FLASHBAGS, Carry A Conversation™

Here is a movie about Flashbags, the company that puts my art on handbags. You can see them producing my peacock bags and midnight cow bags, plus learn a little bit about this fantastic female owned and operated company from Burlington, VT.

click here to see FLASHBAGS on YOUTUBE

Fit to Print

©2010 United Arts Magazine

Orlando Arts Magazine was kind enough to publish a two-page spread on Exquisite Harmony today! Many thanks to the efforts of Editor, Cindy Bowman LaFronz and Managing Editor, Jessica Chapman for all their hard work and efforts in producing such a beautiful layout.

You can pick up this publication of United Arts of Central Florida locally at Borders, Comma Gallery, Gallery on First, Leu Gardens, and Dexters of WP to name a few.

Flamenco Feet

©2010 St.Hilaire Nelson / collage of hand painted papers on panel / 20x24

All the Flamenco music I have been listening to lately has inspired me, and all the compliments on the dancer made me want to do one more in this genre. I have been saving photos of dancing feet for a while, in hopes of capturing the spirit of dance.

My dear friend Barbara Dunham, the president of the Atlanta Collage Society,  has been encouraging me to consider an abstract approach to my style for quite some time. Barbara is a wonderful abstract collage artist herself. She said, "Elizabeth, I'm not asking you to change your style, just to consider experimenting with adding an abstract edge to it."

Well Barbara, this one is for you. I was thinking about your advice and the recent sample of Derek Gores  (another FL collage artist whom I have had the pleasure of meeting and seeing his work in person) work you sent this week when I was collaging this Flamenco skirt!

Now, does anyone speak Spanish? Need help with the title...

Flamenco Dancer Complete

©St.Hilaire Nelson 2010 / collage on panel / 20x24

Its Finished! Now what shall I call it? Something to do with vibration, undulation....

Music to My Eyes – a Progression

©St. Hilaire Nelson 2010

In progress, I have completed the dress and now working on the sleeves. I have been collecting paper doilies but have not used them for fear of a "country" look if not used in just the right place. Here I took advantage of the lace-like quality they offer since you can see the colors through them. To make them appear less like doilies, I have torn out the circular pattern and used it in pieces and parts rather than whole. I felt they added a fluffy lacy feeling to her sleeves, enhancing the undulating movement of her dancing.

Having completed the dress and sleeves, the next step is the face and neck. This is a challenge because I'm not feeling like my variety of flesh-toned papers is very large, but it's rainy this weekend and setting up to paint papers (outside) is just not looking like a good idea. I will have to struggle with a minimal palette and really challenge myself.

Its's been quite a while since I have done a person. I am enjoying this piece!

Music to my Eyes Under-Painting

©2010 St.Hilaire Nelson

I have under-painted the flamenco dancer (yet to be titled) and I am experimenting with applying opposite color. This means, where it is green, I will add red paper, where it is purple I will add yellow paper, and where it is orange I will ad blue paper. My plan is to leave a little bit of the under-painted color showing through between collage pieces, allowing that opposite color to visually vibrate with the collage papers.

We'll see how it goes!

A Wonderful Portrait Artist

©Jami Childers 2010

I met Jami Childers when she took my Paper Paintings collage workshop in Jacksonville. Jami did a portrait in collage and it was fantastic, it was then that I learned just how great of a portrait artist (and barber) Jami is.

We have stayed in touch, and recently I commissioned her to paint portraits of my kids. What can I say? They are fantastic!

Visit Jami's website here, you might like to consider commissioning your own painting for the holidays. Jami worked from iPhone pics I emailed her of my kids making funny faces while we were out and about doing our daily routine. As a mom, I can tell you that this is a fantastic gift.