This & That 7 Painting

Norwegian intuitive artist based in San Diego. El Lovaas was born and raised in a small town in Norway. The long dark winters allowed her to spend much of her time indoors creating a variety of art. El put her passion for painting on hold to raise three children who are all young professional artists. She has returned to her passion in her Southern California studio. El appreciates all the valuable lessons from art professors and schools, but developing her skills outside the structure of the traditional classroom gave her the true freedom she needed to create meaningful work. “To create authentic work we have to go through the process of self discovery and come face-to-face with ourselves and be brave enough to be vulnerable and leave our egos.” With the beginning of each new piece, El strives to keep each painting open to all possibilities. She writes a positive message on the substrate. Even though it will be covered by mixed media the message will always be in the space. “Layer upon layer, my intuition guides me as I collaborate with paints, graphite charcoal, pastels, textures, wax and oil. I also incorporate crushed gemstones with healing properties into my work. It’s all about energy and balance and my goal is always to evoke emotion, as it is a free flowing expression of my truth. When I’m working in my studio, I get out of my head and into my heart and get into a meditative flow.” “I often spend months on a piece and it is completed when I don’t wonder if it is completed, I just know. Every day in the studio is a learning experience and I’m grateful to be able to do what I love.” “I create simply because I do not know how not to.”