Artist Spotlight: Ellen Starr's "Natural Selections"

Ellen Starr, La Mesa Fig Trees, Water soluble oil on canvas, 21.5 x 25.5"

Ellen Starr is drawn to nature as a subject for various reasons. She finds it spiritually refreshing while simultaneously emotionally and intellectually stimulating. Her newest exhibition, Natural Selections, finds Starr sharing her love of the organic with the viewer, engrossing us in natural habitats and lush ecosystems.

Ellen Starr, Mngrove Heron, Water soluble oil on canvas, 19.5 x 19.5"

Nature’s endless variety stimulates the artist. “I love the challenge of organizing its visual complexity. The splash of sunlight on a leaf, the crisscross of stems and branches, the silhouettes of purple shadows -these are all elements that I can manipulate and interpret with the help of canvas and water soluble oil paint,” says Starr.

Ellen Starr, Fiji Hiking View, Water soluble oil on canvas, 19.5 x 25"

Natural Selections balances various elements of composition - line, shape, dark, light, texture, color - in order to create an equilibrium that satisfies the artist’s aesthetic sense. Starr enjoys finding logic in disorder, seeing beauty in the intricate, and to make confusion understandable. “I care deeply about many subjects and it is the desire to communicate my personal perceptions that moves me to produce art.”

Ellen Starr, Bel Air Beach Club, Water soluble oil on canvas, 19.5 x 25.5"

Ellen's work will be on exhibition until Saturday, February 18.
Join Ellen, Boris Litvinov, and Joan Horsfall Young at an Artist Panel Discussion Saturday, February 11, 3pm.

Current Exhibition: Joan Horsfall Young, Ellen Starr and Boris Litvinov

Tuesday Jan 24 - Saturday Feb 18, 2017

Reception:
Sat., Jan 28, 5-8 pm

Artist Panel
Sat., Feb 11, 3 pm

Boris Litvinov - Meditations In Stone

Boris Litvinow, Femme Triste, Translucent Utah orange alabaster mounted on African zebrawood, 8 x 5 x 5'

Ellen Starr - Natural Selections

Ellen Starr, Vasquez Rocks, Water soluble oil on canvas, 21 x 31"

Joan Horsfall Young - On Water

Joan Horsfall Young, L500 Cloud Reflections, Oil on linen, 12 x 12"

Coming Exhibition: Anne M Bray, Michael Knight, Ellen Starr

Tues. April 21st – Sat. May 16th, 2015

Opening Reception: Saturday, April 25, 5-8 p.m.

Artists' Talk: Saturday, May 9, 3pm

Southwestern Sojourn, Anne M Bray

Anne M Bray, Dawn: Reeves County, TX, Oil on canvas, 24 x 48", ©2001

Anne M Bray's core subject is the American landscape as seen from the highway. It's a modern take on the Hudson River School's devotion to the sublime beauty of nature. In her current exhibition, Southwestern Sojourn, Bray limits her focus to the southwestern region of the US. “The stark beauty of sky and earth stripped down to their core elements pulls my soul.”

 

For more than twenty years, Bray has taken “on the fly” research shots and then later interpreted them in the studio. She’s not satisfied with keeping the images as photographs – “that format seems too cold and detail-laden”. She distills the information manually through paint or modifies it digitally, simplifying the compositional elements and adding her emotional response to the place and time. “My roadscapes are a celebration of fleeting moments frozen in time. Urban, rural, and the roads in-between -- I share with the viewer windows for contemplation.”

Precarious, Michael Knight

Michael Knight, Badges? Badges?... Acrylic on paper, 23 x 31 in

Life is a balancing act. We walk tightropes over familial issues, current affairs, societal pressures, work politics and the like. In Precarious, artist Michael Knight illustrates the journey; the process by which we make these journeys. Knight’s interest in process has generally been about the technique and execution of his art. In this exhibition, it is also about the subject matter. He creates imagery to match our realities. The work forces us to evaluate how we deal with the intricacies of our lives. Michael Knight works in a wide range of media to create art that questions and challenges perception of society, culture and the individual.

Back to Nature, Ellen Starr

Ellen Starr, Ballona Wetlands, Acrylic on canvas, 20 x 24 in.

