Modern Expressionistic Abstract Painting "Arch" by Elizabeth Chapman

Arch

Acrylic on 12" x 12" x 1.5" canvas

Available from my Etsy Store: HERE

Visit my website to see a portfolio of available paintings: HERE

SOLD

Sometimes in order to change things up a bit, I will work with the smaller canvases or on paper. This one is on a smaller canvas and one of three new ones I will be adding to my Etsy store. 

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

Modern Expressionistic Abstract Blue Painting "Ingress" by Elizabeth Chapman

Ingress

Acrylic on 30" x 40" x 1.5" canvas

Available from VerandasFine Art & Gift Gallery

Fair Haven, New Jersey

To see more of my available abstract paintings please visit my website: HERE

or link to a store from one of the side bars.

What inspires you? The initial spark that sets a painting in motion, where does it come from? Well, ultimately it is from the Creator of all things. But, from our perspective, what is it?  With each painting, there is an inspiration behind it. This one came to be from a memory of an image I had seen before that so impressed me...that well it stuck. I have gone back to it on many an occasion to attempt the idea finding it to be harder than it appears. So, "what is it?" you ask...

Although, I have never been to I absolutely love viewing images of landscapes, seascapes and in particular the houses in Greece.  The white houses trimmed with blue windows and doors and the color of the ocean water with so many variations of blue. SO, beautiful. In particular, it's been the boldness of the houses that captured my interest. Much harder to paint than it appears. How can you just use blue and white? this is the closest I have come! 

Here's one inspired from that same idea from back in 2010,  "Merge" (click HERE)

Wow! I remember beginning that painting with the same concept of just using  blue and white. Probably an ultramarine blue. Found it to be harder than I thought and introduced other colors into it. I'm sorry the photography of it is not so good. It did turn out to be a beautiful painting in real and has since sold. This one was begun with an indigo blue which is the darkest that you see in this image, not black. I did absolutely love the contrast that it created right away, but still not enough. I pushed forward with more blues, but trying to keep it just that.

Where does your inspirations come from?

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

Contemporary Expressionistic Abstract "Divergent" by Elizabeth Chapman

Divergent

Acrylic on 24" x 24" heavy watercolor paper

Ready to frame

Available

Although done on watercolor paper, the layers of paint have been so built up that it has created a very sturdy surface with lots of texture.  There a many options for framing, further enhancing the painting.

This painting may be purchased from my website or by contacting me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

Please visit my website to view more of my colorful contemporary abstracts: HERE

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

Abstract Expressionistic Contemporary Painting by Elizabeth Chapman

Steadfast

 30"H x 48"W x 1.5" gallery wrap canvas

Acrylic

SOLD

Not only has this painting have lots of color but LOTS of interesting surface texture created with the layering of paint.  Bright and colorful!

For more information about this painting contact me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

Please be sure to visit my web gallery for more available abstract paintings: HERE

Free shipping included.

ORIGINAL 

Contemporary Abstract Paintings by

Elizabeth Chapman

Abstract Painting "Botanic" Original Contemporary Art by Elizabeth Chapman

Botanic

Acrylic on 21"H x 20"W heavy paper

ORIGINAL

Ready to frame

SOLD

New beginnings.  Finally, feel like I've gotten my studio back and am in the process of establishing a work schedule. Excited to be sharing two of those new paintings from this last week with you soon.  This painting was among those completed recently, but begun awhile back.  I found it as we were moving paintings around for storage last weekend.  New exactly what it needed the minute I saw it. Perspective.  Sometimes, getting away from a work for a few hours or days can help give a fresh new view to your work.  In this case, it's been over a year since I tucked this one between two sheets of cardboard and forgot about it.

The solution was simply a matter of contrast, which I easily resolved by adding some white/creams to outer parts. This brought the focal point and attention to all those beautiful colors in the center.  Layers of acrylic paint have also created an attractive surface texture.  Lastly, I  photographed and listed it.  Now available for purchase from my web gallery.  It will need to be matted and framed.  A more contemporary look might be to float mount the artwork.

