Artwork copyright Dean Eliasen. Photo courtesy of the artist, 2003.

Wintergreen, 1998

Dean Eliasen
American (born 1946, died 2020)

Location: Blix Elementary School, Tacoma

About the Artwork

Wintergreen is a vibrant painting by the artist Dan Eliasen. The energetic composition highlights a sense of movement. 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. Eliasen noted “For me, painting is creating your own imagined world, opening yourself to new and experimental materials and techniques. I strive to be bold and dynamic in my thinking and painting. I aspire to create a personal vision that is true, original, optimistic, and beautiful.”

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Tacoma Public Schools.

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.