We recently had the chance to connect with Element Rose and have shared our conversation below.
Element , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Who has time for rushing a masterpiece? Every painting I work on I refuse to rush.
A lot of my work is very intertwined and the work from one piece can often be dependant upon the progress of another piece.
For example, I have 2 works im currently focusing on:
A multi-layered self portrait and some cloud jelly fish floating in a spacey/cloudy sky.
I started the original idea of the self portrait almost 8 years ago. The other I started maybe 4; but the self portrait got re-addressed and added to about a year ago. This is where the practice in transparencies started.
I have 2 “ghost” images depicting extreme emotion on the self portrait. This allowed me to depend dove into transparencies and prepare myself for the completion if my jellyfish.
A lot of my work is like that, intertwined and dependent on each other. These are the reasons why time and patience are key to masterpieces.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Element Rose is an artistic enigma.
Although she attempts to work on consistency for social media her true drive is on her artistic expression. Allowing social media norms to fall to the wayside.
She finds herself in the deep expression of her artistic works, looking to give the viewer time for self reflection or confrontation internalized emotions.
She isn’t afraid to look into the dark places of the soul to find inspiration, infact her artistic abilities have saved her life several times over. She reaches for healing with each piece completed, confronting her own demons, her own sorrow, and putting them on display for the viewer to recieve how they feel is right for them.
She sees herself as a surrealist finding inspiration from artists like Rene’ Magritte and Frida Kahlo. Her focus is on self and the world she knows. She just hopes it allows the viewers to find themselves, just as it has helped her see who she truly is.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with my art mentor, Judy Mckinney, truly allowed me to see who I really was and who I was capable of being.
Without Judy there would have never been an Element Rose… there may have also been a loss of Shannon (my real name) without Judy.
She took me from a place where my imagination had been ripped from me, and restored it.
Before her I had a teacher who was transfixed on control. I was not allowed to draw freehand I could only use a projector, and I could only paint from pictures. My imagination had been ripped from me; and I was well on my way to never painting again.
I started seeing Judy my freshman year of highschool, and she completely shifted my view of my reality as an artist.
I kept grabbing reference photos. Judy grabbed my arm one day while I was pulling references and said “you know you don’t have to use those… you can draw whatever you want”
With those words my reality shifted. She unlocked something that had been deeply buried in my soul and gave it te breath of life.
She saved me.
She saved my artwork
She saved my life.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
This deserves a trigger warning. Miscarraige, infertility, and loss.
For a long time I planned my entire life around a family. Getting a degree in the fine arts of design, working mu way to Frisco for the school districts, working my way up corporate ladders and pay raises.
At 30 I finally got the fertility test I had been begging for since I was 16. I was in an emotionally and financially abusive relationship for 2 years at that point. At 30, Jan of 2021, I found out I had pcos. Severely. 80% of my pregnancies will end in miscarriage.
Less than 6 months later my and this individual broke up, and I went into full manic depression (runs in my family). 2 months later I had a miscarriage.
I had no idea; but I did have a reoccurring dream that gave me hints about what was happening.
This caused me to go into a complete spiral; because I saw all this work I had tried to accomplish completely fall through my fingertips.
There is a painting on its way in honor of my late son (reoccurring dream showed me what I was going to have).
I dont think I’ve healed yet… I hope this painting will allow me to confront my loss and be able to give my son the honor he deserved.
Painting is how I find myself, and that’s why they are so emotionally driven.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
It’s easier to build a brand around who I am authentically than pretend to be a persona only to crack later.
I am who I present myself to be. Element Rose is my soul and I put it on display with every painting.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
Art is my soul.
Artistic expression is who I am.
My mom wanted me to have a “back up plan” so I went to school to get a degree in the fine arts of graphic design.
I have NEVER allowed the world to break me. Every shadow I see encourages me to find the light that causes it.
When I told people I was going to art college I had people laugh and tell me they would see me in 6 months. You know only 20% of art students actually get their degree? I graduated and got my degree.
My hometown ostracized my artwork. I even got banned from local shows as a teenager because surrealism was considered “dark” at the time.
I could care less what the world has to say about my journey, they are gonna watch regardless.
Contact Info:
- Website: Elementrose.com (under construction)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elementrose13
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elementrose
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elementrose13
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@elementrose13_art
- Other: You cand find my on bluesky @elementrose13
Image Credits
All photos were taken by myself or SteventheArtist (my husband)
