Artist Statement
Painting is about knowing my medium and discovering new things with it
on a daily basis. The challenging nature of painting is what I find most
intriguing. There will never be a day when I can stop and say I have
learned everything I need to know because the perfect piece of work is
perpetually elusive. I will, however, be able to nurture and internalize a
process that will serve as a source of satisfaction. This artistic process
will grow and evolve with me as I age. Artists should not ever think of
their work as perfect because that removes the opportunity of growth
and stifles creativity. My goal in art is parallel to the way I feel about life
in the sense that I have to continue to do what makes me happy. I
believe the drive to continue to move forward in art is an innate quality
that I have inherited from my family. Only this type of artistic progress
will make me happy. Presently, I wish venture out into the uncertain, yet
satisfying life of an artist.
I cannot establish a simple way to describe my body of work. I feel
that each piece is a step toward the next. Layering, movement,
lighting, energy, thriving colors, and life are essential qualities of every
painting that I create.
The head shots that I have done are all of close friends. I am trying to
capture an expression that conveys some universal feeling or
experience that we all share. In painting faces, I am trying to capture the
essence of these universal experiences.
The landscapes are inspired by places. Traveling has always been a
source of inspiration for me, and in these landscapes, I am trying to
capture not just the visual appeal but emotion during that short time
lapse.
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elise toups