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Bob Elder

     Whether you view a painting by Bob Elder created in the 80’s or one created today, you would be looking at an aesthetic consistency based on a simple philosophical model Elder calls: Actionable Hope…”With every experience everyday we have the choice of which thoughts to act upon. And with this awareness we have the potential to know balance, harmony; completion. This we know as beauty, and is found with an actionable hope.” Elder’s paintings reflect this concept and can be viewed as individual works of art or as a much larger body; his message is clear and has remained true from the beginning. We are constantly in transition finding our way home. For Bob, his paintings are a vehicle for this journey; he applies himself patiently to the canvas and is in turn able to find completion; completion as he states, is beauty.

     Bob began painting in 1985 while working as a schoolteacher for 2nd and 3rd grade children. He left the classroom in 1993 to devote his time to his paintings. Elder attributes his time as a teacher as an integral facet to his creative being; his ability to communicate through painting is a direct reflection of his ability to share concepts with children in a manner to which they can understand and grow as individuals along their own paths in life. In Jerome Bruner’s book, The Process of Education, he writes, “Any subject can be taught to any child at any age in some form that is honest”. By breaking down communication to its rudimentary format of shapes, values and symbols to convey an idea, the most complex concepts can be understood. Elder has made conscious choices in how to convey his conceptual vision by selecting tools that he has adhered to for the entirety of his career. These tools include: choices in the materials and execution of his painting. Elder has limited his pallet to tones which emphasize the serenity in his brushstrokes and the paintbrushes themselves have been limited to only a few sizes of flats and brights.

     Elder made yet another conscious decision when he began painting to remain outside of any academic circles pertaining to his work. He chose as well to remain outside of the gallery circuit in pursuit of honesty in his painting, remaining true to himself. Bob Elder resides in Seattle, Washington with Richard, his partner of 20 years where he continues to paint and as always, find his way home.

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