"are black and white colors?"

 "Are black and white colors?" - is one of the most debated issues about color.  Ask a scientist and you'll get a response based on physics: 'Black is not a color, white is a color.' Ask an artist 

and you will get quite a different answer!" Ask me, 
and I will say . . . BOTH are colors!

White is a color.  White reflects all the colors of the visible light spectrum to the eyes; thus it is the blending of all colors to become it's own unique color.  Want proof?  Look at a rainbow, which is sunlight refracted to expose all the colors that make a single beam of "white" sunlight.

Alternately, black is a color as well.  When all three primary colors are combined, you get a "black" color so to speak.  For more on black & white theories, check out this link devoted to exposing the "black & white truth".
-M.ELLIOTT 

*click here for Answers to the black and white debate!

stocking stuffers!

falalalala....,

the studio is busy getting stocking stuffers ready

in time for santa to deliver!

blue bird, blue skies-

(blue bird-blue skies, acrylic on board, M.ELLIOTT)

ahhh, after a taste of the winter yet to come-  

gray skies and cold brittle air - it was delight today to wake up to

 the morning sun and see blue skies through the kitchen window.  

i am feeling like a busy little blue bird today, 

working on CHRISTMAS commissions and visiting with two local 

framers to decide on some custom frames for 

new pieces of gallery work....

nothing but blue skies ahead!

gathering bits and pieces-

(red bird, 5x7, acrylic on board, M.ELLIOTT)

i marvel at the birds outside my studio as the temperature

begins to drop; they continue hunting and gathering
bits and pieces for nourishment and for nest building
materials, with seemingly no regard for the colder air!
meanwhile, in my cozy little studio, i enjoy the opportunity
to watch these little creatures from inside fortified with
 wooly socks, a hot mug of green tea,

and,

sweet coconut curry granola bars

made with bits and pieces of 5 different types of nuts and SEEDS.

MMMMM, wouldn't those birds be envious if they knew how much better these treats tasted!

raw treats and canvas-

(Spice, acrylic on linen, 2012 M.ELLIOTT)

this is the second "face" i have done on linen canvas

....did i mention i LOVE the raw look of linen.  

it is the perfect warm neutral background to complement my color palette.

and,

speaking of raw, i have been trying some new raw goodies 

in my kitchen. taking a cue from the season's spices and flavors, 

this week i made "carrot cake" truffles with organic raw
almond meal, dates, carrots, pecans, and spices....YUM!

  

welcoming the frist signs of fall-

one of the first signs of fall is the diPPing temperature,

along with the first crop of pumpkins! 

for me, that means NEW colors on the palette

warm earthy colors - browns, rust, and harvest orange!

("face forward", acrylic on canvas, 2012, -M.ELLIOTT) 

new gallery space!

new gallery SPACE!

the Nina Kuzina Gallery has a new home at

4231 Harding Pike*

stop by for a visit and surround yourself with
fresh new artwork from FOUR amazing
NASHVILLE artists, including myself!

(orange poka-dots, 40x40, M.ELLIOTT)

*formerly Nancy Saturn's American Artisan Location, across from St. Thomas Hospital

coming soon!

september 1ST

my artwork will be on view at a NEW venue in nashville, tn

. . .

stay tuned for more exciting details to follow!!

M.ELLIOTT

(red piano, 40"x40", M.ELLIOTT, 2012)

intention-

( intention, 40x50, acrylic on canvas, M.ELLIOTT)

"dreams are manifested when we pursue them with intention"

blending-

blending art terms

. . . . . 

often i am asked "what type of art do you make?"

 my response usually sounds vauge as i try to navigate explaining
art tems which include both abstraction and figurative art.  

why? becuse my work is a blend of both!

my work is ABSTRACT in the sense that the objects represented depart from an accurate representation of reality to some degree, yet my work is not NONREPRENTATIONAL (*meaning that it does not lack a visual reference in the physical world). 

my work can also be considered FIGURATIVE, not only becuase it sometimes includes human figures in the composition, but also objecst from the real world. thus, you might say my work is REPRESENTATIONAL because it has an identifiable subject based on experience of the physical world. 

as i continue to blend colors on my palette,
i will continue to blend and merge art terms in an attempt to define my work to those that ask,

but for me . . . my work just "is what it is!"

linen canvas-

ahhh, 

i love the soothIng nEutral coloR of natural linen.  

the perfect backdrop to rich deep strokes of pAint. 

heRe is a look aT my latEst commIssIoned pIece.

(acrylic on linen, M.ELLIOTT, 2012)

New Gallery Representation

(Upon His Shoulders, acrylic on canvas, M.ELLIOTT, 2012)

i am excited to share that my artwork is now on display 
for sale and viewing at the 
LORETTA GOODWIN GALLERY 

in birmingham, al.  since 1982, the Loretta Goodwin Gallery 
has established itself as one of the Southeast's

premier fine art galleries. please drop by 
and enjoy the artwork!

hours

Monday to Friday

10am - 4pm

Saturdayby appointment

(205) 328. 1761

Loretta Goodwin Gallery

605 28th Street South . Birmingham, AL 35233

new from the studio-

(Relent, 36x48, acrylic on canvas, M.Elliott 2012)

COLORS make me hAppY!

counting sheep-

(acrylic on canvas, 40"x50", M.Elliott 2012)

i am so honored to add this commissioned painting to quite a prestigious collection of art already held by the owners of a

swanky downtown loft in NASHVILLE, TN.

these sheep will have the privilege of gazing out from their new perch high above BROADWAY'S neon lights day and night.

GAZE AT ART-

MIND

(small face series, acrylic on board, M.Elliott 2012)

GAZE AT ART.

"According to a study last year from University College London,

when people looked at paintings they liked, MRIs showed

that the medial orbitofrontal cortex, part of the brain that governs

pleasure, lit up. The caudate nucleus, which is the nerve center

relating to romantic love also brightened."

[2/WHOLELIVING.com March 2012]

Click on the link below to view all artwork for this year's

LIVE and ONLINE silent auctions, including TWO M.Elliott paintings!

www.hsvmuseum.org

(fish sauce, acrylic on canvas, M.Elliott)

(sweet and sour, acrylic on canvas, M.Elliott)

new places, new "faces"-

( face series, linen on canvas, M.Elliott 2012)

"hats off"

hAts oFF to a nEw yeAr!

("hat lady series", acrylic on canvas,2012)