Crossing Lines by Eli Dorman
Featured Artists

GUEST ARTIST: “Life In Abstract” by Eli Dorman

Written by Charlie O'Shields

These doodlewashes come to use from Eli Dorman, an amateur watercolorist in Akron, Ohio, who started painting in August 2013 (follow his wonderful blog by clicking here!). Many of Eli’s recent pieces are inspired by various masters of abstract painting from Willem de Kooning to Paul Klee. 

Map by Eli Dorman

The piece at the top is titled “Crossing Lines” and the next piece is titled “Map” (click the image to see it larger!) Both are inspired by Eli’s recent exploration of de Kooning.  “De Kooning’s work speaks to me,” Eli says,  “and has sent me on a journey of new inspiration that has given birth to 8-10 new pieces that are a departure from my more structured geometric abstract pieces.”

Abstract expressionism, is a post–World War II art movement in American painting, developed in New York in the 1940s and led by de Kooning in the 1950s. It’s of note for being the first specifically American movement to achieve international influence. During its reign it put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris.

Color Mosaic 1 by Eli DormanThis next piece is inspired by an earlier painting of Paul Klee entitled, “Portal of a Mosque” which was painted in 1931 (click to see it larger!).  “Klee is one of my strongest art influencers.  I love his work and find it greatly inspires my own work.”

Eli has always sought out channels for creative expression and discovered a deep connection to painting that has become an insatiable passion.  Eli started his blog “Simple Thoughts About Life & Stuff” (follow him!!) initially as a writing blog and as his passion for painting grew it became a way of sharing his work with his now global community of artist & art enthusiast friends.

Subterranean by Eli DormanEli works primarily with watercolor paint and illustrator’s ink and focuses mostly on paintings that express in abstract form the beautiful convergence of line, shape, and color.  The last piece shown here is titled, “Subterranean.” (click the image to see it larger!)

“Most of my paintings begin as simple sketches,” Eli says, “to which I add color and painted lines to enhance and deepen the sketch’s expressive potential.  I attempt to go into every painting with no agenda or prescribed outcome in mind allowing the moment to guide me.”

Thank you so much for sharing your amazing doodlewashes with us Eli, and giving us a new way to see. Please take a moment to visit “Simple Thoughts About Life & Stuff” to see more work by this amazing artist! (and follow him! I did mention that bit right?)

Charlie O'Shields

Creator of Doodlewash, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world!

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37 thoughts on “GUEST ARTIST: “Life In Abstract” by Eli Dorman”

  6. Abstracts, can be for me, like listening to music sung in a foreign language, I may not ‘understand’ it all, but I can take pleasure in the color of the notes and be moved by the rhythm and tones. These paintings are beautiful, and am loving the variety shown here. The colors and design, along with the ebb and flow of movement and energy, a treat to the senses. Thank you Charlie for a delightful feature.

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      1. Charlie, I love what this community has the potential of becoming. What a great way of pulling artists and creatives together to support and encourage each other on the journey. Art can be so subjective and at times the act of creating can seem a bit isolating so to have somewhere to share what is birthed out of that process is a tremendous gift!

        Reply

        1. Thanks so much Eli!! You described exactly the reason why I started doing these features. When I started blogging I immediately got lonely…hehe… and as a Creative Director in my day life, I have a habit of always wanting to surround myself with people better than me! 😉 Spread the word!! Would love to grow this community. It’s also more open than some groups, as it doesn’t require a specific method or have rules…just a “drop of water color” and whatever you made is a doodlewash! 👍🏻😃

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