“I’m always so excited when I see something new, something I’m not familiar with. It gives me a spark, an energy boost.” – Elsa Sroka
We’re kicking off the summer season with a one-woman show, “Subtle Intrigues,” featuring the contemporary and beguiling paintings of Elsa Sroka. Opening reception with the artist will be held on July 5, 2019, during First Friday Art Walk, from 5:00-7:30 pm at the gallery’s downtown location, at 125 W Palace Ave. The exhibition, with between 8-10 new works, can be enjoyed daily throughout the month of July.
“With each of Elsa’s paintings, the viewer has the chance to create an entire story, as personal or as fanciful as they wish.” – Shanan Campbell
Elsa Sroka, a Colorado native, was raised in a family that continues to share the love of color, art, and design. Mostly self-taught, her work is based more on instinct than theory. She finds that her inspiration can be both selective and random. Drawing from either childhood memories, a blank canvas, or trips to museums, observing techniques used by other artists, ultimately she must have an emotional connection with a subject to bring her work to life. Always endeavoring to understand and achieve color harmony, Sroka plans vacations around museums and galleries that she wishes to visit. Being able to view imagery that is new to her, up close and in person, allows her to observe the brushstrokes and techniques others are using. These encounters generate excitement, setting her creative process in motion. “I’m always so excited when I see something new, something I’m not familiar with. It gives me a spark, an energy boost.” At times, what initially sets off the process does not find its way into the final painting. As a piece spontaneously develops, Sroka may change direction, adding and removing elements. She finds this approach liberating, ensuring that she consistently pushes the edges of her art. The following quote speaks to her, fueling her desire to keep exploration foremost in her mind: “Until the need for change outweighs the fear of failure, rejection, and humiliation, we will remain prisoners of the safe, familiar and predictable.”
Shanan Campbell, owner of Sorrel Sky Gallery enjoys the sense of curiosity Sroka’s work triggers. “With each of Elsa’s paintings, the viewer has the chance to create an entire story, as personal or as fanciful as they wish. Her work, with its blurred edges and captivating imagery, both soothes and ignites the imagination.”
This year, Sroka will see the transformation of one of her pieces, “Double Dip,” into a three-story mural. Chosen by a large development company for placement at one of its projects, the completed 30-foot by 12-foot exterior mural will consist of over 380 ceramic tiles, made in Italy. Scheduled to begin in late Spring of 2019, the final installation can be seen at the Spur at Illif Station Apartments in Aurora, Colorado. Check back for pictures of the final installation!
SORREL SKY GALLERY 