Wall-able Art
I create my own visual currency via delicious color, spontaneous markings and geometric shapes. According to many ancient spiritual teachings as well as modern science, colors are essentially frequencies that can impact emotion and states of being. In the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, asymmetry and “imperfection” are viewed as beauty. My creative approach draws on these world views, allowing colors, organic shapes and lines to emerge naturally, mapping the movement between our inner and outer landscapes. My hope is to point to an inner sanctuary where individuals can retreat against the opposing energy of today’s urban environments.
MIXED MEDIA: My mixed media work incorporates acrylic, graphite, paper, found objects and fragments of letters filled with meaning, history and the sacred act of writing to a loved one.
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: see statement in separate tab
DYE on SILK: Silk once served as a currency in the East and a gateway to the West. I continue that exchange by referencing the philosophical and spiritual ideas of the East while transporting the ancient discipline of painting on silk into our contemporary experience. My work explores the search for a meditative rather than a demanding energy to navigate our Western urban lives.
Wear-able Art
Art meets fashion in my original designs. What we wear can be one of the most vital art forms of daily soulful expression. Clothes can convey our creative spirit, and allow us to shine our light in a way that reflects our mood, enhances our groove or declares our philosophy of living.
After a lifetime love of style, I began exploring painting in the mid-2000’s as a way to infuse my creativity into this daily adventure. Passionate about color, fabrics, and clothing as a means of self-expression, I create my own textiles by playfully exploring color combinations, textural qualities and movement.
Once I’ve created the fabric, I layer the colors, fabric designs and sensuous textures with unexpected elements such as grommets, leather or a hood to capture something exquisite – in a fresh yet understated way. Whether painting or transforming my fabrics into clothing, I let the colors lead the way, guided by an eye for modern style, beauty and sophistication.
My influences, are well, everywhere.
I look to many cultures and tribes for their rich color palettes and glorious textiles. I admire the women on the streets of Paris and Milan who transform a simple outfit with a single stroke of fabric, dramatic color or unexpected design. And I also love the painterly light, natural forms and lifestyle of the West Coast. Here, silk and jeans are a modern expression of elegance with ease — where something can be beautiful to look at but also easy to live in.
To me, creating is joyful – from the first brushstroke to unexpected pieces that give each woman her own paintbrush for sharing her vibrancy and style with the world.
— ellen brook
I create my own visual currency via delicious color, spontaneous markings and geometric shapes. According to many ancient spiritual teachings as well as modern science, colors are essentially frequencies that can impact emotion and states of being. In the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, asymmetry and “imperfection” are viewed as beauty. My creative approach draws on these world views, allowing colors, organic shapes and lines to emerge naturally, mapping the movement between our inner and outer landscapes. My hope is to point to an inner sanctuary where individuals can retreat against the opposing energy of today’s urban environments.
MIXED MEDIA: My mixed media work incorporates acrylic, graphite, paper, found objects and fragments of letters filled with meaning, history and the sacred act of writing to a loved one.
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: see statement in separate tab
DYE on SILK: Silk once served as a currency in the East and a gateway to the West. I continue that exchange by referencing the philosophical and spiritual ideas of the East while transporting the ancient discipline of painting on silk into our contemporary experience. My work explores the search for a meditative rather than a demanding energy to navigate our Western urban lives.
Art meets fashion in my original designs. What we wear can be one of the most vital art forms of daily soulful expression. Clothes can convey our creative spirit, and allow us to shine our light in a way that reflects our mood, enhances our groove or declares our philosophy of living.
After a lifetime love of style, I began exploring painting in the mid-2000’s as a way to infuse my creativity into this daily adventure. Passionate about color, fabrics, and clothing as a means of self-expression, I create my own textiles by playfully exploring color combinations, textural qualities and movement.
Once I’ve created the fabric, I layer the colors, fabric designs and sensuous textures with unexpected elements such as grommets, leather or a hood to capture something exquisite – in a fresh yet understated way. Whether painting or transforming my fabrics into clothing, I let the colors lead the way, guided by an eye for modern style, beauty and sophistication.
My influences, are well, everywhere.
I look to many cultures and tribes for their rich color palettes and glorious textiles. I admire the women on the streets of Paris and Milan who transform a simple outfit with a single stroke of fabric, dramatic color or unexpected design. And I also love the painterly light, natural forms and lifestyle of the West Coast. Here, silk and jeans are a modern expression of elegance with ease — where something can be beautiful to look at but also easy to live in.
To me, creating is joyful – from the first brushstroke to unexpected pieces that give each woman her own paintbrush for sharing her vibrancy and style with the world.
— ellen brook