WEB GALLERY: HERE

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

loving pink.

Grata

Acrylic on 24" x 24" x 1.5" canvas

SOLD

Thank you, Amy!

Inspired by the color of the year "orchid" this painting just sold last week along with...

Tres 

Mixed Media on 9" x 11" paper

SOLD

…..this smaller painting which will be framed to be hung by-

Quatra

Mixed Media on 9" x 11" paper

this painting which was a request to compliment "Tres".

Overall it's been a pretty pink week!

More available works can be seen by clicking; HERE

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

blue is beautiful.

05-14-14

Acrylic on 4" x 6" heavy paper
Ready to frame.

Available

Another mini abstract to add to the collection as seen: here.

WEB GALLERY


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

accent with pink.

05-06-14

Acrylic on 4" x 6" watercolor paper.

Ready to frame.

Available

SOLD

More pink.  I have had with several commissions been asked not to use ANY pink in a painting. Understandable when purchasing a painting for the home.  Men tend to shy away from it being a girlie color.  As an artist, I love the effect that pink has, works well with so many colors and especially fond of it as an accent color. It speaks!

More abstracts in my Web Gallery: HERE


Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

happenstance.

Fortuity

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

SOLD

Loving it.  My abstracts are known for their color, movement and texture.  But shapes..not so much. This will change that! Don't you think?!   Kinda reminded me of a painting from 2011 titled "Mosaic".
Perhaps this one might be a reminder of child's play. No plans or expectations getting in the way, just pure adventure on the canvas.  Experimenting freely.



Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Painting

rainy day.

Celest

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

SOLD

oops…haven't posted in a bit.  Could it be Spring is on the way?!  With these early warm days I've been enjoying and working outside as much as possible.  Inside the house, there is nothing like more light to jump start the spring cleaning. Also, a good form of procrastinating studio time. Hey, at least the house is getting clean!  Today, it is raining and the 42 degree start is slowly dropping to the present 32 with talk of snow.  Fixing chicken and dumplings for lunch, tomato and grilled cheese sandwiches for supper, there's a pecan pie made and maybe hot chocolate some time today. Comfort foods to take the chill away.  Tomorrow it will be 17 degrees, then Tuesday will be back to 60 degrees. yep, it's the Ozarks!

I've heard it said that, "the first brushstroke can be the hardest" and so it was with this one.  It was begun with the background colors and left for many days as I went on with other stuff to do. Along the  way, the back of my mind was saying, "you've got work to do in the studio, need to get back" and so reluctantly I stepped back in one morning.  Sometimes the best time to paint, can be when you just don't feel like it, don't care or are bored as this can help make that shift to the right creative brain side much quicker.  I found myself not worrying about creating a wonderful work, one that is liked by others, will sell, etc., etc.,  but just….enjoying it!

Now, it is yours to enjoy!

More LARGE Abstracts can be viewed: HERE

For more information or to purchase painting(s) email me: 
elizabethchapman@artlover.com

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

"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

Day THIRTY

Picas

Acrylic on 12" x 12" panel board

Ready to frame

To purchase click: here



Day THIRTY of the "30 paintings in 30 days"…. Celebrate! It's been a busy, busy month.    One in which has pushed me more in different directions.  The figurative abstracts were a challenge in themselves, but one in which I discovered I had a knack for….and truly enjoyed painting them.  Another one of my discovery is what it takes to blog every day. It doesn't seem like much but you gotta make sure photographs are ready to go, listing the painting in the web gallery, writing something, links, etc.,  I often thought of my daughters who post several times a day on A Beautiful Mess.  My hat is off to you!  Thank you to all of you who hung in there read and commented this month, much appreciated.

Web Gallery
Elizabeth Chapman

Day Twenty Seven

Heart Cry

Acrylic on 6" x 6" heavy watercolor paper

Ready to frame, $75

Available

Day Twenty Seven of the "30 paintings in 30 days" challenge…. ok, so not every daily posted abstract was painted on that day, but this challenge had definitely gotten me back into painting every day.  Just finished working on a large 3ft. x 4 ft. over the weekend.  Will share it once photographed.

