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elliecontrerasart

Today I went to an exhibition in Woking organised

Today I went to an exhibition in Woking organised by @iid_dance to celebrate the Smile Inside project, here I am with the lovely Derek who’s story inspired my pieces, swipe to see the work of the talented @dianaburch who made a dress that dancer @emilyneighbour_dance performed in. The dress featured all the art created for the project. I would just like to point out that Derek insisted I take the mask off for the photo but I promptly put it back on. It’s been wonderful to be a part of this community project, thanks so much to @iid_dance for making it possible.

Another mini 5” portrait for the collection, I t

Another mini 5” portrait for the collection, I tried to capture her slightly sulky expression. These are now available as prints in my shop. My favourite Amy Winehouse lyric is “life is like a pipe and I’m a tiny penny rolling up the walls inside” makes no sense at all and yet i know exactly what she means.
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#amywinehouse #jazz #amywinehouseart #amywinehousepainting

Another mini 5” portrait on box canvas. Did you

Another mini 5” portrait on box canvas. Did you know it was David Bowie before I just told you? Let me know in the comments.
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My reference was a photo from 1974 when he styled himself for a photo shoot with photographer Terry O’Neill who later said “He walked into the studio with the most vibrant yellow-mustard suit and his hair was multi coloured - a combination of yellow, orange and red. I remember thinking how tired he looked, knowing what we know now he was living very fast in 1974, and you can see that in his eyes.”
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He was just so cool wasn’t he!
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#oilpainting #portraitpainting #popart #davidbowie #davidbowieart #contemporaryportrait #contemporaryportraitpainting #affordableart #miniportrait #portraitart #musicart

Today I painted this mini portrait of #audreyhepbu

Today I painted this mini portrait of #audreyhepburn , I was trying to keep my brushwork really loose which is hard on a 5” canvas but I really love how it turned out. Limited edition prints will be available soon and more mini portraits to come xx
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#styleicon #audreyhepburnart #portraitart #popart #portraitpainting #portraitpaintings #contemporarypopart #wallart #walldecor #affordableart #colourpop

I just got the happy news that I got through the f

I just got the happy news that I got through the first stage of the Visual Art Open International Emerging Artist Award with this painting of Circe and Medusa. It’s just the first stage though so trying not to get my hopes up. I had a wobble earlier this week as I got a rejection for an exhibition I had my heart set on so this has given me a much needed boost and glimmer of hope. When you’re an artist you have to develop a very thick skin!
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#visualartopen #contemporaryfigurativeart #mythologyart #modernart #figurativeart #womanartist #oilpainting

I was planning on going camping in Cornwall before

I was planning on going camping in Cornwall before the end of the summer but all the campsites are fully booked so I had to go there in my imagination instead. Here’s a little painting of me doing some imaginary crabbing in an imaginary harbour village in Cornwall. What’s real anymore anyway!
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#illustration #figurativeart #illustrativeart #cornwall #cornwallpainting #cornwallart

Shop update! Ive just added this cute little print

Shop update! Ive just added this cute little print to my shop. Each print is hand finished with gold leaf on the word 'love'. Limited edition only 20 available, signed and numbered 8" x 8" comes with the mount ready to frame. Follow the link in my bio to my shop for more info. Happy Friday everyone xx⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#wallart #artist #homeinteriorsuk #homedecor #giftideas #romanticart #ornatetypography #interiormilk #loveart #vintageart #affordableart #love #typographyart #homeaccessories #homestyling #gicleeprint #fineartprint #limitededitionprint

A while ago I made a sketch based on Derek’s mem

A while ago I made a sketch based on Derek’s memories of Oak Apple Day for the smile inside project from @iid_dance (see my blog to find out more) . I am very grateful that they awarded me a commission to develop it further. First I am making a Linocut print which will then be printed on to tea towels and given to everyone who took part in the project when we all get to meet up for a celebration! This is the first stage, I have drawn my image onto the block with marker pens ready to be carved. I will keep you posted on my progress x
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#linocutcoven #linocut #linocutprint #linoprint #linoprinting #linoprints #reliefprint #reliefprintmaking #artistsharing #lifeofanartist #communityartproject #surreyartist

