When Ellen and I finally connected on the phone for my interview with her, she had just finished a painting of Lake Tahoe. She was absolutely brimming with enthusiasm and excitement, telling me, “I need inventory!” Which means her exquisite pieces are selling out this holiday season. She went on to say, “Painting is my JOY!” And there started our hour-long conversation, as we both shared stories from how our paths have crossed over the years, quite often unknowingly.
Her love and reverence for what she calls “The Camelot Years” at Lake Tahoe Community College brought back special memories. David Foster, Phyllis Shafer, Francis Rider, all the greats! They were teaching 16 different mediums during those prolific years. And so she fell in love with art. She worked for Phyllis while taking classes and surviving as a single mom. She got into watercolor, and when she thought it was cool, she would scan and print her work, and even she even sold some. Then the meaningful advice from legendary Dave Russo (studied with Picasso as a young teen!) changed her trajectory. Russo said, “Use anything you can to make art!”
And so her mad scientist experimentation began.
Ellen blurts out to me, “I am a Scientist!” By the way, she often speaks in the third person, which makes for a very fun conversation. It’s like there are three of us in the chat. She says, “Ellen has been playing for seven years!” Followed by, “This is why Fluid Painting and I get along so well!”
I know I’m using a lot of exclamation points in this story, but that is how she speaks, complete and total passion about her talent. She started playing with rock salt, paints, and freezing temperatures, crazy stuff. She kept working on bigger and bigger pieces; the salt cemented itself into fabulous glitter. She recounted to me that she started her pouring style technique in 2005–twenty years ago! It has been an evolution for her, and when things connect, it feels so good for an artist. It is truly exciting. She spares no words, saying, “It is so fun to make s*** up!” She goes on to say, “I like realism, but I took off into an experimental place that continues in my work today.” She says, “It is just now starting to gel…it’s all coming at me. I have more confidence. It’s all about the RESIN!”
Ellen has been discovered by the local community; she has been selling her art for a while and tries to keep her art affordable. After her foray with salt in 2016/17, she got into Fluid Painting through YouTube, and by January 2019, she had figured it out. Oh, her recollection of dates, times and places is uncanny…I kind of have the same weird talent.
She starts working with her wonderful husband, Randy, who was a fireman and paramedic for 33 years before retiring. They are true artist partners. He starts making the lake shapes with his router in the garage, and she starts painting them. She threw 10 of them in the back of her car and hoofed it into galleries and shops around town. People went crazy for them. Today, you can find her works at Clearly Tahoe in Round Hill, Tahoe Trunk Show in Tahoe City, and Tahoe Gifting Company in Incline Village. She takes studio visits by appointment.
Her presentation this Thursday will include a demonstration of Fluid Painting. She will focus on the breakthrough that an artist may experience as they try something new and different. She invites people to come learn the basics to start fluid painting on their own. It will be a relaxing and fun evening.
Member Mingles are always open to the public! Come meet Ellen and see our lovely Winter Art Show with so many nice pieces for gift-giving.
Thursday, December 18
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Tahoe Art League Gallery, 3062 Lake Tahoe Blvd
-By Michelle Gomez, Tahoe Art League
