by Kirby Lindsay Laney, posted 2 Jan 2017
On Friday, January 6th, for the Fremont First Friday Art Walk from 6p – 9p, Portage Bay Goods will feature original art by Eli Wolff, as well as copies of his first coloring book.
Wolff has displayed his art work around the Center of the Universe before. In fact, his very first professional art show took place at Pel’Meni Dumpling Tzar, one of the FFF Art Walk venues – and one known for encouraging new and developing artists.
Wolff’s paintings poke fun and play tricks with iconic and contemporary images. “If you haven’t seen my art,” Wolff explained, “it’s silly. It’s got a sense of humor. If that sounds interesting, you’ll like it.” Wolff honestly doesn’t paint to satisfy everyone, and he isn’t seeking wide-spread admiration and validation. He sincerely paints for himself, and for those who enjoy the same things he does.
‘Spend Four Months’
“I like all my ideas to just come organically,” Wolff said. He doesn’t force himself to paint a particular theme or subject. Instead, when deciding which image, of all those floating around his imagination, to capture, Wolff chooses the one he most wants to paint. He likes to create original works for shows and displays and, “if I spend four months on something,” he said, “I better like it.”
He also paints pictures that, if they don’t sell, he will enjoy having on his own walls. He’s encountered encouragement and smiles (and out-right laughs) from those seeing his work at shows, and he enjoys talking to people who find his work entertaining, but Wolff actively pursues his own enjoyment and fun in his art. “When I’m painting,” he said, “I’m trying to make myself happy.”
“I’m too nervous to do stand-up comedy,” Wolff observed, “so I do it through my paintings.” He acknowledged that sometimes, as in the case of a painting of both Seuss’ Horton and Doctor Who, “the title tells the joke.” (The painting is called, ‘Horton Hears A Dr. Who’.)
‘Drawing All The Time’
Wolff proudly carries on a creative tradition. His grandmother, Bea Haverfield, created neon sign art for Campbell Neon. Most notably, she created the iconic Pink Elephant Car Wash sign in Downtown Seattle. Family legend states that the baby elephants marching around the base represent Haverfield’s own children.
As a child, “I was drawing all the time,” Wolff recalled, “she gave me supplies. She gave me an air brush.” He credits her with supporting his desire to draw, and inspiring him to pursue his art. Unfortunately, Haverfield didn’t live to see her grandson become a professional artist.
Instead, while in high school, Wolff looked at art schools and, “it was too expensive.” He did find work in a creative field – video games. He started in tech support at Nintendo, and has worked his way to becoming an effects artist at Cat Daddy Games.
“It’s super tech-y work,” Wolff said, “very technical.” In his job, he delivers the images he’s assigned, and resists throwing in odd references, visual jokes or random bits of surrealism that might irritate his bosses. He’s found his art provides an excellent counter-balance to his day job, allowing him a release for the outlandishness he imagines but can’t express in his job. “I have to get that kind of stuff out of my system somehow,” Wolff admitted.
“For me,” Wolff acknowledged, “it’s a perfect hobby. I don’t feel any pressure when I paint.” For the last ten years he’s painted for an hour a day and, he said, “it puts me in a good mood.” He pushes himself to create new works for every show, and to review what he’s done at the end of every year.
Art & Inspiration Everywhere
It wasn’t a straight road for Wolff to becoming a professional artist. He gives several sources for his inspiration, and confidence. One was Juxtapoz, an arts & culture magazine that features underground artists incorporating cartoon characters and alternative images, similar to what Wolff wanted to do. He discovered that the Garbage Pail Kids and MAD Magazine have a place in art. “I’m always inspired by adults tapping into what kids like,” Wolff said, referencing the works of ‘South Park’ creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
Locally, Wolff found inspiration from Ryan ‘Henry’ Ward, whose murals show that art can be anywhere, and everywhere, and not just done on canvas to hang in a museum. “I met him,” Wolff said of Ward, “and told him he was a big influence.” The two found they had a lot in common. “Going from being a fan to being a part of his circle,” Wolff said, made a big impact on him, and gave him confidence to pursue becoming a professional artist.
‘A Good Time’
At first, Wolff studied animation. “I didn’t understand how hard it could be,” he said. He spent time every day after work studying, researching, and exploring the Seattle art scene. “I tried to be an animator for a few years,” Wolff said, until while with a group of friends, they encouraged him to show the drawings and paintings he’d done so far. He knew the owners of Fremont’s Dumpling Tzar, and they invited him to display during a Fremont First Friday show.
“I charged the cost of materials and the frames,” for the paintings he showed, he said. “I didn’t have much confidence,” he admitted, but as he found other venues willing to display his work, it grew. “There are so many awesome coffee shops and venues to display here,” he observed, and a few asked him to leave his works up long-term, for the enjoyment of their patrons.
“Trying to sell you art is really different from painting,” Wolff acknowledged. He’s learned a lot from other artists about how to display, especially Dave Ryan, with whom he has shared a booth. Wolff also works with the Greenwood Collective, and he’s gained a lot from the artist’s community. Ultimately, Wolff has found, “I have such a good time vending, because people like to laugh.”
Today, still Wolff doesn’t charge much for his work. At his first show, he sold pieces for $12, and while he’s raised his prices since then, it’s not by much. “The price is tied in to the brand,” he acknowledged, and he continues to build his brand, but he wants to keep his prices within reason. “Henry still has a good range on prices,” Wolff observed, “and as long as I keep selling…” He also noted that, unlike many of his artist friends, “I have a really good job, and don’t have to eat based on what I sell.”
The Art He Made
“I don’t know if I’ll ever feel comfortable taking the leap,” into painting for a living, Wolff acknowledged. He likes his day job, and he really enjoys painting for his own enjoyment – and the enjoyment of the people he makes laugh.
If you want to enjoy a bit of silliness, stop by Portage Bay Goods in January to see original works by Wolff. If you’d like to meet him, and learn more about this emerging artist, he’ll be at the shop during First Friday Art Walk on January 6th from 6p – 9p.
Wolff is young, and starting out, but he made a very poignant observation about the need for everyone to get out there, to find our inspirations and celebrate our art. “With all the artists that died this year,” Wolff observed, “at least we have the art they made.” Let’s make sure we acknowledge and celebrate it all!
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