Ellen Rice Fine Art
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Ellen's Blog


​

"I want to become an artist. . . . What medium should I use?"

9/2/2017

1 Comment

 
This is a question retiring newcomers to this area often ask me. I could give multiple answers, but for me, it all starts with one.
 
My first suggestion – and last – is to learn the basics of drawing and develop a strong foundation in its principles before even considering moving into color.  Pablo Picasso had a strong foundation in representational drawing, and if you study the works for which he was best known, you can see his understanding of perspective, light, shadow, hues and value from his traditional training in all of it.
 
When I teach, basic drawing is where I start.
 
I have painted professionally with watercolor, pastels, pastel pencils, acrylics and oils, the latter of which I’ve stayed with for the last 15 years. (Mouse over images to see the medium used.)  But before I ever worked in color, I mastered the art of drawing. My first job illustrating for publications was doing black and white drawings for a weekly newspaper for 8 years. It was great training.
 
Whether you want to paint realistically, impressionistically, expressionistically, abstractly or all of the above, knowing the basics of light, shadow, hue, value and perspective are key.
 
Here are some examples of drawings and paintings in different mediums that illustrate the importance of having a foundation in drawing. As I went through my paintings and drawings, I think I could have chosen every one for this purpose. There's not one that did not require at least basic drawing skills.

If you'd like to ask me any questions, click the word Comments at the top of this blog and I'll be happy to answer. - Ellen
Colored pencils
Pen & Ink
Pen, ink & watercolor
Monochromatic watercolor, Payne's Grey
Chalk pastel
Chalk pastel
Acrylic
Oil
Oil
OIl
Oil
Oil
1 Comment

The big white blank canvas

8/9/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture

This post is for those artists among us who face blank white canvases with fear and trembling. You're not alone.

I've earned my living solely through my artwork for more than 25 years, have been painting professionally for more than four decades, have gained a reputation for quality work, heaps of praise, a strong following, a lot of awards and am known fairly widely as a "collectible" artist.

But I still face a blank canvas with trepidation.

I'm basically self taught, but had a wonderful high school art teacher, Irene Silverstein, who taught the basics of all good representational art and I often "hear" her words as I paint. Those principles don't change.

One of my most distinct memories is of her telling my class that the greatest challenge even the best artists have, sometimes throughout their careers, is a facing blank white canvas. Her answer? Cover it, cover it with any color, even white!

Just the act of covering the canvas with even a thin glaze of color makes the Great Blank White Canvas Monster fade away. Once those first brush strokes go down fear turns to joy and the Great Blank White Canvas Monster is defeated. 

It helps me. I hope it helps you, too. - Ellen

1 Comment

    Author

    Ellen Rice began painting as a small child, sitting across the dining room table from her mother, a Corcoran student who loved to volunteer her drawings for good causes.

    Ellen’s first love was drawing ballerinas and horses, then family pets, portraits of her sisters and the many aspects of life around her. She won her first award in the sixth grade for a Maryland safety poster she created and sold her first painting as a sophomore in high school to a fellow art student. It was enough money to get a bus to her summer job in Rehoboth Beach.

    Today one of the East Coast’s most collected artists, Ellen’s paintings are found in private homes and government and corporate collections throughout the United States and abroad

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  • Home
  • Original Paintings
    • Available Paintings
    • Paintings in Progress
    • Portraits & Other Commissions
  • Strength of Women Series
    • About the Series
    • Standing on the Rock Vol I
    • The Journey Vol II
    • No Way Out Vol III
    • Freedom Vol IV
    • The Narrow path Vol V
    • Reflection Vol VI
    • In God's Hands Vol VII
    • Whatsoever things are lovely Vol VIII
  • Ellen's Prints
    • About Ellen Rice Prints
    • Indian River Inlet paintings
    • Seascapes and Beach
    • Bay Scenes
    • Maps & Treasure Coast History
    • Lighthouses, Coast Guard Stations & Delaware's Watchtowers
    • Children's Prints and Portraits
    • Dog Portraits & Prints
    • Pony & Horse Portraits & Prints
    • Trees & Landscapes
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Pen, ink, watercolor & pencil drawings
    • Paintings with Uplifting Stories
  • Ellen's Small Gifts
    • Ellen's Ornaments & Mini Framed Gicle'es
  • American Hand Made
    • CERAMICS, POTTERY and RAKU >
      • Georgetown Pottery by Jeff Peters
      • J. Davis Raku InnerSpirit Rattles & Ornaments
    • TIDE CLOCKS
    • CLOCKS & TOYS by Laughing Moon
    • GLASS ART >
      • Chiara Reading Stained Glass
      • Justin Cavagnaro Glass Art
      • Luke Adams Blown Glass
      • Joel Bloomberg Jellyfish Lamps
    • JEWELRY BY THE SHORE >
      • Austin Cake's Sun Sea Sand Sea Glass Jewelry
      • Meg's Prism Sea Glass Jewelry
      • Diane Page Beach Glass Jewelry Designs
      • Kim Doughty-Cavagnaro
    • LEAF LEATHER by CL Whiting >
      • Card Cases & Other Small Accessories
      • Classic Handbags
      • Coinpurse & Cosmetic
      • Leather-Edged Bags
      • Small Bags
      • Totes
      • Working Bags
      • Men's Wallets
      • Women's Wallets
    • PUPPETS & PUPPET KITS - Cate & Levi
    • WOOD >
      • Steve Baldwin Wooden Toys
  • News
  • About
    • About Ellen Rice
    • About the Studio
    • About Ellen Rice Prints
    • Services & Policies
    • Staff
  • Contact
  • Curbside Pickup
  • Retiring Print Sale