Mysterious Moment of Inspiration

“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live.”  Auguste Rodin 

       

       There is a mysterious moment when the artist stands in front of the blank canvas waiting for the inner energy to bubble forth. When a viewer stops to look at my work and asks what inspired me I want to give them the long answer. I have to admit this has happened and the viewer’s eyes have been known to glaze over out of boredom. So just how do we present “the story” that fueled the painting that stopped the passing viewer?

       For some artists who are painting in a theme or a series, the energy is already flowing and easy to tap into. Even with the familiar experience, however, there can be that moment of contemplation, “how do I get this painting going?”

       Please notice how long I have taken to get to the question, “what inspired me…” You get the point. There is for me and other artists no easy answer. So let me try again - ahem. Let’s see now. There is the cliché stuff like sunsets, really, and sand dunes and cloud formations and, and….

       Then there are the times when that special inner energy is easily tapped and sometimes it is agonizing. Staring at a blank canvas is an ancient experience, I think, like moments when multiple surprises come together, almost as if spirits are taking advantage of the pause. Those are very euphoric and blessed moments, we artists live for that Adrenalin rush. When it doesn’t work, when calling on inspirational keys doesn’t click, it is torture filled with self-questioning.

we are stardust expression in acrylic 36x36
exhibited at Shiawassee Art Center March 14 - April 23, 2017

       

       Some of the inspirational keys come from exploring a painting technique like the wide swaths of paint in we are stardust.

       Nautilus (below) was inspired by a conch shell that has been sitting on a shelf in our home. Some inspiration comes from an interplay of materials in hand - thin or thick or fluid mixes in action. Sometimes the inspiration hits the right beat with the music playing and we find the brush almost taps by itself. 

       It is all so interesting – the business of being inspired and the outcome of creating.

NAUTILUS 24x24 diamond acrylic
to be exhibited at Riverwalk Theatre, Lansing Michigan April 5 to May 30

Large conch shell on the shelf

What is coming up.

        This has been a busy Spring for showing my art – two paintings at the MEA building just off of Saginaw, East Lansing for the 53^rd exhibit of Michigan educators art; groupings of some of my favorite paintings in two galleries of the Shiawassee Art Center Owosso, Michigan; and coming up in April a series of Joel Ellis Art in the beautiful lobby of the Riverwalk Theater off Museum Drive near Impressions5 science museum.

        Other news – my grandson, Tyler Smith, a graduating senior from Grand Valley State University, has three drawings selected for the Michigan Collegiate Art Exhibition currently exhibiting at Lansing Art Gallery, downtown Lansing, reception and awards March 24 6-8 p.m.

         I am honored that the venues are available to artists in mid-Michigan and that I am included. Think original art for home and office.

There is beauty all around us, enjoy.

Joel   www.joelellisart.com

Art Reflections 2016 into 2017

To become inspired to write this blog, I went to the 2016 journal for a quick review of the year, and what a year it was. A major gallery sale came through and the chance to represent Michigan in another venue this time in Michigan. The phrase being in the right place at the right time made other connections possible. Thanks to all those who helped made this art year worth the effort.

Another high point for me was an exhibit opening at the Cycling Salamander house gallery of Charlevoix. After hours of preparation the doors opened and among the interested visitors a young preteen came with her family. She looked carefully over the rooms of paintings before stopping in

Solitary Blues 16x20 recent exhibit at Cycling Salamander

front of me with her arms out stretched and asked, “Who did all these paintings?” Her family pointed to me. Without hesitation she extended her hand for a formal handshake. We spent the next half hour talking about each of the paintings. Her pure joy of being part of the art experience was for me refreshing and reaffirming and enough to keep me working with a sense of joy through the year.

I am hoping in the New Year we may all look at the events around us with the innocence and joy of the young ones we love so much and do our best to see the world through their eyes to make it safe and ready to create art.

We began the year with a buoyant acquisition of Michigan sands and ended with the purchase of another from our other featured artist show at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation  

(MEDC). This is Michigan focusing on Michigan dunes is still available for viewing (but not for long – take down to be determined soon) 9 to 5 weekdays at 300 N. Washington Square, in beautiful downtown Lansing.

