Ella Wiatt

           My work uses the traditional painting style of still lifes to invoke a feeling of nostalgia and explore deeper personal connections. I create still life paintings because I am drawn to their complexity. The process of creating shapes and images on my canvas is extremely demanding, but a process that I find deeply rewarding. I enjoy orienting the objects in different ways, creating a different story with each variation. Playing with the different elements of still lives, such as the color and objects, lets my imagination flow. It allows me to give a personal touch to each of my paintings. I aspire to refine my technique and create works that are unique to me.

            My choices come from my experience and goals. I like to do what I am feeling in the present, and let my intuition take over. I selected oil paints because they are a very seamless and versatile medium. I found working with them to be natural, and the fine details I can achieve to be very pleasing. Whenever I decide on my next project and the items I want to add to my still life, I reflect on my past works. I always think about what I enjoy doing, but also what will create a challenge. Elements of light, reflections, and color are present in my work as they add an interesting element to the traditional style of painting while also creating a level of difficulty that I am looking for. The themes of nostalgia and perspective are also constant throughout my pieces, and they help me build a connection to each piece that I paint.

            My current work focuses on objects that evoke feelings in me, and things I relate to. The choice of painting still lifes grew from several projects I did in previous art classes. I always found painting in realism to be the most exciting, and focusing on the fine details to be one of the things I enjoy most about art. I struggled to find what I wanted to create in the beginning of the year, but as I experimented with different mediums and themes I slowly discovered my love for oil paints. I am still exploring different subjects and themes, as I always want to challenge myself and learn new things.