This photo has a lot of glare. In the morning, I will shoot another pic of this spread and I am sure it will be much better.
I Ching Quotation |
Painting process posts by Ellen McCormick Martens
Chaotic Feelings |
When I get to a certain point in my paintings, I don't know what to do next. Is it, are they, finished? Do they need something more? At that point I have to wait to find out. I look at them and ask that question mentally, and immediately I get and answer. Should I do more to this piece, this series? No! Wait! Let it rest (on the president's desk?)! These may or may not be finished. Enjoy!
Rising I |
Rising II |
Rising III |
Rising IV |
Rising V |
Rising VI |
"Green Bay I and II", abstracted landscapes, acrylic on canvas, 36x24x1", available. Contact me at ellecoyoteart@gmail.com to purchase. I grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, a short drive from the actual bay. I took a photo of this view of the bay, looking south from the eastern shore of Door Peninsula, and these are the second and third paintings I did from it. I added so many abstract shapes and patterns that the landscapes are fairly obscured, but they are visible if you look for them.
Green Bay I |
Green bay II |
Dancer I |
Dancer II |
These two paintings have taken a lot longer than I expected them to! They are the first couple of a large series of paintings that start with the ancient Irish alphabet, known as the Ogham Tree Alphabet. I don't know the trees by their UK names or sometimes even by the species of tree, so I use the North American equivalent to start the underlying drawing/painting. The Ogham letter is incorporated somewhere in the design. These two are Alder / Fearn and Willow / Saille. The paintings are acrylic and collage on canvas, 30x30.
Alder / Fearn |
Willow / Saille |
This series is about our individual viewpoints, symbolized by small circles; there are sixteen circular or circle-related collage areas in each painting, in a grid format; each one is unique. Surrounding them are very loosely painted soft grey-green brush strokes, lots of line work, and some black and white marks to set off the colors. Doors of Perception I - IV, 20x20", acrylic and collage on cradled wood panels, unframed.
Doors of Perception I |
Doors of Perception II |
Doors of Perception III |
Doors of Perception IV |
I loved these paintings but felt they were not quite what I wanted. I glazed them over, but then they were too dark. Now I am painting the patterns in the collage pieces and increasing the contrast, as well as making them lively and fun. Bayshore I has some distance to go; right now it is a bit chaotic, though I like many parts of it. It needs a unifying something or other. Making art is always an experiment.
Bayshore I (in process) |
Bayshore II (finished) |
Summer Solstice I and II were created to celebrate the longest day of the year, and the day when the sun appears to stand still, then change direction, moving south after having moved northward for 3 months. This day is the beginning of summer, though the days will already be getting shorter! Summer is a time of play in the Northern Hemisphere, when families visit the beach, play outdoors, eat and drink cold treats, and spend time goofing off. The colors of these pieces reflect that outlook and time of year.
The paintings are done on white mixed media paper, 9x7", and the image area is 7x5". Due to the conditions of the photo, Summer Solstice I seems to have beige paper. It is actually nice and white. These are available through my website for $50 per painting, or $85 (USD) if you purchase both at the same time. Visit my website