Here we are now in 2017 after that very busy year. A few Joel Ellis paintings remain in various shows: three from the Holiday Show at McLaren Physicians Building off of Lake Lansing Road come down January 9; and a large landscape at Shiawassee Art Center in Owosso will be picked up January 14. We are delighted that three featured shows of Joel Ellis Art are planned for 2017. More on that as the year goes on.

We are very greatful to all who showed an interest in the art and for those who purchased paintings from Joel Ellis Art, you validate the work. Thank you.

Wishing all a healthy and successful new year.

Joel

www.joelellisart.com 

Joel F. Ellis Interprets Autumn

Glory Ridge 14x18  oil on board

       The Seasons in Michigan do change we keep telling ourselves after a very long and hot summer that we thought would never end. Color is in the trees. For those of us who enjoy the seasons, this is a glorious time of year and can inspire us to really see the beauty all around us. All regions of this beautiful blue planet have their own special times for us to take in the beauty and be nourished and blessed making our lives richer.

       For me this seasonal display excites and invigorates the passion to interpret this glorious time, yes my palate overflows with yellows and reds and waning green into brown. The local weather reporters add to the interest by showing us the daily color changes and the best time to see the peak color show.

       If you are on one of those beautiful seasonal tours in Michigan, stop in to some of the magnificent art venues and see how artists are inspired by the profusion of autumn colors. All paintings in this blog are from the Joel F. Ellis art inventory.

Enjoy our special planetary gift,

Joel

Hamlin Lake  18x24  oil on linen

       P.S.  If you are in Lansing Michigan this autumn, be sure to check the Michigan Economic Development Commission (MEDC) corridor for a dozen touchable paintings by Joel F. Ellis. We are happy to announce that the show has been extended until the end of the year.  

       Where is the MEDC you ask? – while you are in Lansing Michigan, enjoying the many venues in art and sundries on the Washington Ave. walking mall, walk north toward Lansing Community College. MEDC, 300 N. Washington is on the east side of the street, home to Pure Michigan offices, just walk in 9 to 5 weekdays free to view the live paintings of Joel’s beloved Lake Michigan dunes.

Autumn  12x16  watercolor on paper

        If you have an interest in any Joel F. Ellis paintings that you see out and about or online, please inquire with Joel or Helene (major assistant number 1) at 517-256-3277 or e-mail paintings@joelellisart.com . 
Joel F. Ellis
www.joelellisart.com
paintings@joelellisart.com

Endurance and Faith to Reach the Goal

       When we face challenges we often have doubts and, well ok maybe fear of the effort we put out and a hope for satisfactory outcome. Along with the angst we have to throw in the mix a bit of faith. I’m referring to the enormous amount of planning and hard work to put together two quality art shows back to back in just a few weeks. 

Cooling of the Dunes, 24x20, award winner
now on display at
Michigan Economic Development Corporation

       The effort reminded me of one very pleasant summer day when we had the joy of taking our four-year-old grandson fishing, fishing his way. Mom, Karla, gave us this itty bitty butterfly net that Simon wanted to use. Who are we to refuse a four-year-old his dream?  Here’s where the faith part comes in. He was sure he would catch a fish, his fish. We took him to a local beloved park with a dock and plenty of hungry swimmers. He brought a bag of stale bread to enhance the task. You see, he was fearless and had faith in his adventure.

        The dock was floating about two feet above the water, so Helene hovered inches from the excited confident child. He flung a chunk of bread and watched the surface churn into froth of water and sparkling scales. The net came out as he leaned toward the edge of the deck scooping this way and that each time coming up empty. The process was repeated over and over with his confidence still in tack. The stale bread was coming to an end but the little person kept dipping his tiny net into the water where a few fish lingered. Time went by. We worried. How would we let him experience, well defeat? Nervously we watched his continuing attempts. Suddenly a shout of joy vibrated across the lake, “I caught one!”

