Q & A with Tastes Orangey

Our Q&A today takes us to Jenner, California with artist Clare Elsaesser of Tastes Orangey. From the moment I saw Clare's work a few years back I've always been pulled in. Her work, which features mostly women (sometimes couples) always takes me to a moment or thought about the subject's life or my own. It's rather intriguing how her art does that. You'll see a girl in the water (for example), doing something very simple, like looking off into the distance, fixing her hair or wiping her brow, yet it feels so personal because we've all made those motions, been in those moments ourselves, and she paints them.

We asked her a few questions, here's what she had to say. But first her bio: "I was born in 1982 in Pasadena, California. After attending public art high school in Los Angeles, I went to Boston for college, at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. I have been a full time artist for a little over two years now, supporting myself through international painting and print sales from my shop on Etsy, and commission work. My paintings are inspired by daydreams, retreat and the formidable nature outside my window. I live and work in the tiny hillside town of Jenner, California, where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean, about an hour and a half north of San Francisco with my artist husband Kai Samuels-Davis." ~Clare Elsaesser.

Tell us a little bit about you. Where did you train or study and what led you to the path you currently are on?
I am almost thirty one, and live on the coast about an hour and a half (hopefully soon to be just an hour) north of San Francisco with my artist husband Kai Samuels-Davis. I have been painting for a while now. I went to art high school in Los Angeles, and art college in Boston, but it wasn't until a few years ago, after putting my work on Etsy, I figured out I really wanted to be an artist.

What's your main focus currently and/or how would you describe your current design aesthetic?
I think my aesthetic is still coming into its own...which hopefully it does, sooner or later. I like to work in series; creating groups of paintings that tie together with colors and theme

Love your work - can you explain that design process?
Sometimes my paintings start with an idea, and sometimes they start with a photo, or collage of photos. When things go smoothly, I block in the painting, and then figure out colors to incorporate and a general direction to take it, and when things don't go so smoothly I get stuck early on in the process, and often give up. I have been trying not to give up as easily, but I still have a lot of abandoned paintings stacked in the corner of my studio.

What designers/makers/architects, etc do you look up to, are influenced by or inspire you?

There are so many, but here are a few of the artists I've been admiring recently: Michaël Borremans, Cecily Brown , Laylah Ali , Eric Fischl and of course Kai Samuels-Davis, my husband and biggest inspiration.

Where else do you pull inspiration from? Nature, fashion and all over the internet.
Any sneak peeks or plans you can share of new or future things on the go? In my most recent painting, The Retreat, I incorporated more of an environment/vs. a flat background. I'm always torn between these two, but I think I might be moving in more of an environment direction now...maybe.

Where else do you pull inspiration from?
Nature, fashion and all over the internet.

Any sneak peeks or plans you can share of new or future things on the go? In my most recent painting, The Retreat, I incorporated more of an environment/vs. a flat background. I'm always torn between these two, but I think I might be moving in more of an environment direction now...maybe.