A Cowdenbeath artist is preparing to graduate after her successful end of year art show.
Elaine Green, 62, returned to education to pursue art eight years ago, and has now finished studying for her degree in illustration from the University of Edinburgh’s College of Art.
The artist, who is also a singer and children’s author, exhibited her work as part of the university’s College of Art Graduate Show.
This ran from Friday, May 29 to Friday, June 5, and saw Elaine’s illustrations go on display.
Speaking to the Times about her art journey, she said: “Eight years ago I went to Fife College and did my art and design, and then I stayed on and I completed graphic design and visual communication to HNC level.
“Then I studied jewellery design and silversmithing to HND level, which then allowed me to get into second year at Edinburgh College of Art, and I've done three years there to do my illustration degree.
“Illustration was the thing that I really wanted to pursue right from the beginning, but I was able to enjoy learning some other disciplines along the way, which has all led to my final practice now, but I write children's books as well.
“That was the main focus to go and study illustration, so that I could obviously write and illustrate my own books”.
Now, that Elaine is done with her studying, she is planning to focus more on her books.
She also has a studio at her home where she can make her own products and sell them.
Speaking about going back to education as a mature student, Elaine added: “My grandad was an artist when he was alive, and he died really early at 61.
“I just remember him having his studio in the house and painting, and he would have just been absolutely in awe that I've gone back and done something like that.
“That was kind of one of the reasons it spurred me on. I didn't want to have regrets when I get older and think, ‘Oh, I wish I'd done it’.”
At her end of year show, a lot of Elaine’s work was heavily influenced by her love of music. She still sings and is part of a rock band.
“Music's just a huge part of my life, really, music and art.
“The main research project was music, but visible, so it was a case of trying to get across to the viewer what I hear and what I feel and see when I'm performing or listening to my favourite music.
“So, I'd chosen a playlist of songs that were really relevant to me, with a theme of light.
“I worked with a lot of different mediums, like collage and gel print printing, and hand-drawn illustrative works and I just merged all of the techniques together and created a set of illustrations that could lend themselves to album covers.
“I've got my Studio 2 Original, which is my main illustrative practice, and it encompasses, my jewellery and everything else that I do design-wise, but my bumble-g illustration is my children's illustration in my books.
"So, I'm kind of promoting two angles of it, which I tried to do with my display at the grad show,” she added.
Elaine will graduate from her illustration course this July.
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