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Articles written by elissa tracy


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  • November Start- All Saints' Day: A Celebration of Thankfulness and Gratitude

    Elissa Tracy|Nov 2, 2023

    November marks the beginning of a season of gratitude and holiday celebrations. It commences with November 1st, the observance of All Saints’ Day, cherished by Catholics and Anglican Christians alike. This is succeeded by All Souls’ Day, or Dia de los Muertos, a cherished Mexican tradition. All Saints’ Day is a solemn occasion dedicated to honoring all the saints of the church who have ascended to heaven. Various customs are observed to pay homage to these saints, known and unknown. These include the lighting of candles, attending church servi...

  • Get the Decorating Started: How Early is Too Early for Christmas Decor?

    Elissa Tracy|Oct 26, 2023

    With the holidays around the corner, what is considered too early to start Christmas decorating? For a select few, celebrating Christmas once a year is not enough. Some time ago, I stumbled upon a visual tour of Frank Bianco (aka Frankie Christmas) Manhattan apartment, which stays decorated immediately after Labor Day until April. That’s eight months of loving and celebrating all things Christmas, not to mention a ton of labored hours of decorating. Heather Shane out of St. Louis has dedicated part of her home and basement to year-round C...

  • Mailboxes: Functional Artistry in Daily Life

    Elissa Tracy|Oct 19, 2023

    One element most often overlooked in home design, yet undeniably significant, is the mailbox. It stands as the first impression, greeting us and our guests as we approach the driveway. This humble servant entrusted with our most vital correspondence, is visited nearly every day, sometimes barely held together by little more than plastic, wood, and nails. The question arises: can we elevate our mailbox to a piece of functional art that leaves a striking impression daily and seasonally? While my focus primarily leans toward free-standing...

  • All Reasons To Love Fall

    Elissa Tracy|Oct 12, 2023

    As the summer heat begins to wane and leaves start their color transformation, the world outside undergoes a spectacular metamorphosis. The transition from the vibrant greens of summer to the warm, earthy hues of fall brings about an awe-inspiring display of colors, crisp air, and front porches displaying seasonal decorations. All of this is just a few of the perks of living in a state with a distinct change of seasons! From the fiery red, yellow, and orange mums for sale along the roadside, to the deep earthy golds and rusty reds of the...

  • Mastering Canine Portraiture

    Elissa Tracy|Sep 28, 2023

    This past week was a difficult one for our family as one of our two beloved Siberian Huskies passed away. She was a red husky with light blue eyes and at 16 years old, she had lived a very robust life. Nevertheless, it’s not an easy thing. My husband requested that I do a portrait of her for him in her memory. Animal paintings are really not my wheelhouse (since I’m more of an Abstract Expressionist painter.) However, I wanted to give this heartfelt endeavor a go. In a previous article, I wrote about the importance of art journals and I rem...

  • Suspended In Time-Painting Time Frame

    Elissa Tracy|Sep 21, 2023

    Recently, I was asked, “How long should it take to finish a painting?” Unless you work for someone where you are under a distribution timeline, then the simple answer to the question is: whenever you, the artist, think it’s done. Instead of approaching a painting with predefined expectations of when it should be finished, we should trust our intuition and let the painting tell us when it’s a completed work. I know this may sound Hippie Dippy, but our real glory as artists is our imagination, and this is one area where time, schedules, deadlin...

  • Art Journalist- Artists and the Importance of Journaling

    Elissa Tracy|Sep 14, 2023

    In the mind of an artist, an endless stream of ideas circulates—a library of colors, themes, and projects all calling for expression. Amidst this creative disorder, one invaluable tool emerges as the keystone of the artistic process—the pocket sketchbook or notebook. It serves as a diary for these developing concepts before taking form on canvas, sculpture, or any type of art project. This unassuming companion, often the only semblance of order in the tornado of ideas, is the lifeblood of artistic creation. The sketchbook is more than just a r...

  • Fall Style

    Elissa Tracy|Sep 7, 2023

    Fall Style Our day begins with a simple yet essential ritual: selecting our attire. Even for those not into fashion per say, this daily choice speaks volumes about our identity, mood, and style. As September initiates the fall season, this years fashion outlook undergoes a transformation characterized by a color palette, featuring burnt sienna, deep chocolate hues, ivory, and taupe. These shades grace the pages of fashion magazines and the aisles of designer stores. Notable brands like Michael Kors, Max Mara, Brunello Cucinelli, Ralph Lauren,...

  • The Mobile Artistry of Alexander Calder: Sculpting Movement and Elegance

    Elissa Tracy|Aug 31, 2023

    Various types of art have the capacity to bring forth many types of emotions. Mobile art, in particular, can be described as happy, fun and magical. It suits all ages but its quite plausible that the initial image could be that of a mobile positioned over a babies crib, perhaps symbolizes ones earliest exposure to art itself. In the genre of art, where stagnant creations often dominate, Alexander Calder stands as a pioneer who challenged conventionality by introducing movement and dynamism into his sculptures. Renowned for his innovative...

