Happy Anniversary

"Happy Anniversary", original photographs
I was asked by my friend, Becca, to shoot a series of portraits of her and her
sisters as a surprise for her parent's anniversary.

These are the group photographs, plus some sentimental graphics. 

It was a joy, and here is my artist's statement for it (addressed to their parents).

Becca approached me about creating a surprise for your Anniversary. She and her sisters decided that they wanted to pose in a series of photographs, in order to show you how much they love your dedication to each other and to family. After talking to Becca, I decided that I wanted to help collaborate with her and her sisters to create a keep sake that you two and the whole family could have for years to come.

Through the photo shoot, Becca, Laura, Michelle, Jessica and I were hoping to surprise you two. I have known Becca for a few years now, and meeting and working with Laura, Michelle, and Jessica as well was an amazing experience. I decided that I wanted to come as close as I could to capturing the girls’ appreciation, love and dedication to you two through this series of photographs. Originally, we had decided to stage the photo shoot at Dan Daniels Park because of the natural scenery. However, the day we chose to do the photo shoot ended up bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms. We then decided to move the location to downtown because of shelter, in case of more showers. This ended up being a wonderful choice, as downtown has been a long-time symbol of history, loyalty, and appreciation. I realized afterward that downtown was a great parallel for a successful relationship because as you two know, a solid relationship requires a strong history with each other, unwavering loyalty, and appreciation and love. We used several locations for the photo shoot: the train yard, around the Science Museum, and Down Town doors. I wanted to frame the girls to create a simple photograph, so they could show their love and appreciation for you two. It was their idea to keep the photographs in color, and they are all unedited. I kept them unedited because I felt that reflected the genuine quality of the girls and of your family.

"Compassion Lost (with beginnings of Cubism)"

 "Compassion Lost (with beginnings of Cubism)", acrylics, water color, pen
(11 x 14)


This piece was created in order to express my feelings towards past relationships. 
 I made a man and a woman the subject of this painting. The man (right) is pictured
 offering a rose and crying to the woman (left). However, the woman is crossing her arms
with an angry expression on her face. I placed the image of the Golden Mean Rectangle
on top to show how this relationship cycles around and around.


This is my reason for creating this specific art piece; however, it is open to interpretation,
and, as always, you are free to take any meaning you want from it!


This piece will be on etsy.com with a price in a few weeks.
Let me know if you are interested in this painting.

 *All pieces come with a clear finishing coat over the original painting for protection. They also come with the title, and artist's signature on the back.

"Spring Time Pond"

"Spring Time Pond", Acrylics
(16 x 20)

I created this piece with a custom-designed stencil of an abstracted bumblebee. 
This piece was originally created to be a figure-ground study (where the subjects and
the background both neither advance nor recede and act as decorative space). However, as this piece evolved it turned more into an abstracted view of a pond.

The price will be posted on etsy.com in a few weeks.
Let me know if you have any interest in this piece!

*All pieces come with a clear finishing coat over the original painting for protection. They also come with the title, and artist's signature on the back.

Esty.com

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to let all of my blog followers and fellow bloggers
that I will be selling some of my art work on etsy.com soon!

Etsy is easy to navigate, and you can search for me on the site
by my e-mail, ella.bella7@gmail.com!

I really do love all of my blog follwers and supporters, so because
of your positive feedback, and interaction on my blog, I will
be posting all of the art work that I will be selling on here, first.

(so you can get a first look, and pick...contact me at my above 
e-mail if you are interested in any of them!)

Peace,

Ella Bella

Tattoo Design

 "Tattoo Design" Marker, acrylics
Originally, the design I made on the left was a tattoo design that I created in history class one day. However, I decided to incorporate it in one of my pieces. I wanted to create a more simple piece that played with advancing and receding space. I really enjoy doing abstract expressionism because I feel like  the essence of the piece can be captured through unique mark-making. I really enjoyed making this piece, and I hope you guys enjoy it, too. Peace.

Movement.

"Movement", spray-paint, charcoal, paper.
This is an art piece I did for the Value Unit. This piece isn't extremely conceptual, and the beauty of its minimalism and abstractness is that you can grasp whatever meaning what you want from it. {: I wanted to achieve a clean-cut, but intriguing design with this piece. As time goes on, I continue to admire simple, clean-cut, but riveting designs. This was one of my first pieces that I intentionally explored a more clean approach to my art work. You must know,Photo credit goes to Professor Pumphrey, my design teacher. Comments? Don't be shy!

Vibrant Rose

"Vibrant Rose", original photograph, digital effects.
This photograph was inspired by a rose that was given to me a while ago. I took many photographs of it, and decided that I would hang it to dry. I took photographs of it as it aged. I decided to go back to one of the first photographs I took of it, and use it to reflect how this rose made me feel when it was first given to me.

20+ hours later...

