Elaina Acosta Ford

Since I was a kid, two obsessions have ruled my life: creating art and devouring music. My days were spent with my ears glued to my boombox and hand furiously drawing on stacks of paper. Crayons and Prince. Markers and Madonna. Charcoal and Superchunk. Pastels and Archers of Loaf. Colored pencils and Arcade Fire.

In my twenties, my passion for music dominated. For much of that decade, I toured the country as the drummer in an indie rock band called Hot IQs. We were fortunate enough to play with Tegan and Sara, The Flaming Lips, Spoon, The Killers, and so many other amazing musicians.

The following decade has been dedicated to a resurgence of creating art. The impetus may well have been my partner and I creating a high-spirited child. Our son’s birth has caused me to ponder the state of the world we are leaving, or not, to our children and grandchildren. My most recent pieces have been heavily inspired by nature, especially the inhabitants from the insect and animal world. Working mostly with pastels and colored pencils, while grooving to my greatest hits, I have been creating realistic work with a trace of the absurd.