Eleatta DiverOriginal art and custom paintings by Eleatta Diver

May 14, 2013

Laughter and Surprises

Tuesday, May 14, 2013 Eleatta Diver 1 comment

"Goin' to the Party", Eleatta Diver, acrylic on repurposed paper towels

Continuing my new approach to painting, conversing with paper towels, I recently opened a surprise package of laughs!

As I peered into the smears of paint stains, looking for hints of shapes, suggestions of lines and, in general, subjects of delight, I 'saw' this hilarious little fellow. When his form came into focus, I chuckled out loud. He was the perfect reminder to keep smiling and looking on the brighter side of life!

Laughter and humor are cheap medicines, with a time worn record. It's no wonder that the wisdom of the ancient sage, Solomon, still holds true.

"A cheerful heart is a good medicine...." Prov. 17:22

A smile can change an entire day's outcome and laughter can help transform our physical state. (No Joke: Humor Therapy Helps Patients Heal | Fox News)

Here's an amazing list of ways laughter helps us humans:

Physical Health Benefits:

Boosts immunity
Lowers stress hormones
Decreases pain
Relaxes your muscles
Prevents heart disease

Mental Health Benefits:

Adds joy and zest to life
Eases anxiety and fear
Relieves stress
Improves mood
Enhances resilience

Social Benefits:

Strengthens relationships
Attracts others to us
Enhances teamwork
Helps defuse conflict
Promotes group bonding

So.....with all these benefits, I wonder why we laugh as seldom as we do!

I love to laugh, but sometimes I just get stuck in life's trenches. Do you? This little painting is a 'note to self:' Smile more.LAUGH more! How do you remind yourself to have some laughs?

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Imagination and Dreams

Monday, May 06, 2013 Eleatta Diver No comments

"In My Dream", 16 x 20 acrylic NFS

Am I the only one?

I take myself way too serious sometimes. Surely I am not the only one! I'll twist and turn my brain into a knotted pretzel. Just when my thoughts are gagging for breath, I often remember that profound prodding made by Jesus "...unless you become like a little child..." This one simple thought is usually all I need to squirt some WD-40 into my crusty thinking.

Child's play!

Being imaginative is child's play, you could say. It comes naturally. Sadly, we hit an age when we’re presented with a scantron of bubble-in options, a template for a CV that we need to create, and Excel. At that point, our learning has to fit into certain parameters: within that little bubble, within the one page limit, and within a tiny digital graph.

Stow always
Even for those creative souls who stow away through the stormy years of educational seas, and navigate the choppy waters of creative endeavor, often find their stash of inspration leaking and disapating with the passing of time. The "wall" inevitably appears. The "blockage" descends.

Revisit the neighborhood
Though there are countless resources available to out-smart these foes, what I love best, is when an exit ramp appears from an unlikely source. For me it came most recntly in the form of Conversations with Paper Towels. Finding and unlocking the images hiding away in the paint stained paper towels has fueled my creativity and emboldened a passion to create a body of work that will, hopefully, inspire the viewer to revisit that childhood neigborhood called, 'imagination.'

Wake up the brain!
I love this quote by Dr. Seuss

“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities.”

Potent potential:

In considering the definition of imagination, and catching a glimpse of it's potent potential for children's education, I scratch my head over the decline of Art Education. But that's for another post.....

Imagination:

The faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses: "a vivid imagination".
The ability of the mind to be creative or resourceful.

The painting above, appeared in the glue drenched, paint dabbed paper towels and I knew immediately what I should name it. I love the way children retell their dreams with a sparkle in their eyes and wistful hope in their voices.

How have you found ways to stir up your own creative juices? I'd love to hear!

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Listening to Cold Shoulders

Wednesday, May 01, 2013 Eleatta Diver No comments

"Cold Shoulders" Acrylic on repurposed materials 24x36 NFS

Well, so far, I've been spared from being taken away by the authorities for claiming to have Conversations with Paper Towels! I think I'm safe as long as I keep it a one way kinda' relationship: they talk to me but I don't talk to them; I just paint them.

Since begining this series, "Towel Talks, I have had a real shift take place. Not only have I transitioned from wanting to impose my thoughts onto my canvases, I've found myself wanting to take time to listen to others more and talk less. Listening is such a powerful way to communicate human kindness. I love this saying:

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”
― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

Recently while leading a marriage seminar with my hubby, I was reminded of this interesting, yet aphauling fact:

The average person listens for only 17 seconds before interrupting.
"The 5 Love Languages", Dr. Gary Chapman

Wow! That's really something!

I'm treating these paintings as 'mediations'. Each time I spread the glue soaked, paint-soiled, paper towels onto my canvas, I practice the art of slowing down and 'listening'.
As I do so, each one 'speaks' to me a story that seems to yearn to be told. I try to listen.

Paint-stained paper towels before being soaked in glue and stretched onto canvases.

My most recent, "Cold Shoulders' came as a surprise reminder to deeply care about others and how they might feel in my presence. I think everyone knows what it's like to be on the receiving end of a 'cold shoulder!" I don't want to be the giver of such a message.

