Portfolio > Elemental Portraits Series

Gabrielle Reeves: Maria: Earth
Oil on Panel and Found Materials
13" x 16"
2019
Claire Isabel: Water
Acrylic Ink on Marbled Paper
13" xx 10"
2019
Gabrielle Reeves: Aunt Mary with Rabbits: Air
Acrylic Ink on Paper
3.5" x 3.5"
2018
Gabrielle Reeves: Aunt Roberta with Hollyhocks: Earth
Acrylic Ink on Paper
3.5" x 3.5"
2018
Aunt Roberta: Detail
Acrylic Ink on Paper
2018
Gabrielle Reeves: Grandma With Matches: Fire
Acrylic Ink on Paper
3.5" x 3.5"
2018
Gabrielle Reeves: Emilie: Fire / Earth
Mixed Media on Paper
2018
Gabrielle Reeves: Aubrey: Air
Oil on Found Materials
2018
Aubrey: Air (detail)
Oil On Found Materials
2018
Gabrielle Reeves: Aubrey: Dreamer / Air
Acrylic Ink on Paper
30"x22"
2018
Gabrielle Reeves: Self Portrait as Earth
Acrylic Ink on Found Materials
2017
Gabrielle Reeves: Paul: Fire
Acrylic Ink on Paper
5"x12"
2017
Gabrielle Reeves: Hulya
Acrylic Ink on Paper
30"x22"
2016
Gabrielle Reeves: Hulya 2
Acrylic Ink on Paper
2017

Elemental Portraits is a growing series of paintings linking portraiture with the theme of the elements: earth, air, fire, water and aether.
In this series I depict people from my life in Turkey and family and friends from my home in the United States. Based on personal interactions, memories and other research, I choose a specific element or elements to represent each individual.
As a form of indirect collaboration, I paint directly onto found objects; including wallpaper, an antique oil painting, printed paper, and marbled paper. Working on top of a printed image, design, or pre-painted surfaces, allows my artistic approach to remain a stimulating process, as the original design forms its own interaction with the painted subject, and often inspires the work itself. While painting, I continue to incorporate symbolism and designs, depicting the shifting and often obscure nature of each personality.
Elemental Portraits has grown out of my love for observational drawing, portraiture and collaboration. This body of work explores and continues to explore personal identity, its fluidity, and how environment affects personality. The works create a conversation between individuals and our surrounding world, how others can be viewed in context to their environment, and just what one might consider an individual's environment to be.