Meet Eleanor Neal | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eleanor Neal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eleanor, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Going back to school later in life was a risk. I had a Masters in Art Education but really wanted my MFA. Being single working full time as an educator I could not afford to leave my teaching career to go back to school full-time. I knew I wanted to go to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago to get my MFA. Once they offered an opportunity get an MFA there and keep your full-time job here in Atlanta, I was ready to take a risk. I was a part of the first MFA program at SAIC where you could continue your full-time job, take Fall/Spring courses online as well as maintaining a home studio. Then spend 7 weeks in the summer in Chicago on campus. It was a rigorous engaging program, that allowed me to explore my work conceptually and materially. I was engaged in the Chicago community as well as the Atlanta community. As a result of taking risk at SAIC I have continued to explore possibilities here in Atlanta. I have enjoyed exploring areas outside of Atlanta, the Georgia Sea Islands and the rich Gullah heritage near South Carolina. I have spent time on Daufuskie Island to further explore it’s unique beauty as it relates to my artwork. I feel that part of taking risk is about moving forward and pushing oneself to see what happens next. What do I take from past, present experiences, discoveries, that can lead to new experiences. How can I relate and intertwine these stories and experiences with what I want to accomplish in the future.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Shout Out artist statement
Tell us about yourself?
My artwork- The artwork I create explores places in the form of abstraction. It explores the connection to myths and Southern stories, where identity and nature intersect. Inspired by the landscape of the South, Spanish moss, oak trees, water, and historical stories of powerful women. Inspiration comes from nature; Spanish moss which lives on the trees along the Georgia Sea Coast. I work with various types of paper and non-traditional printmaking processes. I coat printmaking paper with beeswax and threads of Spanish Moss to create mixed-media collages that explore the intersections between myth and identity.
Lately, I’ve been exploring paper-making and natural dyes as it relates to a sense of place.
I explore the landscape and the women of the South; how their spirit can carry off, through nature; plants, flowers, trees, to move, change, yet always searching for a place of permanence and empowerment. Daufuskie Island South Carolina has been a place to explore plants, trees, water, and the home of the Gullah community.
What am I most proud about- I’m proud of my artistic journey, and how one area of interest leads to another area of exploration. For example, my interest in the flowers and plants from the South have led me to explore natural dyes and creating collage artworks with natural dyes and handmade papers. I’m also using plants from Georgia in this papermaking process to further explore a sense of place.
What have I learned along the way. I should allow myself to continue to learn and seek information. We are all life learners and it’s important to belong to community. Being a part of a community and providing dialogue in one’s community creates a stronger individual, artists, and community.
What do I want the world to know about me/my story. I’d like people to become more engaged and interested in finding a sense of place that speaks to them. Then reflect on how they can further explore or enhance that place. My interest in the Gullah Islands have led me to further explore the Georgia Sea Islands through my abstract ink drawings, colorful monotypes with Spanish Moss that intertwine into the drawings. As well as the natural plant dyed handmade papers that connect with different places I have explored and discovered in the South. My artwork also speaks to the people of the Gullah, family and community.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I just discovered a new spot that I really enjoyed. Delbar Restaurant in Buckhead. I’d also take my friend to see some art at MOCA GA where they can see artwork from Georgia artists. I like Miami Circle and all the shops, galleries, and restaurants – the Eclipse di Luna has the best tapas and line dancing too. The Atlanta Beltline would be on the list too. Also, Spelman College Museum of Art and Hammonds House Museum. And Jeni’s Ice Cream shop. I like the one on Howell Mill Rd.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shout Out goes to MOCA GA, Annette Cone-Skelton, The Hambidge Center, SAIC, Gregg Bordowitz, Larry Walker, books- Daufuskie Island by Jeanne Moutoussamy- Ashe, Daughters of the Dust by Julie Dash, and my art critique group-The Goat Farm Critique Group. Susan Ker-Seymer and I belong to this group.

Website: https://www.eleanornealart.com

Instagram: @eleanornealartist

Image Credits
No image credits.