 "Mirrored Memories", original photo collage-photos taken by yours truly.
My mom and I collaborated on this item that we made for the annual auction that Sacred Heart School holds every year. Every year, each teacher is required to come up with an original auction item. We originally were going to make a photo collage wreath of the students in her class. However, my mom had the idea of giving it a more utilitarian aspect, as well. She wanted the piece to be decorative, but also serve a purpose. My mom picked out a mirror that had a wooden frame with French curve cut outs. We arranged the photos that I had taken and editted over the course of the week on the frame. I then proceeded to spend 20+ hours cutting out every French curve. 2 Xacto knife blades and 2 sore arms later...voila! Ha ha...sounds easier than it was, but the hard work paid off-the mirror sold for $210.00! As an alumni of Sacred Heart, I was glad to contribute to the school's benefit, and it was wonderful working with my mom. Our collaboration was a success. ;)

Valentine's Day

"Suga, Suga", original digital photography, digital effects
This photo collage was named after an inside joke that Hunter and Cole have together (Title credited to musicians Babie Bash & Frankie J). I created this piece in honour of Valentine's Day and to show that there is genuine love in the world. The couple's chemistry is evident on camera, which makes them a great couple to photograph. Often, it's hard to photograph more than one person because there are so many more variables that go into the composition. However, Cole and Hunter are a pleasure to photograph because they are both naturals in front of the lens-and even more so because of how they "click." O, shout out to Cole and Hunter-thanks for all the awesome weekends...looking forward to many more. XD By the way, the quote at the top is credited to Audrey Hepburn.

More Katie

 "Katie", original photograph series
This is my second post of photographs that I took of Katie...all of these are unedited. {:

Love you, Mom

"Young Adulthood", original photograph with digital effects
Just having fun with this photograph, instead of doing other things that are productive...
I decided to title this one, "Young Adulthood" because it was inspired by a graphic in the Wall Street Journal. It was a comical picture of a teenager's brain, that I found very funny and accurate in a strange way. The article was about all of the things that occupy a teenager's mind, and the picture showed words, such as: "Angst", "Vroooom", and "Heartbreak". I decided to piece together my face in different values and colours (with different proportions) to show how this is such a transitional time in my life. It is a transitional time in many teenager's lives (and all young adults, too)-I wanted to portray the different sides of me that may develop or happen to be an influential part of who I am now. As for the background....that's ,"City-Scape Puddle Reflection" (thank you, Mom for helping me title it!).

City-Scape Puddle Reflection

"City-Scape Puddle Reflection",acrylics on canvas
So...using the palette knife was awesome! This painting was the first time I used my palette knives, and it was so much fun. This painting took me three stages to complete. The goal for this painting was 1. to explore the texture effects that acrylics can create, and 2. to have fun. I had considered using Gesso to amplify the textural effects, but, instead, I decided to apply the paint in layers. My art teacher pointed out that I like working in layers. This isn't really something that I noticed until I stepped back and look at many of my works in a row. Intriguing? Seems so. Hope you guys enjoy this piece (I know I enjoyed making it...and having a mini photo shoot with it :P). Peace.

(I miss You)

"Distraction", original photo with digital effects.
 Yea, plaid rocks. Hunter-you know it's not real flannel...but maybe one day I will own real flannel. {: This is a photograph that I took in the middle of a homework marathon. One of the best things that experience and my family has taught me is that it's okay to take breaks. I used to work for hours and hours on end without a break, and didn't realize how I was running my self down. I do still work very hard, and still let my work ethic overcome my relaxation time, but it's something I'm working on...the beautiful thing about life i that you always have a chance to do better. This is just a record of me trying to do better...and allowing myself to be distracted, if not, procrastinate in the healthiest way possible. Love you, Family, and you, too Poppy in heaven (I miss you).

{:

"Left my Mark", original photograph
Yes, the amazingly-drawn smiley face was drawn by yours truly. :P I just want to lift people's hearts...

e.c.s

This is the cover for my notebook for my Creative Drawing class.
You know you're an art student when a part of your homework assignment is to decorate the cover of your notebook (now, don't fall into that stereotype...check out @fyowlartstudent on twitter if you want to have an idea of how laborious some art assignments really are...le sigh). I cut out my initials from an old pair of jeans that was given to me by my RA (Beth, you're the best!) for art projects/crafts. This is how I originally placed my initials on the page. Once I looked at the page, I realized how much it makes sense-most people call me Ella Claire, and don't know my last name...feel like I'm on the verge of losing my last name...

A Reminder

"Treat Yourself Right" original photograph, digital effects
It's just a reminder.

Crystal Beach

"Anti-War", original photograph
I took this photograph on my annual trip to Canada. This is an abandoned, old "Anitques" building in Crystal Beach, Ontario. I love Crystal Beach for its small-community feel, and the clarity of Lake Erie. This place is a mixture of man-made and natural beauty. For those who don't know or are not familiar with Crystal Beach, it used to be a theme park at the turn-of-the-century. Crystal Beach was famous for its pier and for housing   "The Comet". It's a wooden and metal roller coaster that is still open to public (note of forewarning: it is actually scary, not because of it's layout, but because it actually sounds like it's going to fall a part when you ride it...it's now relocated at the smallest Six Flags theme park in Queensbury, NY) I do not know how the rest of the Antique letters fell off (or if they were torn off), but full props to the graffiti artist who was clever enough to make the side of this building a work of art.

Fairly OddParents?

"The truth stings like Mohammad Ali" -Lupe Fiasco, original photograph with digital effects
I took this picture (with, yes, my phone) during my first semester. I was spray-painting a 3D wall-hanging of abstract bumblebees (will be posted later...). My awesome roommate Hunter and my friend, Greg held flashlights in the dark while I spray-painted...note to future art students-gain some really awesome, patient friends-it will make your life so much easier. I felt like Lupe Fiasco's quote fits this photograph because it is so easy for us, as people, to make snap judgements about others. It's much harder for us to be understanding, and realized that everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle (quote found on tumblr -total credit to the person who originally posted it on http://surrellaistic.tumblr.com/). It's something that I definitely need to work on... And it's also really hard to type right now because my best college friends have "The Fairly Odd Parents'' on in the background, so hopefully, I didn't make any typos here...