The Art of Eileen McConkey

I attended the Final Friday event at the Pendleton Art Center recently, and was really interested by Eileen’s work. Ms. McConkey creates very colorful abstractions that seem to have fallen out of the night sky. Her images usually consist of swirling, undulating colors that seem to vibrate when you look at them.They are very awe inspiring.

"Tempted By The Light"

Acrylic on Canvas 

     The above painting is one from her website that I really am drawn to. The almost tactile nature of the red paint really makes the eye move around the image. It reminds of of some sort of grand celestial wave with long reaching tentacles. I also really love the color modulation from the dark of the bottom left corner, the maroon-ish color, to the blood read of the sweeping line. It really is a piece of art that you can get lost in for a while.

"Stellar Crown"

Acrylic on Canvas

   Another piece that I really enjoy is the one pictured above. The color seems to grow and contract if you look at it for an extended period of time. The dark corners create an almost vignette quality, making a frame for the center of image. There is such a range of colors present in the work that it really is a very interesting study. They all work so well together in my opinion.

"Energy In Motion"

Acrylic on Canvas

   I was drawn to the shape of this one. The simple turning of a square canvas creates a dynamic image. The overall neutral colors make the eye pay close attention to the brush stokes and sweeping motions. However, the colors are not forgotten. There are so many different shades and tints of brown. Green brown, red brown, earthen brown...too many browns to count.

  Eileen McConkey is a true color master. Her paint application is simply amazing and is really inspiring. I am in no way painter like see is, but I'd like to see something like this captured in the natural world in a photograph. She works in such a different way than I do. However, I can really study her colors to become a better printer. I wish I could mix colors like her...and maybe with practice I could, but for now I will simply sit back and stare up into her ethereal works of art.

  You can see more of her work at:  http://www.eileenmcconkey.com/home.html
  And also check out her blog: http://eileenmcconkeyartist.blogspot.com/