Elizabeth Dagle O’Donnell
Mixed Media
The Walker Art Museum is one of our favorite places to take folks visiting us. This piece was made entirely from repurposed art works that didn't turn out how I envisioned. Reusing and recycling art (and some small pieces of scrap magazine papers) helped me to see that there's a lesson to be learned with every piece and that there can be purpose for everything, and just because a painting is not what I originally envisioned, it can still serve a purpose to create something beautiful.
Price: $75
Spoonbridge Beginnings
Painting
This piece came about when I picked a handful of colors that sparked joy and creativity. I layered the paint colors using a scraping method to make marks across the canvas. When I'm feeling overwhelmed, I like to pick just a few colors to cover the canvas without trying to make anything true to life or photo realistic. This helps me get my mind off my anxieties and worries and helps me to calm down in the moment.
Price: $65
Strokes of Inspiration
Drawing
This piece starts with laying down random watercolor pigments onto the paper without trying to make anything happen. After the paper dries, I look at the blobs of color and draw in whatever pictures I see- accenting with white wherever feels right. Looking for images within the watercolor shifts my focus and helps to calm down a busy mind. This work is inspired by the idea of "zentangles" where you draw random shapes and fill them in with lines and other shapes. The seemingly random colors of the painted background are picked from my favorite watercolor colors. The goal with pieces like this is to guide my mind away from stress and let's me focus on a task at hand.
Price: $150
Divergent Doodles
Painting
This piece is a reminder for me to look beyond what's bothering me or cluttering my mind and to think about the bigger picture. When I'm out for a walk or a hike, I'm always taken aback by how beautiful the scenery is around me when I take a moment to look. I also love looking up into the sky and feeling so small compared the the beauty of nature around me. Nature is a healing space and can remind me that it's important to not let any struggles along the journey keep you from your destination.
Price: $100
Forest Through the Trees
Painting
This piece is inspired by the mediation and mindfulness exercise that has helped me a lot since starting therapy with People Incorporated. In this exercise, you imagine writing your stressors or worries on leaves and setting them in the river and watching them float away. This visual has been huge for me in practicing radical acceptance and working on not letting a singular moment keep me from enjoying the rest of my day (or week, month, year, etc.). Fall is my favorite season and a time for rebirth where nature is naturally sending its past away. This informed the color profile of this piece.
Price: $125