BIO

Ellen’s path to becoming an abstract artist took many turns. Discouraged from attending art school in favor of a more traditional route, she focused on her other passion: musical theatre where she was a touring stage manager for several years. After a minor injury sidelined her for a short time, she became a graphic designer which led to user interface design, product development, and life on the corporate track - culminating in a variety of creative roles as a corporate executive in a Fortune 100 company.

She successfully transitioned from the structured world of business to the vibrant and dynamic realm of abstract art. Her work exudes an unmistakable urban vibe, reflecting the dichotomy of her past and present. Ellen is known for her unconventional textures and techniques, and she often incorporates found materials into her work, lending an authentic urban grit to her pieces. Old maps, torn posters, discarded packing and construction materials, find their way into her paintings, adding elements of surprise and discovery for the viewer.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My paintings always evolve from the process. I’m influenced by dilapidated buildings, and the way time and nature’s elements alter our surroundings. Rust, peeling paint, and cracked surfaces have a distressed and quiet beauty that I try to evoke in my work and I love the never-ending variety of elements and textures that I can layer into a single piece. 

I begin each new painting by simply getting something (anything!) onto the surface. Whether simple marks, paper, or random color blocks, each element informs the next, and the process becomes largely intuitive. Layers of paint and paper are laid down, scraped off and painted over until a history develops. Each element that I add (or remove) creates a problem that I need to solve which is simultaneously uncomfortable and liberating.