Today we’d like to introduce you to Addie Elling.
Hi Addie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have always been an artist. For me, that means being a painter. ‘A’ is for ‘artist’ as much as ‘A’ is for Addie- as all those icebreaker games in class always went. My great-grandmother was a painter in her later adult life as was my great-grandfather. He was a papermaker, draftsman, and fine artist. My family made the obvious connection when I began to show artistic abilities as a little kid. It never felt like an option to be anything else. I was never made to feel like I had to play that role, it was given to me and I assumed my place. I have felt this for as long as I have been able to know things.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall
and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I began my freshman year at the College of Visual Arts in Saint Paul, MN in 2010. It was a very small private art school located in the Summit Hill area. I was enchanted by the place. The buildings were old Victorian homes and the ‘campus’ was really just the neighborhood itself. God, I finally felt like I could be myself. I was finally in an environment with people like me, people that liked the music I liked, and understood the references I cared about. I finally had people my age who I desired to learn from. It felt like the most fertile soil for a young, lonely, and disconnected mind. I have a memory from my professor of Professional Practice that guides me now as my mantra. My professor said: ‘73% of you will stop making art after you graduate’. The statistic tells us that most art school graduates stop making art because ‘real’ life can’t afford the time required for the luxury to paint or sculpt. As most of us likely will not be able to support ourselves financially with our art making. Instead, most of us will find a ‘regular’ job, possibly beginning new families and will become too distracted by these duties to resume a serious art practice. Not me. I will keep making, and have since been dedicating myself to one of the other 27%.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I can say that I have had my work shown in several local Twin Cities gallery shows, participated in multiple art festivals across the state and sell replications of my work at three retail locations in Saint Paul. Last year, I became a part of the Lowertown Artist Collective and moved into the Northern Warehouse in that area of Saint Paul. I’m actively working on new material and have begun a solid reputation for commissioned work. Examples of my paintings can be found on my website addielelling.com.
What were you like growing up?
I would always be drawing, making crafts, doodling, writing, and creating stories. Needing to make something- anything. I wonder sometimes if I was always drawing as a way to manage my naturally shy and anxious nature or if they need to keep drawing created that restlessness in the first place. I was always praised by my teachers for my enthusiasm and skill in art class. I never considered it a ‘class’ at all. It was a place to play and tune my craft. I grew a reputation at school as being ‘artistic’ I still have many drawings and paintings from elementary school. I had organized them in a large black portfolio. Each piece slid carefully into its own plastic sleeves to preserve them in time. My intent to be taken seriously began very early.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @addie_elling
