Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elaine St Louis. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elaine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve been drawn to interpreting what I see visually for my entire life, starting with drawing, painting and experimenting with many media. As a child and young adult, we’re encouraged to express ourselves creatively and then seemingly overnight, we are asked to decide how we plan to make a living and get serious about life. I simply could not walk away from my world of visual expression, so I decided to take a path through commercial art which was marginally acceptable to my parents. This path took me through print media, specifically home interiors magazines. I spent a career working inside of well-designed homes and gardens styling for professional photography, and then designing the pages full of those luscious photos.

Elaine, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

After working in publishing for many years, I felt as though it was time to look in a different direction and get back to the core of hands-on visual creativity that I started with. In searching out an expression of my life experience, I saw in my mind’s eye a nest on a bold white background. Something clicked and I could see how all those years of presenting unique and individual homes circled back around to a basic, primal need to nurture family and friends within a safe and peaceful space. The nests of songbirds in their own unique and individual way exemplifies this concept.

I’ve studied the Dutch masters and have seen how layering sheer glazes of color creates depth and luminosity, so I folded that technique into my nests. I love how interpreting something so small and humble in giant scale, gives the viewer a bold perspective with which to emotionally connect with the natural delicacy of their construction.

I am delighted to see deep emotion when people experience my paintings. We humans react with visceral connection to the natural world, and research has proven the calming effects of walking in a forest. This points to the biophilia bond between human beings and other living systems which I see as a spiritual manifestation of connection to the created universe. My work reaches into this experience and provides a place of peace and connection on canvas.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Well, to me the obvious answer would be to financially support artists. Unlike a retailer who buys at an understood wholesale price and marks up an item for sale, an artist creates unique and heartfelt object and puts untold hours into this pursuit. Artists must value their works for sale but typically can’t get near the money-for-time invested in making a piece. It would give me untold joy if society made a priority of surrounding themselves with real art. Including art collecting a part of the household budget. Educating themselves as to how art benefits civilization as a whole.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I’ve seen that living with art enriches our lives. I have been collecting my entire life at varying levels, and love my humble collection. My hope is that when people connect with a nest or bird painting that they find a way to bring it home and make it a part of their life to impart peace and joy into their home.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ElaineStLouis.com
• Instagram: @ejstlouis
• Facebook: Elaine St Louis Art
• Linkedin: elaine-st-louis

Image Credits

Laifin bedroom and Kyrie red sofa images by David Patterson
Pepperberries image by Emily Minton Redfield