Charlotte County Florida Weekly

Coping with isolation by creating upbeat art

ART ALONE


Painting by artist Lori Ellis COURTESY PHOTO

Painting by artist Lori Ellis COURTESY PHOTO

NOTE: Believing that creativity can be therapy, Florida Weekly is profiling local artists who are using their alone time to continue to create new work, and to reflect on how art is currently influencing their lives.

I am a local painter with a home studio in the Port Charlotte area. We’ve been socially distancing for more than two months now. The extra alone time and limited resources have given me the opportunity to develop new themes in my paintings.

Missing our walks on the beach, I created a beach “still life stage” from an XL cookie tray and some sand. I place it out in the yard and incorporate glass wear and props from around the house, as well as fruit or whatever flowers are in bloom for color. Then I do a photo session from many angles to find interesting compositions. Sometimes I invent sea and surf, or use my archive of beach photos to complement the still life.

I’m purposely keeping the paintings upbeat for myself and for viewers — and, for the first time, have even begun to incorporate humor. Another coping tool to fight the sense of isolation has been to start posting paintings on Instagram. I’ve never been active with social media, but I have been pleasantly surprised at the positive community of painters that post and give feedback.

ELLIS

ELLIS

Call to artists

Are you a local painter, sculptor or other visual artist using your alone time to create new work? Tell me — in 300 words or less — how creativity helps you cope, and about your current project(s), attach a photo, and email it to bmassey@floridaweekly.com, with “Art Alone” in the subject line. ¦

 

 

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