Naive Art ‘Summer With You’ by Elisa Trueman

 

Our artwork of the week is a cheerful landscape painting by Elisa Trueman. In Elisa’s unique naïve art style, it depicts a summer coastal village scene, which Elisa describes as ‘A joyful summer painting’. It certainly is a joy to behold and reminds me of childhood summer holidays. 

Elisa has created the piece on a slimline box canvas, which can be framed or hung as it is. The size is 22in x 18in x 0.5in.

In Elisa’s Words

A joyful summer painting of friends cycling through a village with wildflowers, sheep in meadows and a lighthouse across the sea. Brings happy feelings of a beautiful day to any space, a burst of colour and joy on dark days. Painted in acrylic on a canvas with white painted sides ready to hang as is or frame. 

 

About the Artist

Art has been my passion since I was a young child and could first hold a paintbrush. I was due to study a degree in fine art at Southampton, but joined the forces at the last moment. 

After several years painting superhero’s for my children, I picked up my paintbrush seriously again and began creating contemporary and naive art. My work is in Art Galleries in Perranporth, Penryn and Milford Marina.

I am a member of the Association of British Naive Artists and my work exhibited in St Ives with them in June 2023. My work is recognisable- a fellow artist recently told me they could be anywhere in the World and know a painting was one of mine. The best feeling is when a customer says that my art has brought joy to their home.

SEE MORE WORK BY ELISA TRUEMAN

QUESTIONS TO THE ARTIST

 

Firstly, thank you for creating your joyous artworks. Are the villages imaginary places, or are they from real locations? 

My art is inspired by living in beautiful Cornwall with its villages by the sea, lighthouses and harbours. So I use those, then add my imagination. Each one usually has a cottage I would like to live in, somewhere in the painting. It would be a dream to live in a cottage with a view of the sea. But I also love painting other places throughout the U.K. like Whitby and Brixham. 

 

I see you mainly work in Acrylic. Is this your preferred medium, and if so, why?

I love that with acrylic you can create texture by using thicker heavy bodied paints to give effects like oils. Also you can water it down, to create loose paint like watercolour, so it covers everything I want. I do occasionally use oil paint as it gives a lovely soft effect. The ones I use are water soluble as I find them so much easier. Acrylic dries much quicker too, so oil paintings take much longer to be ready. 

 

How long would an artwork like this take to produce? And what challenges, if any, do you face creating them?  

It depends on the size and the image I’m producing. The ones I make of villages and harbours with lots of detail take much longer than a splashy abstract flower painting. Time is my challenge, as I have another job. I work a few days a week and the rest of my time is devoted to art. This means most weekends are cramming in as many hours as I can painting (as well as seeing my family and walking the dog). Evenings are for getting artworks ready to post and maintaining websites and social media. My husband says I am a workaholic. I love both my jobs but one day will stop the other one, whereas I will never stop painting. It’s a passion and an addiction, I’m constantly planning the next one in my head. 

 

Have you always painted in this Naïve style? Or have you experimented with other styles?  

I’ve been naturally drawn to naive art as my paintings evolved into that style as I progressed. It’s the  joyous happy feelings naive art brings I love, and I want to give those feelings to my customers. I really love some of the paintings I see by abstract artists, but so far I haven’t liked any of my own! When I have more time that’s what I would like to spend time trying more.  Also, painting roses – I have yet to master a rose! 

 

Lastly, which artists inspire you?

There are so many! I love Marie Mills paintings, they are beautiful flowers overlooking coasts and so pretty. Brian Pollard is a local naive artist whose paintings are so bright and joyful. Banksy is amazing – I have some of his (obviously not real) on my walls. My favourite is a child choosing a superhero out of a box of toys and he picks the nurse. That was during Covid and my daughter is a nurse so I thought that was amazing. I could go on, as there are so many artists I love in all different types of art. 

SEE MORE WORK BY ELISA TRUEMAN

 

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