Issue 3 Artist Spotlight | Chloe McEldowney
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Chloe!
CM: I've previously worked in galleries, museums, artist residencies, and as a K-8 art teacher. But I now paint full-time from my home studio - and I love it! In my spare time I enjoy running, baking, collecting plants, and going on hiking adventures. Being outdoors and observing color in nature inspires my work.
I grew up on a farm with a large, crazy family (I'm the second oldest of twelve kids). I now live in Wilmington, DE with my husband, dog, two cats, and newborn son Oslo.
C+B: How has your relationship with your work changed since you first started creating?
CM: Earlier in my career I felt more beholden to an externally imposed idea of what good art was supposed to be. As I've progressed I've felt less tied to such an ideal, and have felt liberated to make art that brought me joy--art that was whimsical, colorful, feminine--secure in the knowledge that other people would take joy in those things as well.
C+B: Share some details about your process for creating.
CM: There's not really a single standard, especially since the birth of our first son a few months ago. Since then I've been learning to kind of switch myself on and off, and work effectively in shorter blocks of time. I still do most of my work during the day, starting around 8 or 9 am, working in the blocks of time motherhood allows. Sometimes there's music, or podcasts, sometimes just the cooing and kicking of the boy to listen to.
C+B: What is the one accomplishment you most hope to achieve in your creative career?
CM: Making my husband a stay-at-home dad.
Find and support Chloe here:
IG: @chloemceldowney
(Like Gold Dust, 18" x 24," oil on panel, ©Chloe McEldowney)
If my work was a meal it would be: It's a bit of an odd metaphor, but I suppose we're not talking about a greasy spoon, and we're not talking about a fancy multi-michelin star affair either. It's food that appreciates nuance and presentation, but also knows that the fat and salt is what makes the food taste good.
I would love to be able to share my work with: Elton John. Elton is a longtime artistic hero of mine, and brings eccentric color and camp to his work while still retaining his emotional expression and authenticity, which is something I aspire to in my own work. I also find him generally delightful and would love to spend time with him.
If I weren’t a visual artist, I would: Channel my creativity into gardening. I love collecting and studying plants. It's something I wish I had more time for and thoroughly enjoy.
My hope for those viewing my work: I hope that people find connection - whatever that means to them.
