Q & A with Clare Elsaesser


Our Q&A today takes us to Jenner, California with artist Clare Elsaesser of Tastes Orangey.  From the moment I saw Clare's work a few years back I've always been pulled in.  Her work, which features mostly women (sometimes couples) always takes me to a moment or thought about the subject's life or my own.  It's rather intriguing how her art does that. You'll see a girl in the water (for example), doing something very simple, like looking off into the distance, fixing her hair or wiping her brow, yet it feels so personal because we've all made those motions, been in those moments ourselves, and she paints them.




We asked her a few questions, here's what she had to say.  But first her bio: "I was born in 1982 in Pasadena, California. After attending public art high school in Los Angeles, I went to Boston for college, at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. I have been a full time artist for a little over two years now, supporting myself through international painting and print sales from my shop on Etsy, and commission work. My paintings are inspired by daydreams, retreat and the formidable nature outside my window. I live and work in the tiny hillside town of Jenner, California, where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean, about an hour and a half north of San Francisco with my artist husband Kai Samuels-Davis." ~Clare Elsaesser.


Tell us a little bit about you. Where did you train or study and what led you to the path you currently are on?
I am almost thirty one, and live on the coast about an hour and a half (hopefully soon to be just an hour) north of San Francisco with my artist husband Kai Samuels-Davis. I have been painting for a while now. I went to art high school in Los Angeles, and art college in Boston, but it wasn't until a few years ago, after putting my work on Etsy, I figured out I really wanted to be an artist.

What's your main focus currently and/or how would you describe your current design aesthetic?
I think my aesthetic is still coming into its own...which hopefully it does, sooner or later. I like to work in series; creating groups of paintings that tie together with colors and theme



Love your work - can you explain that design process?
Sometimes my paintings start with an idea, and sometimes they start with a photo, or collage of photos. When things go smoothly, I block in the painting, and then figure out colors to incorporate and a general direction to take it, and when things don't go so smoothly I get stuck early on in the process, and often give up. I have been trying not to give up as easily, but I still have a lot of abandoned paintings stacked in the corner of my studio.

What designers/makers/architects, etc do you look up to, are influenced by or inspire you?

There are so many, but here are a few of the artists I've been admiring recently:  Michaël Borremans, Cecily Brown , Laylah Ali , Eric Fischl and of course Kai Samuels-Davis, my husband and biggest inspiration.


Where else do you pull inspiration from? Nature, fashion and all over the internet.
Any sneak peeks or plans you can share of new or future things on the go? In my most recent painting, The Retreat, I incorporated more of an environment/vs. a flat background. I'm always torn between these two, but I think I might be moving in more of an environment direction now...maybe.

Where else do you pull inspiration from?
Nature, fashion and all over the internet.

Any sneak peeks or plans you can share of new or future things on the go? In my most recent painting, The Retreat, I incorporated more of an environment/vs. a flat background. I'm always torn between these two, but I think I might be moving in more of an environment direction now...maybe.


Thanks Clare! Follow Tastes Orangey online:

Website url: clareelsaesser.com/
Shop url: etsy.com/shop/tastesorangey
Blog url: tastesorangey.blogspot.com/
Pinterest: pinterest.com/clareelsaesser/
Facebook: facebook.com/clareelsaesser
as well as at Poppytalk Handmade

Jan Halvarson

7 comments:

Natalie Brocks said...

AMAZING paintings!!!!

Unknown said...

Beautiful paintings. I love the reclusive or solitary mood the artist emotes in her characters and paintings.

Anonymous said...

wow her work is incredible! thanks for sharing!
tr[i]b[e]cca

Rikkianne said...

I adore her work! Such a great Q&A! Thank you for sharing :)

Heather from Poppy Haus said...

I too am so taken with Clare's work (and I'm lucky enough to live quite near her!) I am hoping to take her up on her offer to visit her studio in Jenner!

Clare Elsaesser said...

(A very late) Thanks so much for the sweetness Jan! It is always an honor to be included on Poppytalk! Hope you are having a good week.

Saheki said...

Some amazing things in our everyday world. We barely notice them. The intimacy of lovers. The brief happiness of an afternoon. The image of a sea scented beach. I always admire Clare's gift to capture these... precious moments, located deep in our heart.