In her latest exhibition, Back to Nature, Ellen Starr explores the endless possibilities of subject matter presented to us in the natural world.  Using acrylic paint on canvas, she strives to clarify the visual intricacies of every-day subjects, primarily landscapes. Starr’s work brings the viewers into the landscapes and enables them to feel as though they are seated next to her as she paints. Composition – the delicate balance of numerous details – is a major concern, but even more important is communicating to the viewer a deep love of Nature.

TAG Interview with Ellen Starr

Ellen Starr's current exhibition at TAG, Parks and Gardens, showcases her love of the outdoors.
We asked her some questions about her work.

Oahu Beach Park, 2013, acrylic on canvas, 17.5 x 21.5"

How do you decide on the places that are the subject matter for your work?
What attracts you to them?
Nature - the great outdoors - is the retreat I turn to when I wish to escape the pressures of every day life.  Whether it's walking in Palisades Park (Santa Monica), hiking in the mountains, or sitting on a beach and contemplating the waves, I find that Nature gives me a lens that puts any problems I may have into perspective.  It's relaxing and it's refreshing.  I like to paint what I love, and Nature gives me endless subject matter.

What is your process? Do you paint en plein air, in studio, or a combination?

How is working with/from photographs different than working from life?  
I used to set up my easel on location, but now I paint mainly in my studio from photographs.  I take my camera to places that intrigue me and capture many pictures of my surroundings - close up and at a distance.  Then I return to my studio and study all the digital images.  I pick the ones that really appeal to me, the ones that I can manipulate and play with in Photoshop.  I may combine parts of different shots, such as adding figures to a scene or altering the placement of certain landscape elements to suit my sense of balance.  When I am finally satisfied with a composition, I print out a copy at least as large as the canvas I plan to use.  I tape the print to a stiff backing, set it up on a stand in my studio, and make believe that I am once again viewing the original scene.  At this point I start to paint.  Obviously, it is not the same as actually being at the landscape site. But...the light does not keep changing; the wind does not jiggle my canvas and I don't have to deal with pesky insects.  Also, the time it takes me to paint in the extremely detailed style that I favor would never allow me to finish a painting on location, at least not in one sitting.

Tell us about your studio -- where do you create?

May we have a peek?

My studio is in my home.  This has both advantages and disadvantages.  It is easy to get to work, no distance involved, so I can paint for short periods of time and that's perfectly practical.  But....there are also numerous distractions.  I time share with the washing machine and dryer and find it very difficult to ignore the telephone when it rings.  Even so, I wouldn't change my set up.  I have everything I need easily accessible plus the companionship of two "studio poodles."

What is the biggest challenge that you face as an artist?
At the moment it's that I think I'm getting stuck in a rut.  I'm painting the same way I've been painting for the past several years.  I want to do something entirely different, but I haven't yet decided exactly what that is.  Several years ago I transitioned from primarily printmaking and drawing to painting with acrylics.  I think my next change may be in the area of subject matter.  I won't give up Nature entirely, but I'm definitely going to try something new.  I'll still focus on detail and the intricacies of composition, but it won't be landscape.

Ellen's work is on view at TAG until May 18

Carole Garland, Brigitte Schobert, Ellen Starr April 23 - May 18, 2013

Human-Nature Urban-Suburban New Exhibit at TAG Gallery October 4 - October 29, 2011 Featuring Artists: Carole Garland, Diane Rudnick Mann, Della Rolle, Ellen Starr

Opening Reception: Saturday, October 15, 2011, 5-8 PM
Artist Panel: Saturday, October 22, 2011, 2-3 PM
An Afternoon with Wild Art and Wild Animals: Sunday, October 23, 3-5 pm

In LAyers, Carole Garland’s paintings give us an overview of Los Angeles, city of mirages. They capture both the transitory nature of the marine atmosphere and the permanence of the mountain topography. Fascinated with the natural geometry of the local environs, Garland paints urbanscapes of familiar sites overlooking Culver City, Mulholland, Pacific Palisades and Ocean Park.

Garland’s oil paintings display a city that rests amidst a complex environment. Pink stucco houses, crowded streets and towering palm trees starkly contrast the bold mountains and heavy fog that linger in the distance. The patches of paint which mimic Cezanne’s color block technique diffuse light as it shines through the marine layer shrouding the city.

