Mixed-Media Artists Share the Stories Behind Their Paintings
The best stories carry us along with just the right levels of detail, suspense, and revelation. These five mixed-media artists first show us their story, and then they tell us the story behind the painting.
By Patty Craft
Ellen (Ellie) Fuller’s Vincent
“Just when I thought the painting of my model Vincent was complete, my journey with breast cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation began. During this time, I absentmindedly taped a Xerox copy of Vincent’s face, which was my reference material, onto the canvas. I decided to hide his face by painting the taped-on Xerox copy exactly how I had seen it. Like an onion, we shed our protective coverings that make us feel safe, finding the heart of our issues and sometimes truth, from our personal health and awakening.” — Ellen (Ellie) Fuller
Terry Gay Puckett’s Mesquite Tree Fantasia
“Mesquite Tree Fantasia tells the story of a tree that forecasts a change of the seasons. Indians, cowboys, conquistadors, and early south Texas settlers watched the mesquite for green leaves to appear on bare branches in the winter. This signaled no more freezes and the beginning of spring. I spent a cold February morning sketching mesquites in my neighborhood, looking for the first sign of greenery. Back in the studio, canvas, acrylic paint, lace, feathers, appliqué, beads, vintage buttons, felt, and stitchery became my tools to evoke a mood and tell the tale.” — Terry Gay Puckett
Marnie J. Blum’s A Tale of My Own Making
“I think we live in a time when pursuing personal happiness is a priority, and I believe in envisioning and choosing the story I want to live. In this mixed-media collage, I used symbolism to narrate this very idea. This is a tale of listening to your own intuition (fish), which offers joy and happiness (flowers) for embracing wholeness (golden circle). Your well-being (bright colors) flourishes when you find emotional balance (calm seas) and head in the direction that is right for you (steady boat) — the direction in which all of your dreams come true.” — Marnie J. Blum
Mel Grunau’s Four Seasons
“Viewing Four Seasons from left to right illustrates the progression of my work through the years. In college my work tended toward the geometric abstract as seen on the left side of the painting. In my early 30s I studied with a former greeting card artist, affording me the opportunity to develop realistic painting skills, especially in regard to floral still lifes. Later in life I began adding collage to my paintings, pushing things a bit further, I began removing some of the realistic elements on my collages, leaving a scattering of collage bits and paint scraps. My latest efforts are reflected on the right side of the painting, where the collage has become the foundation of an abstract painting. The story behind the title refers to the seasons of my development as an artist from college to today.” — Mel Grunau
Laly Mille’s Four Seasons
“Sometimes our story gets so deeply buried inside ourselves, so well hidden, that we lose sight of who we truly are. At such times we need to retreat within our souls, into a place of silence and solitude. There we can breathe. There we can listen to the wind carrying our true voice, telling our true story and simply be. This is our inner forest, a magical place of trans- formation where trees are the keepers of secrets, old truths, and mysteries. In this sacred, secret place, we gather strength and understanding before diving into the flow of life again.” — Laly Mille
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