taking flight

the new year is taking "flight"

as it has been some time since i last blogged,

(having a new baby will do that!)

i wanted to post a little new year inspiration along with 

the first paintings of the new year!

as these little birdies take flight from the studio

i am looking forward to seeing where

my "artistic flight" will soar this year...

  in my quiet reflection about the new year ahead

the word "persistence" keeps coming to mind...

sounds like a year of growth ahead!

in that case, i may be doing more flapping than soaring! :)

-M.ELLIOTT

metamorphosis

metamorphosis

:

a major change

the name 

for this painting seems appropriate in many ways.

this painting is one that has taken me longer than most, 

almost 6 months to complete!

it has been a stop and go process- sketching, painting,

color changes, stretches of work and periods of rest.

the process seems almost prophetic 

mirroring my life as a baby is grows in my belly, 

morphing and changing, 

days away from emerging as a beautiful butterfly!

(metamorphosis detail, M.ELLIOTT)

 (my inspiration board)

(if i were to choose an interior for this chair, this would be it!)

(metamorphosis, 24"x48", M.ELLIOTT)

Finishing Touches

every good bar tender knows that the

finishing touch makes a perfect drink!

-M.ELLIOTT

(Up With Olives, acrylic on canvas, M.ELLIOTT)

(Lemon Twist, acrylic on canvas, M.ELLIOTT)

www.margaretelliottart.com

more BLT's

after all that painting,

i worked up an appetite for "BLT" goodness!

i came across this "BLT Pasta Salad" and scribbled it down, 

wish now that i could remember where it came from!

this salad is a light and fun twist to putting

"BLT" between two slices of bread

*note: i used "gomiti" shaped pasta that i had on hand, and

i added homemade croutons because i like the crunch!

(*yep, you can see my notation for what i had for dessert

with my "BLT Pasta Salad")

(my presentation of the "BLT Pasta Salad")

-M.ELLIOTT

life's a beach

soaking in the sun

gazing at the vastness of the sea 

dreaming on the horizon

healing with the salt air and 

being restored by the sound of waves

-M.ELLIOTT

(Seagulls and Umbrellas series, acrylic on canvas, 8"x16", 2014)

(Seagulls and Umbrellas series, acrylic on canvas, 8"x16", 2014)

(Seagulls and Umbrellas series, acrylic on canvas, 8"x16", 2014)

www.margaretelliottart.com

Wedding commission

what could be more fitting for

a sea side wedding than . . . . a pair of lobsters!

here's to the bride & groom!

(initial color blocking on canvas and color palette)

(if i were choosing a wedding dress to compliment the painting,

this would be it! -sourced from Pintrest)

(commissioned painting, "Two Lobsters", 2014, M.Elliott)

-M.ELLIOTT

"allegro ma non troppo"

for those (including myself) not versed in musical terminology,

what does "allegro ma non troppo" mean?

fast, quick and bright, but not too much

the perfect description for my latest painting!  although i did

consider the title "slow and steady", it just didn't have quite the 

same charisma. this painting has been on the easel for a while,

a lot of stop and go with the brush- some days with a lot of 

quick and bright energy and other days not too much.

although there has been good reason for the change in rhythm

(no pun intended!) to my painting process with this piece, 

i will wait to share that in another post! :)

enjoy the images!

a pencil sketch starts the process

working color palette

blocking in dominate colors

a few final brushstrokes . . .tah-dah!

(Allegro ma non troppo, 30"x40", acrylic on canvas)

M.ELLIOTT

You are my Lobster-

wishing YOU 

SWEETness on this day!

-M.ELLIOTT

(mini lobster, 2014)

(sketches on canvas)

(mini lobster series, 2014)

(image from ETSY.com)

"cottonwoods"

did you know, that Georgia O'Keeffe's "cottonwood" paintings 

were inspired by the surrounding landscape of the 

Chama River valley; which just happens to be the view from 

her home and studio at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

it truly is incredibly breathtaking!

i had the privilege of seeing this same view firsthand a little

over a year ago while in SANTA FE for my sister's wedding. 

a tour of O'Keeffe's home, gardens, and studio are worth the visit!

. . . . .

why am i going on about Georgia O'Keeffe? well, 

i have my own special "cottonwood"

more humble than majestic and breathtaking, 

but never fails to catch my gaze, and so it deserved to be painted!

(painting in progress)

(can you find my "cottonwood" in this view?)

-M.ELLIOTT

snowy owls

guess "whoo whoo" created these charming "snowy" OWLS?

. . . 5 young emerging artists at FEAR NO ART

i had the privilege of spending a misty grey saturday morning with 

5 talented young artists.  we spent the first part of our morning 

sketching and drawing before working with tempera paints on 

canvas paper to create our "snowy" OWLS.  

i love how their creative differences stand out!

their favorite part was creating "snow" with the tempera paint

creative minds hard at work

detail of young artist's rendition of an owl

young artist's rendition of an owl and moon

collection of work

young artist's rendition of an owl 

-M.ELLIOTT

Red Tide Kisses

my color palette usually trends from COOL tones to 
WARM tones and back again very gradually . . . . . but,
this "chair" is a stark contrast to my last "chair" painting!
(remember "invigorating blue", click here)

 . . . . .

from COOL blues to 
juicy
rich 
vibrant
fiery
potent

RED TIDE kisses,

Red Tide Kisses, 2013, M.ELLIOTT

inspiration and color palette

painting detail

painting detail with line work

painting detail

-M.ELLIOTT

invigorating blue

i have often noticed that my "chairs" somehow evolve
into self-portraits.  unintentionally, the mood, colors,
or setting chosen for the "chair" reflects my current
environment, i guess this ONE is no exception!
. . . . .

for the last 4 weeks i have been surrounded by WATER
pond WATER
muddy WATER
pool WATER
clear WATER
ocean WATER
salty WATER
fountain WATER
refreshing WATER
tranquil WATER
and

invigorating blue WATER….

(Invigorating, acrylic on canvas, 2013, M.ELLIOTT)

(detail, acrylic on canvas)

(acrylic on canvas, 2013)

M.ELLIOTT

polka dots!

the polka dot

a circle 

simple and round,

yet

so STRIKING and BOLD.

it could be the symbol of simplicity or infinity.

polka-dot inspiration

color palette

color palette 2

blocking in color and neon polka dots

bouncy orange and green polka dots

Bouncing and Balancing, 24"x 48", 2013

-M.ELLIOTT