Everyday Things Come Alive, Diane Rudnick Mann

Diane Rudnick Mann places everyday things in a limitless cosmos: cherries, peppermint candies and vegetables appear as if carved out of dark matter.  Pastels, usually reserved for soft-focus effects and blurry lines, are applied with meticulous intensity and vigor.  Edges of objects alternately cut through the black background leaving crystallized reflections or seep into nothingness, losing contrast as they are pushed out of view.

Stripped of time, place, and function, the minutiae of everyday life become the focus of our attention.  We are forced to look, to gaze intently at the usual, otherwise, as Mann describes, “you would walk by and never notice."

Animalia, Della Rolle

In Anamalia, Della Rolle highlights the odd yet prevalent parallels between human characteristics and animal behavior. Exposed to both wild and domestic animals that live in and around her home in Los Angeles, Della sees remarkable crossovers between her neighbors and her furry friends who live in her backyard. Amused by these similarities, Della captures both humor and beauty in the animals that she sculpts.

Through her bronze and terra cotta sculptures, she reveals the unique personalities of animals such as the Mule Ear Deer Fawn, Cougar Cub, Gray Fox Cub, and Brush Bunny. By associating human mannerisms to animals, the creatures do not only become entertaining but also familiar. Linking human and animal personalities together, Della is satirically commenting on the connectedness of the city, suburban neighborhoods and nearby nature. Whether it is Della’s unique lighthearted view of the world or the fact that humans and animals are related, Anamalia presents a playful view of our society, both two-legged and four-legged.

Vacation Memories, Ellen Starr

Ellen Starr transports us to primitive "vacationscapes". Her Rousseau-inspired foliage provides a glimpse into these untouched locales, like a postcard from an untouched land. From the sands of the Gulf Coast of Florida and the terrains of the Sierras to the shores of Hawaii, these acrylic on canvas paintings beckon a primitive serenity outside the domain of tourism or even humanity.

Starr’s landscapes channel peace within the wild, simplicity within the complexity of nature. The details of organic forms which have become expected of exotic utopias are given new life as Starr revels in the details of silhouettes and their purple shadows, of the crisscross of stems and branches. Through creating idealized replications of her personal memories, Starr creates visual souvenirs of the ultimate escape: a return to nature.

An Afternoon with Wild Art and Wild Animals Charity Event, Event and Silent Auction

The Nature of Wildworks is a nonprofit 501c3 Wildlife Care and Education Center in Topanga, Ca.  It provides lifetime care for over forty non-releasable wild animals that were either injured, orphaned or people’s illegal pets. Wildworks also provides programs to the public and works with the LA school district, working with each school's curriculum, to provide programs to educate and engender respect for wildlife and the environment. The ticket price is $40 per person. Wildworks is a volunteer based organization so the ticket price and the money from the silent auction are donations toward the continuing care of the animals at Wildworks. Sample animals in attendance: a serval, a red-tailed hawk, an owl, foxes, prairie dogs, and opossums. There will be a volunteer with every animal who is there to tell people about the animal and its story. Event is not open to children. October 23rd from 3:00 until 5:00 PM, with the silent auction closing at 4:45 PM. Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance at: www.natureofwildworks.org

BEST OF TAG Group Exhibition Opens

TAG Gallery was filled with the sound of tape measures snapping and nails being hammered as artists were hard at work installing the BEST OF TAG annual group exhibition which opened on December 28.

First, gallery walls and sculpture pedestals are patched and repainted by TAG Gallery members on the Wall Prep crew led by Gary Polonsky. Polonsky, along with Pat Klowden and Anne Ramis, come in the gallery at the end of every show to make sure that the walls are pristine for the next group of artists to install their work. Even spouses pitch in to help, as was the case in preparing for this exhibition, when new TAG Gallery member Katie Crown brought her husband Guy Webster to help.



“People do not realize that there is a lot of work that goes into getting ready for a show,” says former TAG Gallery president Ellen Starr. “Hanging a big show such as this often takes a lot of people and a couple of days. Sometimes the trickiest part is evaluating where each of the art pieces should be displayed. When we layout the show, we have to consider not only size, but also medium, subject matter, color, and framing. Then, the artwork and walls are measured to be equally spaced and centered on a point close to 60 inches from the floor. A poorly hung show can reflect poorly on the art and exhibition space.”



