Crashing Waves by Eleanor King Hookham

Eleanor King Hookham
American, 1909-2003
Crashing Waves, 1972
Oil on canvas
On loan to Elmhurst Public Library from Elmhurst Art Museum

2nd Floor, Fiction/Non-Fiction Section

Eleanor King Hookham (1909-2003) was the founder and driving force for building the Elmhurst Art Museum. Her life was dedicated to her true passion, art. Once you stepped into the artist's home and mind, oil paintings, watercolors, and signature ink-coffee drawings occupied her fascination with the creative. Unapologetic, she was always surrounded by what she loved. Looking at the breadth of her interests El King, as she called herself professionally, moved through life by delicately documenting her shifting interests.

She often depicted ocean waves on different-sized canvas', studying the color and light dancing along the foamy shorelines. These works were often done in watercolor or oil on canvas. This triptych highlights the encouragement from her parents to paint the beauty she saw around here. From her tender still lifes of a flower's fresh morning breath to the iconic skyline of Chicago, she never truly stopped breathing her passion.