Artist Statement/Bio

Elasah Schaff-Smith is a mixed media and teaching artist in Pelham, NY. Coming from the culturally rich city of Chicago, she has explored many different mediums in the arts, which include painting, sculpture, collage, photography, textiles, fashion, music and dance. Throughout her career, she has operated an art and design business as well as taught classes intermittently.

Elasah began her creative journey when she first put color to paper. That freedom and joy of expression has remained consistent and constant. Additionally, Elasah is strongly influenced by the energetic spirit of nature. Many themes and modes of expression are inspired by movement in the wind, various environments and bodies of water.

The improvisational style in Elasah’s creative expression captures moments of mystery while experiencing the magnificent beauty of the earth. Using textural media on surfaces and a variety of hand made tools, the worlds of abstraction and realism merge. Her work reflects a lyric colorful language, combined with visual harmony.