Today we’d like to introduce you to Eli Halpin.
Eli, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’m 41 years old, I grew up in Alaska and now live and paint full time in Austin Texas. Art was always my favorite subject in school and I brought this love with me to the University of Alaska where I really fell in love with oil paint and giant handmade canvases. At age 19 I moved to Portland Oregon where I worked in restaurants and dabbled in painting and glass blowing classes at The Pacific Northwest College of Art. My family didn’t have very much money so I wasn’t able to fully afford a full degree there, but it was fun to get accepted and to experience it while I could.
I continued on at Portland Community College taking sculpture, ceramics, drawing and painting while investing in a giant warehouse space to experiment in more art mediums such welding in addition to my painting. Once I really started to focus only on painting while exhibiting and selling them, I quit the restaurant work and have lived happily ever after since. I met my husband in Portland and he began working with me full time helping me move my giant paintings around, hanging art shows and later developing a website once the internet became popular. We moved to the East coast for many years to experience the art scene in that part of our country. Michael was born in Houston so it was an easy transition when we decided to land in Austin Texas 8 years ago. The warm winters called us in like a big hug.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I use thick oil paint and love to add acrylic, paper, metal leaf, spray paint, fabric, lace, ribbons, gemstones, sparkles, shells, crushed glass, beads, sand, mica, and pearls into my paintings.
My focus is on animal face expressions while enjoying and celebrating their paws, cheeks, whiskers, claws, hooves, antlers, horns and tusks. My paintings tell stories of living together, working together, eating together, the sacredness of food, friendship, family, sharing and the cycle of life and death. The painted scenes are infused with humor and romance while emphasizing the instinct, intuition and wisdom of nature.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Yes ~ floss your teeth and drink lots of water. Do everything you can to create health so you can make as much art as possible. And try to be a good person.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My available paintings, prints and housewares can be found and purchased on my website elihalpin.com. You can also visit me in Austin in my art studio. There is a gallery inside the studio, exhibiting a rotation of my newest oil paintings and a gift shop offering my line of stationary, housewares and canvas prints. Current open hours are posted at elihalpin.com.
Contact Info:
- Address: The Eli Halpin Gallery, Gift Shop & Art Studio
1023 Springdale Rd 10A
Austin Tx 78721 - Website: elihalpin.com
- Email: eli@elihalpin.com
- Instagram: elihalpin
- Facebook: EliHalpinOilPaintings
- Twitter: elihalpin
Image Credit:
Eli Halpin
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