Today I visited the Musée d’Orsay in a very ho

Today I visited the Musée d’Orsay in a very hot Paris! Swipe for my highlights. A really wonderful Picasso I have never seen before called ‘La Buveuse d’absinthe’. Some gems from my favourite trailblazer post impressionists, Bonnard, Gauguin and Cézanne plus I learnt more about ‘Les Nabis’ a group of post-impressionist French painters inspired by Gauguin, Cézanne and Japanese art. I especially liked Edouard Vuillard
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#paris #museedorsay #parisfrance #parisart #gauguin #picasso #cezanne #bonnard #edouardvuillard

Atelier Des Lumieres in Paris blew my mind today!

Atelier Des Lumieres in Paris blew my mind today!

#artistsoninstagram #artist #parisfrance #parisart #atelierdeslumieres

Another appearance of my favorite goddess Circe, t

Another appearance of my favorite goddess Circe, this time with Medusa. In this painting these two mythological feme fatales live happily and free on Circe’s island Aeaea using their knowledge and skills to protect themselves, this isn't in the original stories I made it up! I had to crop the top of this painting off, see the full painting and an essay about it on my blog.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#contemporaryart #contemporarypainter #fineartpainting #contemporaryfigurativeart #londonart #medusa #circe #mythology #greekmythology #femalepainter #femenistart #surreyartist #figurativeart #figurativepainting #artistsoninstagram #oilpainting #oilpaintingoncanvas #modernfigurative #art_empire #ukart #contemporaryartcollectors #insanelyinspiredinstagram

Circe dealing with the bindweed. I love this chara

Circe dealing with the bindweed. I love this character from Greek mythology. She was exiled to an island for eternity where she discovered she had a gift for sorcery using plants. One day some sailors who came across her island, attacked her, thinking she was a week helpless woman on her own. After that she was determined not to let that happen again and made a potion to turn any subsequent threatening men into pigs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#circe #femenistart #mythology #greekmythology #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #artistsoninstagram #instaart #contemporaryartist #femalepainters #contemporaryfigurativeart #oiloncanvas #modernfigurative #figurativeartist #ukart #contemporaryartcollector #figurativepainting #contemporaryartcollectors⠀⠀

This paitning depicts the goddess Hera who was mar

This paitning depicts the goddess Hera who was married to the womaniser Zeus, once he turned his lover Lo into a cow to hide her from his wife hence the cow. She has ‘ I love you but I hate you’ round her head because she was consumed with jealousy which made her quite vindictive. I have her holding a peacock which she is associated with, and a lily which symbolises innocence and purity as I see her as one of those women who keep up the appearance of being perfect and innocent. I was inspired by a painting by Robert Winthrop Chanler who was a wonderfully bohemian American early 20th century artist which I’m coming to realise is the era I’m most drawn to at the moment. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#contemporarymythology #mythology #greekmythology #hera #mythologyart #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #figurativeart #contemporaryfigurativeart #femalepainter #oiloncanvas #oilsoncanvas #paintingoil #oilpainting #figurativepainting #art #figurativepaintings #paintings #igarts #contemporarypaintings

I have posted this before but I keep fiddling with

I have posted this before but I keep fiddling with it, I think I'm done now. This big 1m painting depicts a story about Artemis, the worrier goddess from Greek mythology. Artemis was bathing naked when she realised, she was being watched by a hunter called Actaeon. When she discovered him, she was furious and turned him into a stag, he was then ripped apart by his own hunting dogs. I wanted to portray Artemis as a powerful woman comfortable with her body and her abilities, she doesn't want or need the male gaze. If you would like to find out more about this painting there is a blog post on my website.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#greekmythology #mythologyart #mythology #contemporaryart #modernart #contemporarypainting #femalepainter #londonart #contemporaryfigurativeart #contemporaryartists #figurativepainting #contemporaryfineart #contemporaryfigurative #paintings #figurativepaintings #oilpainting

