The Way of the Artist – Alexandra Eldridge

In the spring 2016 issue of Acrylic Artist we introduced you to Alexandra Eldridge and her paintings that explore the outer reaches of consciousness and signal the emergence of contemporary romanticism.

Keeper of Mysteries (acrylic, found objects on board, 60×48) features an owl, an understood symbol of knowledge, taking flight, perhaps with the wisdom found in the scattered pages of the book.

Here we delve into the artist’s process in The Way of the Artist.

I always use cradled Masonite or board because I need a stiff background for the types and amounts of paint and materials that I use. I almost always position the board on the ground so that I can apply my paint as thickly as I want and really build the surface.

You can see the layers and textures that Eldridge uses in Keeper of Mysteries (above).

Lately I have been using a combination of tube acrylic and old, coagulated house paint. I pour and use large brushes, letting the colors mix on the surface. Sometimes, before the painting, I will glue ephemera or fabric on the board. These added elements will either be exposed or painted over. Before the paint is dry, I stand the canvas on its side so drips can form. Then I may use glazes, and spray the surface frequently with water for further movement. Once this background is dry, I paint with either liquid pigments or watercolors for the more representational aspects of the painting.

The lady in Lucid Dreaming (found text and acrylic on board, 40×30) is obviously awake, eyes wide open, taking in all that swirls within the dreaming mind.

Occasionally I’ll search online for the image of a particular bird in flight or some other actual image. But most often, all comes from my imagination. Finally I apply a varnish. When I use Venetian plaster, it’s applied with a small blade and often burnished. I may begin two paintings at the same time, but just in the very early stages. I need to get fully absorbed into each painting as it progresses to completion.  —  Alexandra Eldridge

Now that you know more about how Eldridge creates her work, you will want to see more of her work! In the Spring 2016 Issue of Acrylic Artist, we share with our readers 9 additional pieces of her works—pieces that encapsulate what makes this artist so unique. We learn about the artist’s influences, including William Blake, her rich inner life which she has cultivated since childhood and the questions she hopes her art evokes from the viewer.

 

{Discover the language of color and how you can use it in your paintings to create work that tells a story with whispers or shouts. Order you copy of Acrylic Color Explorations by Chris Cozen, today.}

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