clients who will totally turn you loose. "Love your work. I want you to paint freely. Here's the size I would like, paint however you want".  LOVE painting that way!!

However, I also enjoy painting with direction being given to me.  In this manner, the inspiration is coming from the information that the client is giving.  I may hear about certain paintings that are favored or not, preferred color schemes, colors to not use, perhaps it's a certain feeling the painting is to have from photographs the client sends me, etc., What is unique about a commission is that it becomes a merging together of ideas between a client and the artist.  A unique individualized work of art. Somewhere between all this info. inspiration will strike.

The story behind this painting is another special relationship that was formed between myself as an artist and the client.  Inspiration came to me immediately as I read the initial contact.  This person was re-decorating their home in a contemporary/neutral color/tranquil environment.  The painting would be for their bedroom which had a very long wall where they were looking for and considering a large painting. They liked my colorful, happy, fun style.  Mom and Dad's bedroom was a very special place in which each morning the kids would run and jump in their bed. A time of day in which they spent  together laughing and playing together.  The desire was to create a painting that visually represented this "happy" and "good morning" type of day.  This shared information totally stole my heart away and the initial vision/inspiration for this painting was birthed.

We continued to communicate in order to pin down their expectations. The initial vision was to have happy and fun colors  to represent their morning family time.  Changes to the original vision where made as it was asked if it could also include more of a landscape or maybe even a cityscape.  Abstract, of course. Also, could it be more of a horizontal composition.  The challenge as an artist is to work the ideas that the client has into your own.  That is what you see here.  Can you see the tree(s), landscape, cityscape, happy and fun colors all mixed into a horizontal composition? It is a challenge, but I love the uniqueness that occurs with the collaboration of ideas and the individualism that a custom made work of art creates. 

The bottom image is the final version in which a few adjustments were made.  It's not quite as bright due to the difference in times of day photos were taken. Somewhere in-between the two images is the actual color in real.  There was a little too much pink to suit the man in the family. No big deal. Totally, understand.  Simply, brushed a little red over it, toning it down without changing the balance of color.

So happy that this painting is going to be very loved!

Would you like to see more of my abstract paintings?!

Then visit me….by clicking HERE

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

Blue Abstract Commission Painting "Wanderlust" ORIGINAL Contemporary Art by Elizabeth Chapman

Wanderlust
Acrylic on 36" x 36" x 1.5" canvas
Commission
SOLD


Click HERE to see more of Elizabeth Chapman's contemporary abstract paintings. 

To discuss creating a special customized work email me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist
Website

Palette Knife Abstract

Summer Splay

Acrylic on 48" x 48" x 1.5" wrap canvas

Commission-sold

My pick for the day is "Summer Splay" which was a  2013 commissioned work to be painted similar to the original posted: HERE.  "Indian Summer" (2009) would later become the inspiration for my first commission to a couple here in Springfield, Mo., titled "Better Two", then Little Summer , New Dawn and  lastly Summer Splay.

Unique to these paintings is that they were painted entirely with a palette knife.  I am encouraged in reading the original post from Indian Summer back in 2009.  This had not been a good day for me.  The previous year 2008 I had resigned a well paying job as a high school art teacher to begin my own business. My paintings had not begun selling and I was frightened.  So, I had picked up a part-time job as a florist in a local grocery store to at least supplement our income in paying for my health insurance.  My creativity in floral arrangement had not been appreciated as I was criticized for using too much white with color..can't do that.  Frustrated, I came home and painted "Indian Summer" slashing whites into it with a palette knife. My stubborn streak was saying I'll show you that it can work. I did leave that job after a few weeks and shortly after, that painting became the color palette for the commissioned painting Better Two. God provides.

  I have learned over the years that painting is a lot like having a "real" job….you've got to show up and clock in each day.  You can't just sit around and wait for that "magical feeling" to begin.  No matter how your feeling or whatever else is going on in your life you've got to go to work.  Often times, this can be the hardest part. But hey, don't be too hard on yourself either, there are also sick days and vacations!

I've been experimenting with some new techniques and have several new paintings that I will be posting soon….
for 2014!

Please visit my web gallery: HERE 

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

there's nothing like family.....

'Sister Style'

Acrylic on 35"H x 60"W x 1.5" canvas

Commission
SOLD

THANK YOU!!  Ena

Finished!! and will be shipped to it's new home in Louisiana  this week!  This is a commission in which I was asked to do a painting similar to a previous one, "Spree" (now in Canada) only larger.   My prep work consisted of going back and remembering what I was thinking when I painted this, to hopefully catch that same mood and technique that I had used.  I pulled out only those jars of color that were used in Spree and selected the same music, Cat Stevens.  Then when all was ready, the work began....

What was I thinking as I was painting this one?....Well, that is how the title came to be...I thought about how closely this one was resembling the first one "Spree" (good since that was what was requested) and how closely they are related, much like sisters.  Which of course made me think of our two beautiful daughters, Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman, sisters, best friends and owners of Red Velvet. My thoughts of how similar they have always been and yet how different as well... 

Here they are in a new feature they have added to their blog..."Sister Style"

As I was cleaning out my closet this weekend, I found these moccasins of the girls when they were three and five years old.

Thanks  for the inspiration that you have given to this new painting "Sister Style"...

Love you both so much!!

XOXO MOM

Website

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist