More about Elaine Hurst

Education

James Madison University, B.S. psychology major/art minor, 1976

American Academy of Equine Art, workshops by internationally known equine artists, 2000 - present

Beverly Street Studio School, continuous classes with renowned artists, 2006 - present

Valley Educational Center for the Creative Arts, classes by respected, known artists, 1998 - 2004

Bio

Virginia artist, Elaine Hurst, has always loved the outdoors and has ridden horses most of her life.

Through the use of light and color, Elaine works to portray what she sees and feels about the natural world. She prefers painting landscapes and animals, particularly horses; her subjects need to speak to her and trigger her creative attention and she hopes to pass that emotion and passion to those viewing her artwork. She enjoys painting in oils for their subtle use of color and the ability to mix endless colors and beautiful grays. Her work in pastels provides a wonderful intimacy, "eye candy" for the artist, as she says.

Elaine has painted multiple public murals and has designed film sets. In addition to membership in many other art associations, Elaine is the President and a founding member of the Virginia Equine Artists Association. She teaches art classes at Blue Ridge Community College, as well as various galleries, and gives private instruction in her studio.

In Our Words

Elaine Hurst's impressionistic paintings, with their broad brush strokes and subtle yet saturated color palettes, capture the intrinsic beauty of a variety of subjects, from landscapes to horses. She skillfully explores the relationship between light and shadow, creating a strong contrast that lends her paintings depth. Her colors emphasize mood and reveal the personality of her subjects.

Selected Exhibition History

• Beverly Street Studio School Student Landscape Exhibition Co-Art Gallery,, Staunton, Virginia 2010
• Elaine Hurst Solo Exhibition Blue Mountain Coffee, Staunton, Virginia 2009
• Neverland Paintings - Solo Exhibition Franklin Street Gallery, Harrisonburg, VA 2009
• Plein Air Solo Exhibition Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, Fishersville, VA 2009
• Plein Air Solo Exhibition Blue Ridge Coffee, Staunton, VA 2009
• National Open Fall Juried Show American Acadmey of Equine Art, National Exhibition, Lexington, KY 2008
• Solo exhibition of equine work The Art Group, Mt. Jackson, VA 2007
• Neverland Series - Paintings Inspired by Film Shenandoah Valley Arts Center, Waynesboro, VA 2007
• Neverland Series - Paintings Inspired by Film WMRA, Harrisonburg, VA 2007
• Solo exhibition Houff Center, Bridgewater, VA 2005
• National Juried Show VMRC National Juried Show, Harrisonburg, VA 2005
• Solo exhibition - Featured Artist OASIS Gallery, Featured Artist, 2005

Selected Sales History

• Listening Place – Pastel on Sanded Paper – 18'' h x 22'' w – $400 – June, 2004
• Summer Dreams – Pastel on Sanded Paper – 16'' h x 20'' w – $300 – October, 2004
• Upon Reflection – Pastel on Sanded Paper – 22'' h x 18'' w – $400 – May, 2005
• Near the 63 – Oil On Canvas – 16'' h x 20'' w – $500 – July, 2005
• The Big Picture – Oil On Canvas – 32'' h x 40'' w – $600 – May, 2006
• Mountain Muse - commission – Oil and Graphite On Three – 40'' h x 96'' w – $2,000 – August, 2006
• Talk – Oil On Panel – 5'' h x 5'' w – $200 – August, 2007
• Rushing – Oil and Graphite On Canva – 32'' h x 40'' w – $700 – August, 2007
• Close Race – Oil and Graphite On Canva – 14'' h x 11'' w – $400 – November, 2007
• EquiKids Commission painting – Oil On Canvas – 18'' h x 24'' w – $600 – July, 2009
• Focus – Pastel on Sanded Paper – 13'' h x 10'' w – $600 – August, 2009