Jane Ellefson: August 2017

Monday, August 21, 2017

A 35th Anniversary Celebration: Ann & Jim

This painting began a year ago in Colorado where I met Ann and Jim. He learned that I was a painter and put his subtle request on a post-it note asking if I might do a painting for their anniversary. It was nearly a year in the making and was revealed to Ann today, just after the solar eclipse!
Happy Anniversary, Ann and Jim! I hope you enjoy this painting "from this day forward!"

Ann and Jim: 35th Anniversary, 2017, technique mixte on linen, 30" x 40"

Artist statement

I enjoy working in both realism and abstraction. With both, I begin with a carefully constructed composition, using the Golden Mean as a way to achieve perfect balance. My realistic work is reminiscent of Dutch or Spanish still lifes. I begin with a faithful rendering, then fully develop an underpainting with white and umber. In the final steps, I complete the painting with color glazes. When I work non-objectively, my focus is color, depth, and movement of advancing and receding shapes.