More about L. D. McElroy
Rather than seeking to express a mood or thought, I'd rather create and explore the tension or balance that can be set up when you play with shape and color and line in new ways.
Education
Otis College of Art and Design, selected courses, 2003-2005
Loyola Marymount University, B.A. and M.A. English , 1979, B.A. and 1981, M.A.
Bio
While L. D. McElroy has always loved art, she did not decide to become an artist until she was in her forties. Her father, who paints as a second vocation, gave her some extra acrylic paints he had in his studio and her art adventure began. She painted alone in her kitchen the first few years and then returned to school, taking art courses at Otis College of Art and Design and UCLA.
From boat docks to rooftops to lifeguard stands, L. D. McElroy is drawn to strong geometric shapes and varied textures. She likes to strip the detail from landscapes, focusing on a solitary figure or two. She often leaves some imagery undefined, allowing room for the viewer to fill in the blanks with his or her own imagination.
Most of L. D. McElroy’s paintings start with an image she has either sketched or photographed. She then spends a considerable amount of time deciding which details to eliminate and which colors to use. Small value studies in charcoal pencil are completed and then she does an acrylic underpainting which varies in color and texture depending on her goals for the painting.
In Our Words
L. D. McElroy’s paintings are glimpses through the window of life. Clean lines and uncluttered compositions exist simultaneously with beautifully executed textures and color combinations. Stillness reigns as enigmatic figures stand frozen in time. The viewer is invited to gaze, unnoticed, into the scene at hand and explore the possibilities.
Selected Exhibition History
- New Tendencies River Gallery, La Conner, WA 2009
- Eastside Association of Fine Arts 33rd Annual Exhibition City Hall, Redmond, WA 2008
- Solo Show HBO Television Network (HBO), Corporate Offices, Santa Monica, CA 2007
- Coastal Patterns Watermark Book Company, Anacortes, WA 2007
