Pictured in graphic: "Waiting Room #6"
EMERGING ARTIST SERIES
Ella C. Gleason
“Here and Now”
September 3rd, 2021 - September 24th, 2021
GALLERY HOURS:
WEDNESDAY - SUNDAY: 12PM-5PM
Artist Statement:
My art perspective evolved from the feminist tradition of female artists depicting other females. This is in opposition with the majority of Western art history where predominantly male painters depict females for other agendas. For example, a woman may be painted as a mythological character or represent a moral or ideal. Adding another layer to this work, when women were painted or depicted in art as themselves it often represented high socioeconomic status. In my work, I represent everyday women as the humans they are; this buds from feminist traditions inspired by past artists Emile Charmy, Alice Neel, and contemporary artist Jordan Casteel, among others.
The Here and Now series emerges from a more intimate look into my own life - a woman depicting herself. I simply started to look down, and sketched what was happening at the moment. Several moments inevitably accumulated into a series from what I do in my everyday life, which of course has been impacted by events in the last 7 years since the series started. Through omitting my face, the viewer is able to focus on the experience of the small moments - sitting in a waiting room, walking to or from somewhere, or falling asleep/waking up. These are moments in the here and now that may not be remembered - moments that surround focal points of our lives, but are not themselves the focus. People, animals, and experiences may reappear in new ways as they tend to in life; routine and variety melting into one time. These sketches began to pass the time, or while waiting. However, as I continued to accumulate drawings, I realized that even though my experiences are somewhat unique, they are inherently connected to the everyday human experience.
Explanation of the making process:
Each drawing started as a small scale sketch with pencil and pen. All drawings hinge on perspective and most are drawn with one continuous line - meaning that the pen never left the paper from start to finish. This series focuses on the emotions of the person, moment, and experience. Therefore, while there is an element of realism in each drawing, the lines are abstracted to focus on the emotive quality of the moment. Each drawing was redrawn on the larger 16 x 20” format and is mixed media, meaning additional supplies were employed in addition to pencil/pen. Watercolors, color pencils, among other mediums all interplay on the hand-stained and collaged paper I created.
Artist’s Bio:
Ella is a Southern Virginia native and artist, who creates predominantly mixed media work with the foundations of drawing, painting, and print-making. Key themes such as portraiture, the everyday person, history, personal experience, and feminism appear often in her work. This is the artist’s first notable exhibition beyond higher education, and Ella has earned a M.E.d. in Education and a B.A. in Arts with an emphasis in Graphic design, both from the University of Lynchburg. Ella’s skills range from graphic design to fine art, and her personal work starts with a consideration of the role of women and women artists in art. Ella is an art educator, and currently lives in Lynchburg with her husband and two cats, all of whom appear frequently in her work.
Instagram: @ellasketchbook
EXHIBIT CATALOG
IF INTERESTED IN PURCHASING ANY OF THE PIECES IN THIS EXHIBIT, CONTACT MICHELE BOLEN (GALLERY ASSOCIATE) AT MICHELE@RIVERVIEWS.NET
