Ellen Thomson

St. Paul, MN

Artists bio available upon request

A majority of my paintings have been influenced by trips to Iceland and most recently, Norway. I'm drawn to waterfalls, steep mountains, large bodies of water, rugged terrain and the many contrasts found in Scandinavian landscapes. Essentially when I travel I’m collecting a visual vocabulary. When I begin a painting the imagery is chosen without the intent of rendering what is directly in front of me. Instead, the environment is edited to address something deeper in the subconscious. Memory and sketches provide material. I let the painting and the mood guide me, constantly layering the colors and composition in order to keep it unpredictable. Subtle drawings are added to create texture and emotion. Any narrative found is intentionally loose and open-ended. I’m passionate about the tactile in-the-moment process of making art. The narrative often surprisingly reveals itself after the painting is finished.