Artwork copyright Dean Eliasen. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Dean Eliasen. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Whirled Whole, 1998

Dean Eliasen
American (born 1946, died 2020)

Location: Mariner High School, Everett

About the Artwork

Artist Dean Eliasen created the brightly-colored, geometric painting Whirled Whole. He created a special technique to apply the swirling paint. First, he cut a hole in the bottom of a tin can. He hung the can from his studio ceiling with a rope and placed his canvas underneath it. Then he filled the can with paint. By spinning the can at different speeds and angles he created circles, ovals, and spirals. He noted that the forms remind him of different shapes in science like atoms, molecules, and planets in orbit.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Mukilteo School District.

About the Artist

Late artist Dean Eliasen (1946-2020) was based in Spokane, Eastern Washington. He created abstract, geometric paintings using iridescent paints that change when viewed from different angles.
Born in Spokane, Eliasen studied studio art at the University of Washington in Seattle and painting at the San Francisco Art Institute in California.