From this unexpected
moment of clarity emerged "Golden
Palms," a painting that masterfully captures the grace
of palm trees at sunset, shimmering like gold after a springtime
rain. This is just one example of how the art of Thompson
is informed by ephemeral moments of light and mood. It
is commonly said that to the artist, the world demands
to be described. To Elain, it speaks of the fleeting nature
of this world, a theme which is reflected in her choice
of subject and reinforced by her treatment of color, light,
and texture.
The knowledge that Thompson has gained in art schools
such as Ventura College and the Santa Barbara Art Institute,
has been skillfully refined and mastered through 30 years
of experience. While her talents have taken her successfully
through a range of mediums and scales, including a 14,
000 square foot commissioned mural, it is with oil and
canvas that Thompson has so deliberately returned.
"The colors I see are not flat or simple," Explains
Elain, "they often have unpredictable tinges of other
colors, and may transform in the course of a day. I use
oil on canvas because oil itself possesses those same kinds
of qualities."
Elain's artwork has appeared in several national magazines
and she has exhibited in galleries throughout California
When not painting she can be found playing with her grandchildren
or tending to the flowers surrounding her sunny studio.
Elain currently lives and paints in the coastal city of
Ventura California. |