The richly textured mixed media paintings of Darlene Olivia McElroy reflect the vision of an artist whose involvement with man’s primal origins, sins, and religious conflicts has developed an imagery at once sensuously primitive and startlingly sophisticated.
Weaving through textural surfaces, found objects, and rich symbolism, the viewer is drawn into a visual world where color plays the role of an atmospheric veil encompassing the personal myths of the artist.
McElroy, born and raised in Southern California, is descended from an old New Mexico family of artists and storytellers. She has been deeply influenced by the summers she spent growing up on her family’s ranch in Santa Fe where the rich tapestry of Hispanic life filled the nights and brightly colored the days.
She currently lives in Santa Fe where she enjoys the skies, the color and the art.
Workshops
I have just set up a workshop at Arizona Art Supply in Phoenix for the end of October 2009. Currently in the process of getting a workshop together at the Artbar in Santa Ana, California. I will keep you posted. If you want a workshop given in your area, please contact me.
Santa Fe Workshops - I offer both one-on-one and small (5-6 people) workshops in my Santa Fe studio six or more times a year upon request.
Classes - My mixed media classes run 3 times a year at Valdes Art Supplies. I teach a fall, winter and spring classes there. We cover surfaces, image transfers, demented gold leaf, aging, finishes and ephemera resources. The class is a great deal of fun and there is a great deal of sharing.
Demos - Several times a year, I give demos on both image
transfers and surfaces at Artisan's in Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. Check Artisan's web site for demos and classes by many artists.