  • The Positivity of the Concrete Jungle: LA LA Land's Art and Culture

    Elissa Tracy|Aug 24, 2023

    Returning to Los Angeles for a visit after residing in a small town is akin to plunging into an icy bath – simultaneously shocking, invigorating, and slightly stinging. It’s arguable that big cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago each possess their pros and cons. However, in this article, we’ll focus on the positive aspects of Los Angeles. For some reason, I’ve always found beauty amid the grit. Genuine graffiti, not the stylized graffiti art of today, has captivated me due to its layered stories and the fact that they can be obliter...

  • Cardboard Art: Transforming the Mundane into the Extraordinary

    Elissa Tracy|Aug 17, 2023

    At first glance, cardboard boxes may appear rather mundane and unremarkable. Often seen as utilitarian products primarily used for shipping and storing, these brown corrugated paper pulp creations have, in fact, evolved into a perfect medium for sculpture. The utilization of cardboard as an artistic medium dates back to the early 1900s. With its textured surface, varying thicknesses, shapes, and accessibility, cardboard proves to be an incredibly versatile material, particularly when combined with acrylic paint and spray cans. Crafters and...

  • Less Is More: Modern Minimalism and the Minimalist Ethos

    Elissa Tracy|Aug 10, 2023

    Minimalism and Minimal art emerged during the 1960s in New York and Los Angeles, employing the interplay between positive and negative space, simplicity and function, and single or repeated geometric forms that lend an almost mathematical quality. Many fans of the minimalist movement, both then and now, assert that this lifestyle and aesthetic evoke spiritual and physical peace through an environment where less translates to more. Be it Minimal art, design, or furniture, one should avoid misconstruing this simplicity as a bland void of color...

  • Life As Art

    Elissa Tracy|Jul 27, 2023

    Photography: The Fountain of Youth in Pictographic Communication Photography is one of the most literal 2-D forms of art, distinct from painting or drawing, as it enables the viewer to see through the eyes of the photographer. It captures an image, seen and remembered exactly as the photographer intends. This contemporary communication method helps develop a photographer’s style and individual photographic voice. Since its birth over 200 years ago (the first photo taken by Joseph Nicephore in 1822), photography has undergone many p...

  • Life as Art

    Elissa Tracy|Jul 20, 2023

    Sip, Soak, Float, and Repeat! The Popularity of Cowboy Pools, Glamorized Trough Pools & Galvanized Tank Pools Long before Beth Dutton from Yellowstone made hopping into a water trough tank with two bottles of Champagne look effortlessly glamorous, farmers and cowboys already knew the secret of escaping the summer heat (although they were more likely to opt for a beer or sweet tea). Now, as temperatures rise here in TN and other parts of the country, it’s easy to daydream about becoming a pool owner to endure the dominant summer months. H...

  • Life as Art

    Elissa Tracy|Jul 13, 2023

    By Elissa Tracy Title-Art Studios Work Spaces We Create In In the world of art, creativity knows no boundaries. Artists have a flair for transforming even the most unconventional spaces into their creative sanctuaries. Regardless of financial constraints, time limitations, or space availability, every artist, crafter, and hobbyist eventually yearns for a dedicated space of their own. The artist’s workspace often begins with storing supplies in boxes, usually tucked away in a spare closet, and the constant process of hauling everything out o...

  • Unveiling the Pop-Cultural Phenomenon of Vintage Star Wars and G.I. Joe Action Figures

    Elissa Tracy|Jul 6, 2023

    In the ever evolving realm of pop culture vintage toys from the ‘70s and ‘80s hold an unrivaled position of prominence. They possess an enigmatic charm that transports us back to simpler days of Saturday morning cartoons and absence of internet. Today, we find ourselves amidst a resurgence in the collectibility of these nostalgic treasures, with vintage Star Wars and G.I. Joe action figures leading the charge. Lets jump into our X-wing fighters and delve into the question of why these two toy lines have stood the test of time. “May the Force...

  • Life As Art

    Elissa Tracy|Jun 29, 2023

    As one explores Lewis and Maury County, it becomes increasingly evident that growth and new construction, as well as add-ons and renovation projects, are in full swing. Engaging in any form of construction or renovation inevitably leads to extensive to-do lists for every room in a home. Often, these lists resemble checkerboard roadmaps, marked with highlighted words, arrows, asterisks and red inked crossed-out items that may not align with the available budget. The renovation wish list can sometimes appear overwhelming, but the very essence of...

  • Life As Art, Pure Not Simple

    Elissa Tracy|Jun 15, 2023

    One of the most effective ways to create an illusion of spaciousness in a room is by painting it white. Not only does it make ceilings appear higher, but it also imparts a clean and elegant simplicity to the space. However, the process of selecting the perfect white paint color for your home is far from simple. In fact, the world of white is a complex and nuanced realm, with a variable of undertones that can dramatically transform the mood and ambiance of a room. From cool blues to warm...

  • Life as Art

    Elissa Tracy|Jun 8, 2023

    In the heart of Tennessee, amidst the presence of wildlife and a warm, friendly community, I am constantly reminded of the beauty and serenity that surrounds us. Every day, I witness the beauty in all things, which translates into various forms of art, whether it be a spontaneous photograph or an inspired painting. Allow me to introduce myself and the essence behind this weekly column, “Life As Art,” where we will explore art, design, fashion, and pop culture. My name is Elissa Tracy, and I am...