About the Artist

 

Ellen grew up in a ranching family in Corsicana, Texas. She graduated from Southern Methodist University. After raising her three children and being one of the founders of a classical and Christian school in Austin, Texas, she has devoted herself to creating art that reflects the glory of God.

 

Thesis: Each artist has a philosophy and a style. An artist’s philosophy evolves from how one makes sense of the sum of life’s experiences. An artist’s style develops naturally through study, careful observation, and what one learns from master teachers.

 

Philosophy: Ellen Willis grew up the daughter of a rancher in Corsicana Texas. At an early age, she developed a love for the created order and its beauty. Later, her study of art history at Southern Methodist University gave her a deep appreciation for the artists that had gone before her and the realization that artists today stand on their shoulders. This study made her gravitate to art museums and galleries as she traveled. She only dreamt that one day she would become a full time professional artist. Maintaining this dream, she began to study art as she raised her three children. A defining philosophical moment came when she embarked on founding a classical and Christian school in Austin. While having to think through the mission statement for the school, there was an epiphany; “To know, love and practice that which is true, good and beautiful.” This became not only the mission of the school, but the philosophy of her art.

 

Style: Because the created order contains such variety, Ellen loves many different types of subjects. She finds herself studying under many different types of artists. (See below for partial list) This impressive list of teachers gives her the ability to paint a wide variety of subjects. Ellen senses a great debt to each of these artists who has taken the time to teach her their craft. These teachers and her own experimentation contribute to Ellen’s unique style. Capturing the three-dimensional world on a two-dimensional canvas is always a challenge. Her orchestration of light, shadow, color, edges and brushwork gives her compositions a stunning yet peaceful quality.

 

Ellen’s art has been featured in gallery and museum shows in Texas and California.

 

None of us accomplishes anything on our own.  While she is grateful to so many people for their help and encouragement, she is particularly grateful to these artists with which she has had the privilege to study:

 

Carolyn Anderson   Bye Bitney                                                                         

Brian Blood   Scott Burdick                                             

John Budicin Jill Carver                                                                                                         

Warren Chang Scott Christensen                                    

John Cosby                                           Marty Hatcher

Robert Johnson                                   William Kalwick

Greg Kreutz                                          Marlin Linville

Huihan Liu                                           Susan Lyon

Sherrie McGraw                                  C. W. Mundy                                        

Kay Polk                                                Chuck Rawle                                      

Ron Rencher                                        Peggy Kroll Roberts                     

Matt Smith                                           Jeff Watts                     

Michael Workman                              Henry Yan       

Hong Nian Zhang                               Zhaoming Wu

 

Ellen recently completed a two-year mentoring study with John Cosby, one of the premier landscape painters in the country and an outstanding teacher.  His instruction has been invaluable.

 

Societies

Austin Plein Air

Oil Painters of America (OPA)

American Impressionist Society (AIS)