Listening to Cold Shoulders

"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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Showing the Love

February is the month love is celebrated in a frenzied flurry of pink and red mylar glitz. I confess that when I walk down these aisles and see guys perusing boxes of chocolates to buy, I role play grilling them on what they know about this elusive topic. Don't worry. I practice restraint and have yet to act on this crazy impulse!

Married (happily) for 31 years, I feel I have some perspective on the subject. All I can say is it's a heck of a lot more than the promises of the Victoria's Secret commercials. It's really the gritty, sticky stuff of kindness, patience, compassion, mercy and forgiveness that makes love real.

Recently my hubby and I led a marriage enrichment seminar at our church, based on Gary Chapman's popular book, The 5 Love Languages. Chapman categorizes the basic ways in which we 'speak love' : quality time, words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, or physical touch. We enjoyed discussing the value of identifying, understanding, and speaking the primary 'love language' of your spouse. 

I HIGHLY recommend the book, The Five Love Languages!  There is no question why it's a consistent New York Times bestseller - with over 5 million copies sold and translated into 38 languages! Amazing! 

I may not have a best seller book(yet) but I say, real love 'lifts up' the other person. This little drawing is my take on the subject. Prints are available here: You Can Do It, is available in paper, canvas, framed or unframed!

You Can Do It by Eleatta

 Thanks for stopping by! 


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Live Event Painting

A live painting by Eleatta is a celebration on canvas which adds a fresh and engaging dimension to  corporate events, wedding receptions, and fundraisers. The finished work is a treasure for home or office decor.

The latest new choice in event entertainment.

Live Painting is a visual performance which allows the audience the unique opportunity to watch the creative process unfold from beginning to completion within a short period of time in a public setting. The work of art is finished at the end of the event!

Eleatta is available for bookings:

TRADE SHOWS/BOOTHS MUSIC/PARTY EVENTS PRIVATE/CORPORATE PARTIES CHARITY EVENTS RETAIL STORES SCHOOL EVENTS HOW IT WORKS: Eleatta is a professional and prompt business woman with her own equipment setup and experience to put on a live painting event. Her reliability and professionalism are her trademark as a working artist. ​ Contact us with your inquiry by emailing eleattadiver@eleatta.com or have your event director to call us with a proposal at 919-323-5763.

Chatting with bridesmaids during wedding reception

Garnering popularity on the west coast for the past 20 years, the concept is rapidly gaining attention here on the east coast. Artists are being hired to paint during wedding receptions, corporate events, and gala occassions of all kinds. 

A hug from the happy and very gorgeous bride!

The flower girl wanted to "help"!

Chatting with the groom.

                                              

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Four Powerful Little Words

"You Can Do It"by Eleatta 5x7 original oil pastel 

  Yesterday, I posted this little pastel sketch on Facebook. It immediately garnered affectionate comments. There's something about those words, "You can do it" that grab and snag. We all have unfed pockets that hunger for encouragement. What I've noticed, though, is that there's an interesting boomerang effect that's put into motion when we offer encouragement to others. What 'goes around, comes around' in fascinating ways. It may not be a straight line that connects "A" to ""B", but for the person who's watching and listening, that encouragement DOES find a way back home to roost. I've seen it happen countless times. Live to be a voice of encouragement and you'll end up being encouraged - sometimes in the most unexpected ways. This principle remeinds me of the ancient Proverb, "A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25

  It's a fun experiment to test! Try it! Let me know how it boomerangs for you!

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Healthy and Happy

Recently, someone asked me "What do you think about when you paint? Simply put, I  interpret ideas...This can lead down some really diverse rabit holes, but it's a lot of fun! From inspirational thoughts about excitement and joy:

"Celebrate" 5x7 original oil pastel $35

...to thoughts on the lonely but brave path of choosing a different life-course :

"I'll Just Go This Way" original 5x7 oil pastel $35

Several months ago, 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 some incubating! 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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Fresh Paint

   Huddling up in my studio in the evenings for these last few weeks, I find myself still painting "birth flowers" in my ongoing Celebrating Life series. I've found poppies to bequite a "best seller!"Besides being bright and cheerful, the poppy packs a powerful message. During the Victorian era, it whispered a secret message, "Love at First Sight."Here's my latest rendition, below. 

Being stumped for a title, I posted a querry on facebook. As always, help came in about 60 seconds. A friend nailed it with, "Poppy Promenade."Love it!

"Poppy Promenade" by Eleatta (c)18x24"acrylic 2012 Available:$225 plus shipping
eleattadiver@eleatta.com

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Paper Pleasers: New Work

  I owe it all to "dear 'ol Mom." Forever twisting resources into new inventions (like drapes into dresses and scraps into upholstery) She defined repurposing long before it was chic and instilled in me the mantra of "waste not, want not."

Feeling quite badly about the insane amount of paper towels I consume while cleaning my paint brushes, I devised a way of upscaling them into new pieces of art.

 Glue soaked, gessoed and painted, these paper towels get a total make over!

 These 12x12's are just little preps before I dig into the final commission pieces. They're so pretty, I've got them clinging to my kitchen walls for now. Bur I know i've got to let them go eventually. They'll be up for sale in a forthcoming show at Golden Belt- in Downtown Durham .
But till then, they are making me smile!

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June's Birth Flower : the Rose

"Dancing Rose" by Eleatta 2012 (c)  acrylic on 12x12 gallery wrapped canvas $125

The rose is this month's Birth Flower featured in my painting series, Celebrations , Honoring the flowers of each month throughout the year has been a delightful focus from which to work,

Beyond its obvious beauty, according to the language of flowers developed during the Victorian era, a message was specifically assigned to the rose. A suitor could convey a hidden romantic meaning according to color:

Red - I Love You

Orange - You are my secret love

White - You are Heavenly

Yellow - I am not worthy of your love

White & Red - We are inseparable

Pink - Please Believe Me

In a day when few things are subtle, these messages have been charming subjects to celebrate with paint. Displayed in my Golden Belt studio, and in The Retreat spa, these floral messages are great conversation starters for the passerby!

Here are two other rose renditions - a couple of "wild" roses :

"Blue Rose" by Eleatta 2012 (c) $175 18x24

Wild rose with recycled papers 12 x12  $125

Purchases may be arranged by contacting eleattadiver@gmail.com.

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Life's Layers

New work in progress

Here's a sneak peek!
A new addition to my Celebrations series, this wild rose is categorized as one of June's "Birthday Flowers". 


Celebrate good times....and the bad!
 These paintings are meant to celebrate the joy of living life in all it's complexities and triumphs. Seeing that life demands that we incorporate all the layers of challenges and joys, these new works are mixed media pieces that reflect such synthesis and uses multiple layers of recycled materials. 


Wider spectrum of patrons
Creating these smaller pieces (12"x12") has afforded a wider spectrum of patrons to enjoy the luxury of owning a piece of fine art as well as giving me the freedom to explore new techniques on a smaller scale.

I'm almost finished with this new Birth Flower! I'm just putting some finishing touches on it now and will post the end result soon. Stay tuned!


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