     

Caught eating a piece of bread.

 Little hands eagerly revealed a surprised shiny little guy laying in the net. After carefully touching the squirming fish and showing his prize to people on the dock he gently placed the beautiful wiggler back into the water saying, “There you go, mister.” 

       We need such a joyful outlook on life; his four year world is void of doubt and bolstered by his child like faith in catching that elusive fish. We too have to know that through steady endurance we have done what we could to bring to life the challenging art shows. We need to have the faith of the little beauty on the dock dipping and dipping, confident in his expected outcome.

      

Red Bluff, Joel F. Ellis signature painting
Currently on display at Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Lascaux Nights, homage to cave artists of Lascaux, France
36x48 acrylic on display at Cycling Salamander, Charlevoix MI

Gravity, 16x20, on display at Cycling Salamander

        Thirty six paintings from Joel Ellis Art can be seen at two worthy venues in Michigan this Summer – Twelve impressions of Michigan’s glorious dunes are exhibited Monday through Friday 8 to 5 at  Michigan Economic Development Corporation) 300 S. Washington, downtown Lansing, Michigan.

On Hold, 16x20, impression of boats caught frozen in Michigan waters
Currently on display at Cycling Salamander, Charlevoix, MI

       If you are enjoying Michigan’s beautiful “Up North” near Charlevoix, you may want to check the house gallery of  Cycling Salamander fine arts on U.S. 31 for 24 abstract expressionistic Joel Ellis works on display through September, 10 to 6 daily, Saturday 10 to 5, Sunday 12 to 4.

Happy August, Joel

Dog Days on Hot Michigan Dunes

       We are in the dog days of summer, twenty days before and twenty days after cirrus the Dog Star rises at the same time as the sun. Now that we got 

Sylvie's Beach 24x36

Google search out of the way let’s just say it is hot. We tried a trip to Lake Michigan for a sand dune refresher but the sand and sun was way too hot even with a breeze. After a few hours of roasting in the sun and being dusted with sand we got the dune photos we needed. Looking back to the beauty of The Lake as we were leaving, even in the heat, is a good day.

        The usual question viewers of my paintings often ask is do I paint out in nature. From the above summer heat experience I can reflect on Van Gogh, dune, sand, bugs, and twig scratches all inflecting damage on his fresh paintings and from the safety of my studio, I can say with a firsthand experience, I prefer the studio.

But just go and paint out-of-doors on the spot itself! Then all kinds of things happen; for instance, I had to wipe off at least a hundred or more flies from the four paints you will receive, not counting the dust and sand, not counting that when one carries them across the heath and through the hedges for

Blush 20x24

several hours, some thorns will scratch them, etc. Not counting that when one arrives on the heath after some hours’ walk in this weather, one is tired and exhausted from the heat. Not counting that the figures do not stand still like professional models, and that the effects one wants to catch change with the progressing day.    W.H. Auden’s  VanGogh  A self-portrait

        Using photos that I captured puts me back in the environment to be able to convey the moment and the experience has deeper importance.  For all the artists that paint out of doors, or plein air, I can only offer my congratulations for your efforts in overcoming the challenges nature may have hurled your way.  

        And for the dog days of summer, well let’s remember Winter and try to carry on.

        As you enjoy travels in these summer days please consider a stop to enjoy art – the creations from the artists’ soul. There are two shows for Joel F. Ellis art this summer: In mid-Michigan, downtown Lansing, I have over a dozen paintings at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, 300 S. Washington, Lansing, Michigan. And wouldn’t you know it, these are all expressions of dunes. I love dunes.

Spring Marsh Song  36x36

       The second show goes up this Sunday, August 7, at Cycling Salamander fine arts gallery on US 31 just seven miles south of Charlevoix Michigan. The gallery owner asked for more abstract paintings and some large ones. What a good opportunity to share these colorful expressions. We hope you will get a chance to visit these exhibits through September. All the work is original, of course.