Web Gallery

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

Day TWENTY TWO

Montane

Acrylic on 22" x 36" heavy watercolor paper

Ready to frame

Available: HERE

Day TWENTY TWO…of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.  Heavily textured surface as the paint has been built up on this one. A plus in that it gives the 156lb watercolor paper extra strength.  However, it would need to be framed and it is a rather large piece.  But there are options. Because it is an acrylic it would not necessarily need to be framed under glass. It could be adhered to a back support and popped into a floater frame.  Another idea, might be to have it placed on top of a matt and framed. Then of course it could always be matted and framed. The size of this piece could vary once framed depending on the size of matt and frame chosen.

So, what does it remind you of? I am having fun viewing it and imagining it as a mountain scene. The circles are like magnifying glasses for close ups.  Probably located somewhere in the southwest indicated by the colors. That's my take...

WEB GALLERY

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

Day EIGHT

Spectra

Acrylic on 15"H x 23"W heavy watercolor paper

Ready to frame, $300

Available: HERE

Day 8 of the "30 paintings in 30 days" .  This one was painted on heavy watercolor paper.  It is off of a roll of 156lb Arches watercolor paper that I purchased last year.  Cutting the paper off the roll is difficult as it continues to curl up on me.  Smaller pieces aren't so bad, but the larger ones have a tendency to curl up. Once cut, I will place the large piece in the bath tub and soak with water.  This flattens it out.  I then lay the paper on my studio table and the first strokes of lines/colors are placed.  I always love this first step as it is like a new adventure in not knowing where your going to be taken.

I'll be starting another one of these today along with working on a few others.  Because I am beginning on wet paper, I can only take it so far and then have to allow it time to dry.  This gives me perspective time.  I work intuitively, whether it is a piece in which I work on for hours at a time or a slower one in which it is covered in steps as in this type.  Often times when I come back I will see the next idea to work with which then leads to the next.  The wonderful thing about working on paper is that composition can be adjusted by cropping. In the end this one had about seven inches on the right side that continued on with the darks. I was bothered by it but found that by cropping I could create the right  amount of tension with out having to resolve it with painting.

If your interested in this piece it can be purchased directly from my Web Gallery via PayPal or by contacting me: elizabethchapman@artlover.com

WEB GALLERY

Elizabeth Chapman
Contemporary Abstract Artist

Day seven…

Premier

Acrylic on 32"W x 36"H x 1.5" canvas

Available from: HERE

Day seven of the "30 paintings in 30 days" challenge.  This painting is part of a collection in which I have been experimenting with new techniques.  I am working here with creating more of a translucent surface.  This is difficult for me as I have been working opaquely for several years with lots of thick paint which creates lots of surface texture.  Nothing wrong with all that, just that I am in a season of desiring new things with my work.  I say all this and I found myself yesterday back to working with a palette knife and thick paint.  But, tomorrow….   Anyway, I am trying new things.

WEB GALLERY

Elizabeth Chapman

Contemporary Abstract Artist

Mixed Media Expressionistic Abstract

Ardor

Mixed Media on 22"H x 20"W on heavy watercolor paper

Ready to frame

ORIGINAL

SOLD

Another 2013 original. I began working more on paper this year as I have a large, large roll of 156lb. Arches paper.  Kinda a funny thing as I have found there to be less intimidation when painting on paper.  Most of these were begun with watercolors followed by layers of acrylics. 

WEB GALLERY 

ELIZABETH CHAPMAN

CONTEMPORARY ABSTRACT ARTIST

Everlasting Love

"Everlasting Love"

Watercolor Collage

Framed and matted to 19" x 23"

I really debated about posting this one for Valentine's Day because of the dripping red paint symbolic of blood, but it really is about love, a love so great that it surpasses all of our understanding.

A Father's love that provides a refuge, a shelter, a friendship, that gives life, that is sacrificial, pure, patient, merciful, compassionate and forgiving. A love that provides a complete covering through the blood of a lamb by way of God's doorpost, the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have a blessed weekend!!
Elizabeth