Artist Statement:

My interest in art is broad - I love all techniques and styles – from photo realistic to non-objective. Throughout the years I have worked in oil paint, gouache, watercolor, handmade paper, collage, and recently printmaking.

For over twenty years I designed textile prints for use in the home. I have walked into public hotel lobbies, private homes and crowded retail stores and viewed my work on sofas, curtains, walls and tabletops. As a fabric designer, I sharpened my drawing, design and color abilities, and honed my skills painting nature. My passion for capturing the splendor of the natural world, especially the grace of flowers, has led to the creation of some amazingly detailed, photo-realistic botanical watercolor paintings.

Some of my recent work is the result of my participation in an intensive silk aquatint workshop offered by master printer Kathy Caraccio at the Castello di Potentino in Seggiano, Italy. This was a challenging and captivating experience. I was inspired by Tuscany - its food, language, aromas and architecture. Learning the limitations and possibilities of a new technique expanded my visual vocabulary.

Abstract or realistic, or a combination of both, what ties my work together is a love of detail, an intimacy of scale, and harmonious color.

Ellen Brief

Resumes:

Fine Art | Product & Graphic Design | Web Design