“These paintings are a reflection of my personal journey as a woman passing through different doorways in life. I moved from Bosnia to Vermont in 1999. This transition certainly has had a great influence on my creative process, but I always remember my origins. The Bosnian architectural element, the Halka (“doorknob”), is a traditional door knocker, and is an important presence in my work.  Such round objects have been present in Bosnian architecture since the 1400s. Along with the Halka, my work includes other door-related images as well. These images are the theme and signature of my art work, embodied in some fashion in every piece. They represent transformation and discovery, and a journey that still continues.

 

Most of my work is done in acrylic and house paint. This media provides a plastic quality to the artwork that can be manipulated to different textures. I believe that texture has its own visual story. I allow the paint to spread freely on the canvas or board in order to capture the direct expressions of the subconscious. Then I introduce the figure by controlling the shapes, lines and colors. Most of the figures float as Earth floats in space.  Expressive, fresh and effervescent are the words that would describe my color palette.

 

My paintings explore both the symbolism of images and the importance of material in the artwork. I use the paint to create illusions while exploring the existence of color. As I travel on this creative path, the echo of the doorknocker is both a constant reminder of the past, and an entrance to the future.  Automatic splashes of paint rich with texture are what capture the ride through the present.”

 

 

 

 

                                   

 

                                                                                                Elma Skopljak