Enjoy your art this summer, 
Joel
www.joelellisart.com

Nautilus  24x24 

This Is Michigan at MEDC

       As guests at a recent art walk we were overheard saying how much we liked a particularly beautiful art piece of paper layers. The artist, AmyWellington who did the work, generously explained the process.

Blush 20x24 

       As the conversation continued she explained how she also develops art shows for groups all over the state through Michigan ArtShare. I described my work, gave her a card and mentioned that one area of my work comes from a love of dunes. She asked us to put together a proposal for an art show emphasizing dunes that would go up in a few weeks at the Michigan EconomicDevelopment Corporation (MEDC). We did, she accepted and we were very quickly on to the next stages of building an art exhibition. 

       Each stage includes many steps before its presentation to the public.

The first stage is planning availability of the physical space. So we took a little trip to downtown Lansing, Michigan with the map provided in materials from Michigan ArtShare. The space for the art is in a good sized corridor adjacent to the lobby of the MEDC which also shares building space with other appropriate sources including Pure Michigan. 

Sylvie's Beach 24x36

       After we got a good vison of the size requirements we set to work finding the paintings in my inventory that would accomplish the theme of Michigan dunes. The title for the show came, after many attempts on our part, when “Mom” wisely said just keep it simple, This Is Michigan.

       There are many unseen decisions that the casual viewer may never consider and we had to learn over the years as we picked up processes from past art shows including labeling, framing consistency, size layout, colors. Each site and expectations are different per site, but the common thread that flows through each exhibition is to help viewers experience the intended message, in this art show that message --- This Is Michigan.

       We encourage everyone who appreciates Michigan’s gift – the Great Lakes and surrounding dunes – to stop by MEDC throughout the summer: 300 S. Washington, in beautiful downtown Lansing, open week days 8 to 5, for a casual view of over a dozen Joel F. Ellis visual art expressions of the dunes.

Happy Summering,

Joel

www.joelellisart.com

Amber Eve 24x30

Arts Night Out in East Lansing

       Lansing and East Lansing Michigan are having a summer arts event called Arts Night Out, a good chance to explore the many art venues in the Michigan capital city area. Our first and very impressive stop was Saper Gallery in downtown East Lansing, a truly fine art gallery. The second stop was at a venue called ArtShare. We had the opportunity to see work from regional artists and for us the star of this show was Amy Wellington who displayed a delicate collage of fine artist papers presenting a sensitive wedding portrait.

       On to the next venue the famed Broad Art Center with its distinctive design and cutting edge art presentations. The building design is a big draw to many annual visitors and the art that is presented is always worth a lot of consideration. The evening visit was not disappointing. On entering the first gallery my reaction was the art display was not completed because there were a lot of unfinished surfaces lying around. A few years ago we visited an art center in Nova Scotia and saw what looked like a remodeling of the building. We looked at it a long time waiting for workers. We never did determine if it was an art installation or construction work in progress.

Activity or The Brain on Art
by Joel F. Ellis

Inside Out by Joel F. Ellis

       In the Broad first gallery I did ask the guard who was watching over the gallery if the display was completed. Her response, delivered in a very sincere manner was –Yes. So we walked over to the pedestal with a name tag entitled Nude something and of course there was nothing on the pedestal.

Trying not to feel left out of the artist’s meaning or attempt at evoking a serious discussion on what-is-art, I approached the guard again and asked if the artist trained her for this assignment. She said she met the artist and was told what to say to folks like me. So we went back and looked like we were actually seeing something on the pedestal. It worked. We actually heard ourselves making the sound and motions that go along with viewing art even though it was not visible.

    

       I do know how it feels to be, well, let’s say, misunderstood.  I learned a few years ago not to walk behind visitors to a gallery opening who were discussing the changes in my current art direction. To venture from the expected can be a little tenuous at times but a little shake up can do wonders for responses to  art.

       Check out your own regions for such art explorations this summer. You may be surprised how much enjoyment art can bring.

Reprieve by Joel F. Ellis

Joel

www.joelellisart.com

 Paintings included in this blog by Joel F. Ellis are shake-up projects that rarely get into exhibits.