'Chicken looking into a box'
'Chicken looking into a box'
Elaine made studies of the animals they kept including the chickens whilst living in the small village of Alciston in East Sussex. The couple lived in a small thatched cottage that dated back to the 13th Century where they kept over 25 chickens of varying varieties, including Elaine’s favourite the Bantams and the Brahma’s.
‘Chicken looking into a box’ is a one off original piece of art made with acrylic paint and gold leaf on board. The piece is approximately A5 in size with two eyelet screws and wire for hanging at the back of the piece and is signed by the artist.
Elaine started painting in 2011/12 as a way back into her creative practice after having a family. She joined a local art group and was inspired by the way the tutor showed students how to mix colours. Elaine particularly liked to experiment with a dark blue acrylic that she used for a series of portraits of family members and animals. She called this her ‘Blue phase’.
As well as chickens, the couple housed cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits that the artist featured in many of her paintings from this period. Charleston farmhouse was situated next door to Alciston village and the artist would visit there on many occasions and found great inspiration in the decorative nature of the interior of the house and the artists work on show.