While painting it, having seen the hints of it's story in the soiled paper towels, my heart ached for so many adolescents who daily feel alienated in their schools by their peers.....
I also remembered my own painful days of awkward longings in the dark valley called "Middle School."

What do you think about when you see this piece? I'd love to hear your thoughts?

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Interpreting health

Thursday, April 11, 2013 Eleatta Diver No comments

Last year, MaryAnn Black, one of the participants of Durham Dreams, invited me to be a graphic (visual recorder for the annual Durham Health Summit with approximately 600 in attendance.

Translating dozens of ideas on ways to create health in Durham filled six flip charts! (Doodling for a whole day is my idea of a fun! ) The Summit concluded with my next assignment intact. I was commissioned to "interpret the jest of the conference" into a piece of fine art which could be publicly displayed.

Graphic Recording during the 11th Annual Duke Health Summit

This was quite a challenge!

Syncing the multitude of topics discussed at the Summit into a cohesive and "readable" painting took someincubating! After pages of sketchbook entries, the final succinct concept was this:

Express a happy, healthy community benefiting from the monumental contributions of Duke University Health System.

The visual translation was to be doctors, nurses and patients joyously celebrating health. My goal was to convey this simple message: health enables possibilites.

The Summit's theme, "Weaving Durham’s Tapestries, Moving the Needle on Health" was to be portrayed by placing the happy, raucous group delightedly jumping on a parchwork "Duke Blue quilt (complete with Duke logos, of course!)

Here are a few pics of the development of the painting. I'm almost finished....I'll add face detail, shadows, highlights along with quilt logos. The blue I've used here is just the "under painting". I will, of course, add the mandatory Duke blue!!!!

As I complete facial features, great consideration will be given to represent the wide variety of ethnicities to reflect Durham's diverse population.

Stay tuned. I'll share more photos soon. I expect to be completed with the painting within a week!

Those of you who either email me or message me on Facebook, thanks so much for your continued encouragement! And...if you are not yet following The Art of Eleatta Diver, you're heartily invited!

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Posted in: Available Art, Duke Health, Durham

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Conversations with Paper Towels

Tuesday, April 09, 2013 Eleatta Diver No comments

Have you missed me? I've been 'away' on a playful adventure, of late. It's one that has led me to whole new horizons whithout even leaving home! I 've brought along photos to show you some of the landmarks!

The 'adventure' was this: exploring possibilites in paper towels. OK. I can hear you thinking, "Wow,"she's really lost her marbles this time!" But wait, hear me out.....

About a year ago, I began 'recycling' the paper towels I used to clean my brushes by immersing them in bonding adhesives and priming them onto canvas, then painting. The results gave intriguing textures and rich depths, like this one:

"Wild Poppies' 18x24 Acrylic on repurposed materials SOLD

One day, while creating one of these pieces with my 'paint rag' paper towels. I noticed the subtle lines and suggestions of form that the towels made. A thought crossed my mind: 'What if...?"

Instead of imposing what I want the image to become on the surface, why not allow the bumps, lumps and crevices to whisper their input and thoughts? Like finding dinosaurs and puppy dogs in cloud formations, I began to 'see' images in the the paper towels' landscapes. A clear horizon of potential spread out before me.

I detemined to step back and 'listen'to what the images sugested, instead of rushing forward to paint my pre determined ideas for composition. I decided to take a different approach to my 'conversation' with the painting, offering it respect rather than control.

Ever the lover of allegory and symbolism, I was struck with the similarity between creating a painting and having a conversation. They are both interactive call and responses. I reflected on the fact that just as when I often approach a conversation with a clear intention and a predetermined agenda, it expires quickly into a certain stale quality. Conversely, conversations I enter that are allowed to be open, organic and fluid are far more interesting, adventuresome and colorful.

As I 'listened', my paintings became filled with intriguing and delightfully surprising imagery. Indeed, upon beginning each new one, I felt as though I was meeting someone for the very first time and became delighted in conversing,
finding out just who they were.

The first one I 'discovered' was a poignant image of a woman in mourning.

This is how they begin; smeared, dried, paint stained paper towels unfurl into visual story line.

"They Were All Waiting" in its initial beginging stage

'They Were All Waiting' first washes of color

"They Were All Waiting" completed

This one reminds me of my many friends whose commitment to adopting children often requires patient waiting.

This one appeared as quite a surprise! As it developed, it's imagery reminded me of those with a 'different' spirit, who are doggedly determinded to volunteer for causes they passionately believe in and refuse to take 'No" for an answer.!

This one below, won my heart at first glance. It's humble beginings grew into a 'magical' delight for the imagination.

Well, thanks for letting me share the tales from this journey! More will follow!

For locals, these new pieces will be displayed in my monthly Open Studios at Golden Belt in downtown Durham. The next one is scheduled for April 19. I'm in studio #3-114 in Building 3 of the Golden Belt campus.When completed, this body of work will contain aproximately 25 pieces and be featured in a local solo exhibit. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks for being a part of my world.
Eleatta