We were lucky to catch up with Elena Prorok recently and have shared our conversation below.

Elena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

In 2018 I had the opportunity to work on illustrations for a campaign called Free & Above- a cross platform collection of stories and encouragement from those living with and recovering from Mental Illness. The goal of the campaign is to foster hope and fight the cultural and social stigma surrounding these issues. Working with the founder, Tony, and creating illustrations for the campaign was such an honor. Much of my personal artistic practice juxtaposes themes of grief and peace, and is inspired by my own journey with recovery. I am so grateful for the healing that my creative practice has brought to me, and so grateful to be able to use that work in this campaign to send such a necessary and loving message to those struggling.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Elena and I am an intermedia and multi media artist residing in the Pacific Northwest. My work centers around depictions of natural landscapes, flora, and fauna as a vehicle for emotional exploration and expression. I work largely in watercolor, charcoal, and graphite and aim to use mostly natural, second hand, and repurposed material. I love to find new ways of presenting my artwork which has included bookbinding and book arts, as well as jewelry making.
My artistic practice began in a darkroom, originally finding my passion for art through analog photography. From there, I began to explore other methods such as painting, printmaking, ceramics, and drawing. Alongside traditional media, I have worked professionally as an illustrator and graphic designer.
In 2020, I began to work full time as an artist- I sold prints of my work, participated in gallery shows and local art spaces, and completed commissions. After about a year, I began to explore ways of creating my art in a manner that gave it more utility than being a static wall piece. I wanted a product that could exist outside of a room, something with movement and meaning. From this, I began the Tiny Painted Jewelry project. This project consisted of miniature paintings- from 12-16 millimeters in size, painted to scale (never resized and printed). The paintings were mostly of natural landscapes- all from various outdoor experiences of mine or of clients. They were done in watercolor, then set in metal jewelry settings in resin. I have created earrings, rings, and necklaces- from brass to 14k gold. The goal was to create a memento, like a locket, combined with a personal fine art painting. This project spanned four years and is currently on a hiatus to make room for other work, but has been one of the most rewarding and successful ventures of my artistic career. I’ve had the opportunity to create meaningful pieces for anniversaries, matching mother daughter jewelry, and memorial pendants. Creating work that carries such meaning and memory for those wearing the pieces has been incredibly special.
I continue to work as an artist beyond this project, focusing on larger scale pieces and emotive works. What I love about having a practice that isn’t bound by any particular medium is the freedom to constantly explore and shift without losing the basis of my style and theory.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

It’s absolutely imperative to support the weird art. By weird art, I mean anything that goes outside the bounds of work you would expect to see framed and staged on a wall: perhaps its non traditional, heavy, or loud. Finding and remembering the purpose of art outside of aestheticism is vital. As for any ecosystem, diversity is necessary for it to thrive and it is our responsibility as consumers to create space for, and to demand, art and creativity that bends rules and exceeds bounds and changes perspectives. It is our responsibility as artists and creatives to continue to make work that may not have immediate success rather than confining ourselves to a monotonous practice simply because it is most marketable.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My work has always been a deeply personal and emotional practice: art has been the most significant factor in my ability to find peace and healing beyond difficult life experiences. As an intermedia artist, I often choose to publicly share the intention behind my work, if not incorporating it into the work itself. Fostering a space of emotional exploration through creative expression- in hopes that it brings solace, or even just a moment of peace to the right person (as it has for me)- is a major motivator for continuing to share my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elenaprorok.com
• Instagram: @elsprorok

Image Credits

Elena Fine Arts, Elena Prorok