About Elina

CURRENT SHOWS:

LOVE ART! GALLERY - 8036 SE 13th Ave., Portland, OR

INFLUENCE Gallery - 131 SE 3rd Ave., Hillsboro, OR 

Artist’s Statement

Welcome to my art world, in it you will discover places filled with inner exploration, meditation, landscapes, marine & wild life; real & unreal.  Every part of what you see is from my life's passions & dreams.  I joke that I am of two minds.  For the laid back, day-dreamy part of my mind, my favorite medium to work in is oils and the architect brain in me likes to work in watercolors and colored pencils. 

I love the freedom, the blending of colors, the feel of working with oils.  I appreciate that I can work with the paint over a moment, or days, depending on what I am creating.  The tightly wound, controlled part of me loves the structure and precision that colored pencils and watercolors demand.

What and how I choose to work on a particular subject is still a bit of a mystery. The smallest idea, picture, or conversation can launch me into 10 different concepts of which all or just one will make it to canvas.  I am continually asked how I work through the process of painting, and I can never really give a straight answer.  Too many times, I will be deeply immersed in a piece, step back for a break and wonder:  "Geez, I did that?  Cool."

For the past 10 years, I put my art on the back burner to raise our children to a more independent age and to recover from a severe neck injury.  Now I feel like I am playing "catch-up" to all the ideas that are burning in my mind.  I think that I need at least 3 lifetimes to create everything that I want to. 

Informal Background

I am a first generation American, born in San Francisco.  My family is originally from Latvia and filled with artists, designers, actors and musicians.  I consider myself a jack-of-all-trades... I have worked as an architectural draftsman, in administrative positions, barrista, house painter, web designer, massage therapist... the list goes on.  In college, over the course of 5 years, I studied Art, Architecture, English, Oceanography & Marine Biology.

My art studies literally started as soon as I could stand.  My father would be working on a piece and he told me that I would stand there, very quietly, watching him for quite some time.  I have had many instructors and many experiences over the years, but to this day, my father continues to be the best teacher I have.

For too many years  I have been extremely shy about publicly showing my work, many of my sales have been by word of mouth.  In the Fall of 2009, I started teaching art classes in my studio, which has helped push me out of my shell.  As of February 2010, I am now showing in my first gallery. 

Artist Professional Background

A.A. in Fine Arts

Private & Community Art courses for over 20 years

1984 - 1993: Architectural Draftsman

1982 - present:  Sold over 100 works to private collectors - original paintings & commissioned pieces

1993 - 1994: Art Vendor at Art & Wine Festivals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area

1999 - 2009: Personal artistic hiatus to raise children & recover from a neck injury

2006 - 2009: Volunteer coordinator at elementary school for Art Literacy and Annual Fundraising Auction

2009 - present:  Teach adults and childrens' art classes - from basic drawing skills to advanced techniques

Feb 2010 - present:   Member of Taulatin Valley Artists & Influence Gallery, Hillsboro, Oregon

March 2010: Featured Artist of the Month, Influence Gallery

Upcoming - October 2010:  Featured Artist of the Month, Influence Gallery - Artist's Reception Oct 5th, 6 to 8pm

                        September 2010 - February 2011:  commissioned Artist for Hillsboro Tuesday Art Walk Poster

                        

Member of:  

                         Love Art! Gallery - http://www.loveartgallery.net/

                         Tualatin Valley Artists  -  http://tvartists.org

                         Total Art Soul  -  http://totalartsoul.com

                         International Encaustic Artists - http://www.international-encaustic-artists.org/

                         Encaustic Art Institute - http://www.eainm.com/

                         

Contact:  elinazart@me.com

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