The Topsfield Town Library is excited to unveil our newest additions to our art collection! We’ve purchased three beautiful prints highlighting the Town of Topsfield by local artist Eli 5 Stone. These beautiful prints will be installed above the library’s Circulation Desk on the first floor of the library.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Eli 5 Stone about his passion for art, the town of Topsfield, and life in general!
How’d you get interested in art?
Eli 5 Stone: I cannot say there was ever a point in time when art and making art were not interesting to me. I have never had a desire to become anything other than the artist I was born as. Nor have I ever been able to leave art by choice. So many teens are asked, “What field are you going to go into?” I could have answered that question at seven years old, for better or for worse. Options are great, but I have never had a choice as to whether or not I am an artist, if that doesn’t sound too pretentious.
Who or what are your inspirations?
The posters featured in this library are, without a question, a love letter to Topsfield. I really enjoy walking my dog, Teddy, around Meredith Farm and its beautiful hand-placed stone walls. In the summer, the trees explode with color, and in the winter, with heavy snow in the woods, everything looks like a black-and-white photograph.
What are your preferred mediums? What is your creative process?
I have always worked in black line, whether with a watercolor brush and ink, a pen, or a computer stylus; black lines (like cartooning) have always been my method of visual communication. It wasn’t until last summer, after seeing golden hay rolls on a sunny day, that I began wanting to express myself in color alone. I work in Adobe Photoshop and hand-draw from reference photos that I take.
How do you balance creating art and your family?
Poorly! But for a good reason: I am extremely passionate about both. I especially enjoy cooking for my family, and any parent will tell you that it can be an artform in itself. If I were just making posters and being a dad, that would be quite a bit. But I have a day job on top of that – I am a freelance illustrator (I am currently making art for action figure boxes). And if that weren’t enough, I am finishing up writing my first novel, “BRICK MANNIGAN: PUBIC DICK”! It’s a busy life for sure.
Tell us a bit about the three prints recently acquired by the Topsfield Town Library.
When I was too little to choose where my eyes were going, my mother used to take me to the Beverly Public Library, and I would look up at the posters there. To my young eyes, they were huge and quite impressive – I remember one Art Deco cat in particular that I liked. I cannot help but think that this had a profound impact on me as a visual thinker. Now, fifty years later, I get to be that person who inspired me. It’s a dream come true.
What’s next for you?
Publishing my novel, and then on to the audiobook! I am also currently freelancing for Big Bad Toy Store, creating art for their new The Tick toy line.
Eli 5 Stone is currently taking art commissions. Feel free to contact him directly; his email is eli5stone@gmail.com.
