Elsa Sroka

Elsa Sroka is a Colorado native. She studied at the Scottsdale Artists School and The Art Students League of Denver. From a family of eight – all of whom share the love of art and design – Sroka’s inspiration is drawn from childhood memories, particularly hours spent drawing at the kitchen table with her brothers, sisters, and father. The artist’s muse takes the form of landscapes discovered in her travels, elements found in architecture, her own imagination, and her love of animals.

Sroka’s original and witty style reimagines the personalities and connection with animals. In Sroka’s latest cow series, expression is the most important element, infusing the subject with personality. She believes the ordinary subject becomes significantly more intriguing when misplaced, such as in a parlor, inviting the viewer to pay attention through the element of surprise. This idea can apply to many different subjects, encouraging appreciation of the more subtle qualities of beauty. For the artist, emotional connection is necessary before painting can begin. By placing her subject in unconventional settings, Sroka takes a conscious detour from the traditional context found in much western art.

The artist continues to evolve through the study with well-known, inspiring artists such as Mitch Castor, David Shevlino, Andrea Kemp, Jane Jones, among others, in hopes of enhancing her art and acquiring a foundational understanding of different visual approaches. She is particularly interested in the interplay of different mediums, along with the challenge presented in manipulating traditional methods. In the end, if the paintings emotionally engage the viewer, she feels her work is complete.

Elsa Sroka’s awards and honors include Southwest Art Magazine’s Editor’s Choice, Featured Artist, and Emerging Artist selection (2018, 2017, 2013); Young Guns Featured Artist at Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale (2013); Fine Art Studio Online Jury’s Favorite 15% (2012), and more. Her work has appeared in publications such as Southwest Art Magazine, American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur, Painted Sky Magazine, Artists of the Rocky Mountain West, Colorado Homes and Lifestyles, and more. Selected exhibitions include Coors Western Art Exhibit in Denver, CO (2022, 2021, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015), Artists For The New Century, The Bennington Center For The Arts, VT (2017); "Best and Brightest," Juried Fine Art Show and Sale, Scottsdale Artists School, AZ (2014); and the juried Colorado Plein Air Fest at the Denver Public Library (2013).