Marvel at These Maximalist Second Life Images by Ella Pavlona

Cajsa Lilliehook covers the best in virtual world screenshot art and digital painting

Ella Pavlova is a maximalist. While many artists strive for minimalism or realism, a maximalist goes for excess. “More is more” might be the catch-phrase that defines maximalism, but that does not mean undisciplined or chaotic. Yes, she and the bluebird are surrounded by flowers but they curve around her, encircling her. They do not obscure her, though perhaps the bluebird is hard to see at first glance, but then, it is King Charmant visiting the imprisoned Princess Florine, who is, it seems, in a prison of flowers. Elle links to the exquisite Bluebird pas de deux from Sleeping Beauty. 

For more maximalist Ella, click here:

“Art As Mindfulness” is a visual representation of how she experiences doubt and insecurity. In our relentlessly “social” world, it takes courage to confess to any insecurities, let alone to attempt to portray them in a picture. But she took it on and succeeded. There are these dark ribbons that seem to entwine and hold her back, but she struggles forward. There are bright flashes of light and birds that seem to be on her side. She is not about to drown in a slough of despond. 

She also has a marvelous album of pictures called Amberly and Ella featuring her with  her friend Amberly whom I featured back in July. I love them all, the minimal and the maximal. The exquisite balanced composition of this one, though, takes my breath away. As with her other pictures, the musical inspiration is spot on. 

While I tend to be drawn to minimalist work, I love Ella Pavlova’s photostream. Her more-is-more is not helter-skelter piling on of one thing on top of another but a disciplined and ordered assembling of just a few elements repeated again and again. Something about her work makes me think of Li Huasheng, particularly this painting “In the Woods.” He fills the canvas, but it’s not unruly. I know their work is very different, but there is the same ordered impulse for more. 

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Comments

[Coughran Mayo]

Ella is a marvel! In addition to her great art talent, she has also virtually (no pun intended) built the Mindful Cove sim http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mindful%20Cove/109/139/32
as a home for our deliberate community of people who value emotional and mental health and wellness.

Love having her on our team!

Coughran Mayo