In addition to the Wall Prep crew, Starr was joined by co-presidents Carol Kleinman and Cheryl Medow, and members Della Rolle, Katherine Kean, Diane Rudnick Mann, Suki Kuss, Joan Vaupen, and Grace Swanson, in setting up the show.






The BEST OF TAG exhibition continues through January 22, 2011 and features a diverse mix of painting, photography, mixed media, printmaking, pastel, sculpture, and fiber art.

A reception to meet the artists will be held Saturday, January 8, from 3 to 6 pm and is open to the public.

New Exhibition Featuring Julienne Johnson, Sue Keane, Pat Doede Klowden, and Ellen Starr

Reception:
Saturday, September 11, 5- 8 PM

Artists' Q & A Panel:
Tuesday, September 14, 7 PM

Julienne Johnson, "Ashes For Beauty"

For her first Solo Exhibition Julienne Johnson presents a powerfully poetic body of work in a visceral, yet painterly language all her own. Working an Abstract Non - representational format, Johnson leads us through a complicated, dangerously vulnerable drama on canvas. Acting out each scene with emotionally charged, often hand mixed color pigments and symbolic references - we follow her down a path of angst and honesty as we try to put our own feelings in order.

Sue Keane, "New Ceramics"

After a successful career in architectural design, Sue Keane began working in clay, and one can see her work is still strongly influenced by the geometry of architecture and how forms relate to their surrounding space. Surface textures play an important part in the visual attraction of each piece as does light and shadow and types of glaze used. The fine detail of her work requires close examination of both surface texture and form.

Pat Klowden, "La Famiglia"

In 'La Famiglia', sculpturist Patricia Doede Klowden continues her exploration of the notion of place and identity as it functions in the modern world. Her newest bronze figures represent a transitional shift from the more androgynous communication of humanity seen in her previous series, 'The Bronze Age'. Here, recognizably female figures express the power of cultural origins and physical strength through attenuated form and subtle detailing. Klowden then moves to her most personal exploration of identity yet: her own family. In ceramic, she touches upon the forms and personality of her grandchildren, trading the universal cast of her earlier bronzes for the more personal markings of family.

Ellen Starr, "Return to Nature"

In her latest exhibition, "Return to Nature," Ellen Starr explores the endless possibilities of subject matter presented to us in the natural world. She explains, "I am attracted to complexity, perhaps because I'm an inveterate organizer. I like to find logic in disorder; to see beauty in the intricate; to make confusion understandable. I strive to balance form against form; color against color; and light against dark. My ultimate goal is to achieve a stable whole out of many parts to create a sense of equilibrium and serenity."

TAG Interviews Ellen Starr

Park Bluff
acrylic on canvas 18 x 24"
Ellen Starr

Ellen Starr's paintings clarify the visual intricacies of everyday subjects.

How do you decide on your palette?

My palette is determined by very concrete subject matter that gives rise to an image. I work with the original colors in nature, so I use an awful lot of blues and greens.

What goes into making work like yours?

As you can see I love detail, and it takes a substantial amount of time to produce the amount of detail that I like. I’m drawn to the extreme complexities of nature, ones that I can simplify and organize. I try to create a sense of serenity in my subject matter. It is this feeling of harmony that I want to communicate to the viewer of my work.


The Banana Bunch
acrylic on canvas 20 x 20"
Ellen Starr

How do you know when a work is finished?

If I can look at my work in total comfort, not see any small detail that I wish to change, then I know I’m done.

What is the most memorable comment someone has made about your work?

An art consultant bought one of my pieces and told me months later that she enjoyed looking at it every day. It brought her pleasure. When someone appreciates my work, it makes me realize that my efforts have value. It feels good to be recognized for giving satisfaction to someone else because of something I’ve done, no matter what it is.

If only one person were allowed to experience your work, who would It be and why?

I would have to say my husband, James. We share our assorted interests – art, music, magic, making videos, and more. He comments on my art, and gets after me when I don’t spend enough time working in my studio, so he is the logical person I’d share with.



Ellen Starr in the studio with Redford.

Ellen Starr's exhibit opens September 7, 2010.