I am heading to the wilderness this week with limi

I am heading to the wilderness this week with limited wifi so I decided to line up some posts for you from my new series of mythology paintings. I am so proud of these paintings because I have pushed myself so far out of my comfort zone and used my imagination without being restricted by literal representation. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Today I am sharing my painting called 'The Raving Ones'. In Greek mythology the Maenads were the followers of the Greek god of wine, Dionysus. The name Maenads translates as mad or raving ones. Some of you might not know that for most of my life I was battling an alcohol addiction problem until I got help and managed to quit for good six and a half years ago. I wanted to depict the magnetic pull that alcohol has. Someone trapped in addiction can feel like they have no choice but to carry on because they can’t see a way to break free much like the Maenads relentless following of the beautiful and charismatic figure of Dionysus. I have written more about the painting on my blog.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I am open about my struggles, to stay silent because of social stigma prevents other women from getting help. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I would love your comments about the painting or if you can relate to the subject matter.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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#figurativepainting #contemporaryfigurativepainting #contemporaryart #mythology #mythologypainting #mythologyart #dionysus #maenads #addiction #sobriety #recoveryispossible #sobermovement #oilpainting #greekmythology

Close up of the commission from my last post. This

Close up of the commission from my last post. This vibrant and quirky portrait is for a lovely teenage girl.
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#portraitpainting #contemporaryportrait #portraitart #contemporaryart #colourpop #colorpop #realartforrealpeople #homedecor #oilpainting #modernart #pinkart

The last in my series of small gilded paintings fo

The last in my series of small gilded paintings for @paradise_boutique_surrey I’m dropping them round there tomorrow! This one has a bit of a sixties hippy summer vibe and is an expression of how I feel, I just want to get out into nature and feel free, luckily I’m off camping next week, I can’t wait yipeee! What are your plans this summer, are you going to escape? Take care out there xx
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#hippyvibes #sixtiesstyle #goldpainting #wallartdecor #wallart #oilpainting #oiloncanvas #freespirit #typographyart #happyart #happyartistlife

I’ve been working on a commission piece today, I

I’ve been working on a commission piece today, I can’t share yet but it’s very pink! Also I have to wear a scarf for a few weeks because I cut my fringe way too short, why do I always do that, will I ever learn!
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#figurativeart #figurativepainting #artistsofinstagram #artistsharing #surreyartist #femalepainter #paintingoncanvas #contrmporaryart #contemporaryfigurativeart

I didn’t have any time for painting today so I j

I didn’t have any time for painting today so I just popped into the studio and painted this little Marmite painting as I munched on some marmite on toast and drank tea and listened to an audiobook of the Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I found the rhythm of her writing and the painting and the toast and tea very relaxing. Hope you are all having a relaxing evening.
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Update - Sold
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#marmite #marmitelover #oilpainting #stilllifepainting #femalepainter #painter #artforinteriors #marmitelovers #oilsketch #disruptedrealism

Today I finished the second in my new series of sm

Today I finished the second in my new series of small gilded paintings for @paradise_boutique_surrey
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Two magpies are for joy as we all know from the rhyme, I just decided to paint in the gold key which is also gilded with gold leaf. Magpies like to collect shiny things but I also thought it signified the key to happiness which is sometimes it is just out of reach but there if you look for it.
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If you see a magpie on it’s own you should always say ‘Good morning, Mr Magpie, how are Mrs Magpie and all the other little magpies?’ I’ve no idea why!
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#art #arte #gildedpainting #oilpaintings #silverleaf #magpie #magpies #wallart #wallartdecor #vintageart #vintagestyle #typographyart

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