Ellie began exploring Art after college and a 30+ year career in office management and accounting. She says Art chose her! She began exploring with decorative Art because it was good for beginners with no formal Art training. She learned the basics of perspective, color theory, design structure, light, and shadows, by using designs and instructions of others. She then wanted to create her own designs.

Her painting style has been described as ‘Realistic Impressionism’. She believes that the detail and orderliness of her style is a result of her career in management and accounting and her early classes in Decorative Art being very structured.

She usually paints from phots and often creates still-life arrangements using family heirlooms. He medium is oil paint that is made from natural oils such as refined safflower or linseed. She uses baby oil to clean her brushes and has not used turpentine or mineral spirits is 20 years.