Saving Animals with art

Ellen Blakely officially entered the world of art in 1970; she studied at the University of Michigan, and then graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Fine Art. She also has a degree in commercial art, which honed her drawing skill. She would go on to continue her artistic education for years at various art workshops, studying everything from intensive drawing to watercolor, and pastel. She eventually discovered a love for acrylic, and oil painting as well.

Describing watercolor as a constant challenge, she records her perception of nature on a two-dimensional surface with this difficult medium. She prefers the challenge of the traditional approach of watercolor painting, which means she avoids opaque white. She learned this approach after college from William Wensley, a master watercolorist with the American Watercolor Society.

She discovered a love for oils, acrylics, and pastels, and especially appreciates the intensity of their color and richness in texture. Contrary to watercolor, these mediums are more forgiving and therefore require less intense control. She finds pastel especially spontaneous and fun.

Ellen usually paints to music, instilling in each of her creations what she calls, “a musical soul.”

Using the beauty of the environment surrounding her in Florida and Michigan, she paints plain air as well as using her photographic images - both of which allow her to incorporate her own emotional feelings associated with each subject.

She describes her painting experience as “out of body,” where she escapes the binding aspects of thirst, hunger, and time. In fact, she becomes so intertwined creating each piece that returning to the real world can be a struggle.

After creating a work of art, Ellen inspects it at different distances and lighting conditions to make sure her painting carries across a room.