Ellen...
The Artist
The endeavor
to create a work of art with bits and pieces of broken glass, pottery
and tile, placed in a harmonious fashion, transforms Ellen to a peaceful
and tranquil state of mind where she becomes oblivious to the basics
of life such as food or sleep. The results of her powerful and yet graceful
design, quiet passion, infinite patience and near microscopic attention
to details, is a full, rich, distinctive object of art, which is one-of-a-kind.
Although artistic
talent was in abundance in her mother's family, Ellen was never known
to show any particular flair in this direction. So, when she created
her first mosaic picture frame, some 8 years ago, at the age of 52,
I could envision what was to come as she began to experiment and perfect
this talent which had been dormant until that point.
Ellen, a self
taught artist, has followed her artistic dreams ever since. Her inventiveness
in the use if various materials allows her to impart a unique beauty
to mirrors, chairs, murals, or any object regarded by her, as suitable
vehicle for her mosaic designs.
Ellen describes
her stained glass mosaics as "Paintings Done in Glass". They
emanate a warm reflective quality, achievable only with glass. Many
of the pique assiette pieces, made with broken china, porcelain flowers,
figurines and jewelry, give a refreshing new life to old materials that
may have otherwise been discarded.
"At the end of a long day, I turn the lights out, close my eyes, but, I can't sleep because my mind is racing with ideas. I am creating the mental 'Blue-Print' for the next project, awaiting execution". At the crack of dawn, drained from a sleepless night, yet wide-eyed with excitement, Ellen describes to me (her husband of 38 years) in full detail the ideas conceived of, the night before.
Few things in life give Ellen more pleasure than to see that 'Blue-Print' evolve into an exquisite reality.
Art isn't her only accomplishment. She is also a wife, a mother of three children, grandmother of three and a registered nurse/diabetes educator by profession.
She is also now an artist, though late, but blooming fully.
