As an abstract artist, COVID 19 has ended up playing right into my art practice. What I mean is that sheltering at home has focused my energy and led to an entirely unexpected creative explosion for me, so much so that to keep track of all the ideas flooding my brain I now keep a daily "idea log!"
One of the first things I did when COVID19 restrictions hit in full force was try and figure out how I might be able to help my community. This is when EZ ART Projects (EZAP) -- https://m.facebook.com/carolynellisart/?ref=bookmarks - was born.
My idea was to create an art resource for people who might be open to trying something new during these challenging times. Since I wanted all the projects to not only be easy but low cost, I decided to build each project around the very simplest, most accessible, materials: empty soda cans, paper plates, toilet paper rolls, pizza boxes...!
Rather than aiming for step-by-step crafts, my goal from the beginning with EZAP was smaller - and at the same time much bigger! "Smaller" because no instructions for anything are included in suggested projects! I just offer something simple, like an empty soda can, and invite people to create something unexpected with it. "Much bigger" because the pics included with each project are intended to pretty much blow the roof off of any preconceived notions of the given material, in this case a soda can, while at the same time opening a door to more imagination and creativity than most people even know they have!
The beauty of each project is that any one of them could easily become an entire art practice. For example, you could spend the rest of your life exploring soda cans as a material for making art!
My approach with all EZAP is never to just "give people a fish," that is, present a finished piece to be directly imitated - not at all! What I am attempting to do is to "teach people to fish," that is, light a flame of inspiration, which, hopefully, will lead to enough self confidence and creativity for anyone to be able to play/manipulate/investigate any materials.
Having started out with a temporary initiative intended to help folks confined at home during COVID19, it is a surprise to me that I use the very same creative process for EZ Art Projects that I use with my 6' canvases, which, in turn, has ended up blowing the roof off my own art practice, leading to a whole new order of discovery and investigation. O the wonder!
Carolyn Ellis
carolynellisart.com
carolynellisart@gmail.com
