"Our business in life is not to get ahead of others, but to get ahead of ourselves - to break our own records, to outstrip our yesterday by our today." - Stewart B. Johnson
It was a huge week for me: I've decided to start selling my artwork online. I don't usually sell my artwork, and I don't want to depend on selling my work to others, but rather let other people enjoy my work as they please. I love creating, mainly because I like making something that will put a smile on someone's face. By far, I'm not trying to "make it big" as an artist, but rather just challenge myself to get my artwork out there in the world - to allow others to critique my work.
I have two different sites to buy work: on etsy, you can purchase an original personalized watercolor portrait, and on blue canvas, you can buy prints of work I've already created.
I hope you enjoy my work, and please feel free to contact me if you would like any other types of artwork! Feel free to check out my portfolio online at www.elissahogan.com as well.
4.19.2012
4.17.2012
"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family" - Anthony Brandt
I've been on a roll with the watercolor portraits, but I have to say - the joy is not only in the experimentation with the new medium, but it is mostly in the work to correctly portray those that I love. I have done portraits of family and friends - anyone who is willing to have their likeness painted on paper haha.. The feedback has been overwhelming.
I find it challenging to get someone's eyes right - because I truly feel that this is the most important aspect of the image. I will never be able to fully portray someone's soul through watercolor, and I've come to terms with that - but I will still try my hardest to get as close to that goal as possible.
The idea for creating these portraits in the first place was to just practice with watercolors; but as I've continued to get requests for paintings, I've realized that the greatest achievement is the reaction of the individuals who volunteered to be painted. The joy that they proclaim is more than I ever could have imagined, and has reminded me why I enjoy art in the first place. I don't think that I will ever try to "make it" as an artist in the world, because I can't see myself enjoying the pressures of working to sell my artwork. Instead, I love creating art that makes people happy. I strive to paint their likeness because of the happiness that it creates in return. Not to sound cheesy, but you can't put a price on that. Of course, it would be wonderful to be "recognized" as an artist in the greater community, and I'll never turn down the opportunity to show my work or create pieces for individuals around the world, but I will always do so just to support the smiles that erupt as a reaction to the work.
My family has been extremely supportive of my art from day one, and they continue to do so - even volunteering to be guinea pigs of the latest medium that I choose. But, more than just support, this has created an atmosphere of exploration and discovery - and it has shown me just how much joy you can instill in the world when you're willing to take a risk, and have a full army of loved ones that are supporting you non-stop.
Anyone who is reading this, if you would also like your portrait created by me, please feel free to contact me either through this site, or through www.elissahogan.com. I would be happy to create artwork for anyone, but would love it even more if you are commissioning my work to put a smile on someone ELSE's face as well. I'm all about spreading the love and joy in the world :)
I've been on a roll with the watercolor portraits, but I have to say - the joy is not only in the experimentation with the new medium, but it is mostly in the work to correctly portray those that I love. I have done portraits of family and friends - anyone who is willing to have their likeness painted on paper haha.. The feedback has been overwhelming.
I find it challenging to get someone's eyes right - because I truly feel that this is the most important aspect of the image. I will never be able to fully portray someone's soul through watercolor, and I've come to terms with that - but I will still try my hardest to get as close to that goal as possible.
The idea for creating these portraits in the first place was to just practice with watercolors; but as I've continued to get requests for paintings, I've realized that the greatest achievement is the reaction of the individuals who volunteered to be painted. The joy that they proclaim is more than I ever could have imagined, and has reminded me why I enjoy art in the first place. I don't think that I will ever try to "make it" as an artist in the world, because I can't see myself enjoying the pressures of working to sell my artwork. Instead, I love creating art that makes people happy. I strive to paint their likeness because of the happiness that it creates in return. Not to sound cheesy, but you can't put a price on that. Of course, it would be wonderful to be "recognized" as an artist in the greater community, and I'll never turn down the opportunity to show my work or create pieces for individuals around the world, but I will always do so just to support the smiles that erupt as a reaction to the work.
My family has been extremely supportive of my art from day one, and they continue to do so - even volunteering to be guinea pigs of the latest medium that I choose. But, more than just support, this has created an atmosphere of exploration and discovery - and it has shown me just how much joy you can instill in the world when you're willing to take a risk, and have a full army of loved ones that are supporting you non-stop.
Anyone who is reading this, if you would also like your portrait created by me, please feel free to contact me either through this site, or through www.elissahogan.com. I would be happy to create artwork for anyone, but would love it even more if you are commissioning my work to put a smile on someone ELSE's face as well. I'm all about spreading the love and joy in the world :)
4.05.2012
Experimentation and Discovery
"It's hard for corporations to understand that creativity is not just about succeeding. It's about experimenting and discovering." - Gordon Mackenzie
I've been experimenting with different mediums lately, and this is my latest self portrait: watercolors and sharpie pen combined to create a fairly surprising result. I've been wanting to make more art lately, but with creation comes this pressure to make it look AMAZING. I have seen so many incredible works of art, and I want to be able to create something just as powerful. But that's a LOT of pressure to put on myself as an artist! So instead, I've decided to experiment with different mediums, so that I don't feel this pressure - by using a new medium that I'm not accustomed to, I can free myself with the thought that it CAN'T be perfect, because I'm trying something new. And it becomes a process of experimentation, rather than a 100%-successful result.
I try to take this mentality to my career as well, but I realize that it becomes much harder. I want to experiment, to "play" and not worry about failure - but when you have deadlines, budgets, peer reviews, and execs telling you whether or not your idea will work, you don't want to waste time and resources on "playing" or experimentation. You feel this inherent need for your idea to be PERFECT. But what I'm starting to realize is that in order to make a great idea, or a creative solution, I need to strip away the pressure to be perfect and just see where the medium takes me. Try something new, look at an idea from a different perspective, and see what happens! It may not have the result you are looking for, but I can promise you that you will find out something new that you never would have thought were it not for the opportunity to release yourself of the pressures of life, and just explore.
I've been experimenting with different mediums lately, and this is my latest self portrait: watercolors and sharpie pen combined to create a fairly surprising result. I've been wanting to make more art lately, but with creation comes this pressure to make it look AMAZING. I have seen so many incredible works of art, and I want to be able to create something just as powerful. But that's a LOT of pressure to put on myself as an artist! So instead, I've decided to experiment with different mediums, so that I don't feel this pressure - by using a new medium that I'm not accustomed to, I can free myself with the thought that it CAN'T be perfect, because I'm trying something new. And it becomes a process of experimentation, rather than a 100%-successful result.
I try to take this mentality to my career as well, but I realize that it becomes much harder. I want to experiment, to "play" and not worry about failure - but when you have deadlines, budgets, peer reviews, and execs telling you whether or not your idea will work, you don't want to waste time and resources on "playing" or experimentation. You feel this inherent need for your idea to be PERFECT. But what I'm starting to realize is that in order to make a great idea, or a creative solution, I need to strip away the pressure to be perfect and just see where the medium takes me. Try something new, look at an idea from a different perspective, and see what happens! It may not have the result you are looking for, but I can promise you that you will find out something new that you never would have thought were it not for the opportunity to release yourself of the pressures of life, and just explore.
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