I am inspired by the inner world, the contemplative, the psychological, the spiritual. My inspiration tends toward the timeless and universal. I am not an artist of my time, but an artist of all times. I’m always scanning my world for the gesture, expression, pose or atmosphere which evokes a sense of ageless and enduring beauty.

My art is intertwined with my life, not as a literal narrative but obliquely, as something deeply felt but mirrored in metaphor and association. As I grow older I find there is a profound richness in all of life, the joy and the love but also the pain and the loss.

Though my work contains recognizable objects - people, animals, insects, flowers, etc., and, in some cases, quite realistically depicted, my desire is that everything in a painting contribute inextricably to the whole. This means that each element must be tested so that it works aesthetically as well as resonates emotionally or spiritually.

I am often deeply moved by the way the light illuminates an object, the power, the mystery! From that evocative beginning comes a journey, full of risk, uncertainty and restatement. I strive to build the aesthetic architecture combining composition, value, color, and edges which anchors the more intangible qualities that emerge in the process of painting.

I never know how a painting is going to turn out, each one has its own voice. I have learned to be still and listen to it, without imposing my own ideas of what I “think” it should be. It would be an act against nature to overwhelm this gentle voice. Instead I persevere, exploring themes, implications and deeply felt personal intuitions with many restatements till all that is left rings true.

You can visit Ellen's website to view more of her work here.

Watch our Pandemic Artwork Stories conversation with Ellen here.