Eric Elia, Honey, oil, 30 x 24.
When Eric Elia isn’t working on a commission, the portrait artist often turns to subjects that are personally meaningful to him. In fact, that’s how his winning entry unfolded.
HONEY stars his family’s beloved dog relaxing in their living room, her maple-brown fur dappled with light filtering in from a nearby window. “This is where she always goes to sit in the afternoon,” says Elia. “I did [this portrait] as a gift to the family, but I also wanted to explore the room’s different textures and textiles,” he adds, referring to the upholstered and wood furniture and assorted glass, metal, and ceramic décor. The red and ochre hues appealed to the artist, and the objects also told a story. In his portraiture, notes Elia, “I like to include background props about the pet or person. Here, the furniture and decorations are personal for my family.”
The Chicago-area artist has been drawing since he was a boy, and he has explored everything from colored pencils to airbrush acrylics over the years. He started painting in oils five years ago, supplementing his self-study with trips to the Art Institute of Chicago’s renowned collection of Impressionist art. Educationally, those visits proved to be invaluable, since Elia aims for impressionism in his own work. HONEY, for example, looks quite photographic from afar, but step close and you’ll notice the artist’s individual brush strokes. “I try to paint the colors like a mosaic, so it doesn’t look overly blended,” he explains. Elia also completes each section of a painting alla prima, all in one session. “I never paint wet over dry if I can help it,” he says.
Find Elia’s work at www.ericeliaart.com.
This story appeared in the December 2020/January 2021 issue of Southwest Art magazine.