July 17, 2019

Check out Emily Elisa Halpern’s Artwork

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Elisa Halpern.

Emily Elisa, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was raised in Canada by academic parents. I always liked working on art projects and had a creative imagination but as a really (really) tall kid first followed my athleticism into sports. I was a competitive equestrian and athlete, playing basketball in college and for the national team. Following my BA in Criminology, I went on to play professionally in Europe and Australia. When my sports career ended, I lived and traveled abroad for a few years and then moved to New York City to model. I began dipping my fingers into art projects again and became more serious about it when I went back to school at Pratt Institute and earned a BFA in painting. After ten years in the city, and the trauma of 9/11, it was time for another change. I moved to California after I was accepted by San Diego State University’s graduate program. I attained my MFA in painting and following graduation acquired a studio at the Brewery Artist Lofts in Los Angeles.

LA is a good fit for me. I’m happy about having a space where I can work and live among other artists. My art has been well received, and I’ve been showing wherever I can.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?

I describe the style of my paintings as abstract representational. They could be described as self-portraits of a dark and quirky inner world. The subject matter varies and is generated from life experiences, relationships, and contemporary events. The main source of the work, however, is drawn from opening the locked door of the unconscious. Using the Surrealists’ techniques of free association and stream of consciousness, I begin without a plan or referring to preparatory sketches. A custom-made easel, allows me to rotate and spin the canvas as I work and helps disorient and clarify an ever-changing train of thought. When I’m searching for the subject matter, and things begin to feel stale or uninteresting, I’ll turn the piece upside down or sideways and look for new clues.

Each piece evolves with a balance of emotion and reason guiding the work. Echoes of previous incarnations show through with images started, altered, eliminated and rediscovered. While I might begin with a certain palette or concept in mind, they are usually obliterated along the way. Likewise, I may imbue a painting with signs, symbols, abstract shapes, and pictures with obscure narratives and then the next day, destroy the whole thing. Nothing is too precious to be eliminated, and I often will paint over something that has taken me weeks or months to create. If I’m not surprised by the result, I have to start again. It’s often an arduous and painful process. Eventually, through the ordeal of creation and destruction, a little idea generates another and the painting finally makes itself known.

I aspire to create work that deepens our understanding of the ways in which certain personal meanings reflect universally shared emotions. Instead of spelling out the whole story, my intention is to engage by slipping away, leaving gaps for viewers to fill as a springboard for their own imaginations.

The stereotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?

I agree with those who characterize becoming an artist as not really a choice—it’s simply integral to who I am and what I need to do. Like many other creative professions, it’s too hard to do- financially and otherwise- without total commitment. You make it work financially because you don’t have a choice.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I’m showing work at the 28^thAnnual Juried Exhibition in La Jolla July 20^th– August 24^th. October 26^thand 27^thI’ll be participating in the Brewery Art Walk, where the artists of the Brewery open their studio doors to the public. My work can also be seen on https://www.saatchiart.com, and my website, www.EmilyElisaHalpern.com. My homepage lists upcoming shows and events, and individual studio visits can be arranged. The best way to support my work is to buy it! (I have a range of large and expensive to small and thrifty pieces to choose from). And if you do nothing else, tell your art-loving friends.

Contact Info:

Website: www.EmilyElisaHalpern.com
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: EmilyEHalpern

Image Credit:
Tony Pinto

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