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Almost every visitor to my home-based Studio & Art Gallery is awed by the amount of artwork they get to see:

First, visitors likely notice the paintings I've mounted on the outside of the house. And, in warm weather, perhaps the 20 or more pieces that I've hung in the Summer Gallery (garage). Then, coming inside, they see the 16 or so smaller paintings on display (on either side of the steps leading up to my Winter Studio. The Studio itself—particularly at this time of year—is crowded with Works in Progress. (Right now, WIPs hanging around my easel around number 12 or 13 in various sizes from 16 x 20 to 36 x 60 inches.)

Having enjoyed my (perpetually messy) work station, there's still much more to see downstairs on the first floor. "Anywhere you see a light on, feel free to look," I tell my guests. Indeed, throughout the kitchen, dining, living rooms and what we call the Dancing Parlour, one can choose from among another 50 large and small artworks the right and perfect paintings for them. And then there's the basement ....

"You're so prolific!" my visitors exclaim. And, yes, I do paint a lot. Earlier in my painting career, when I focused on small paintings, I would produce at least 75-100 studies each year, probably more. (Not all were "keepers," but a lot of them did make it to someone's wall.) My desire to paint in larger formats has been in part a response to spend more time with each piece and now I produce only about 50 paintings in different sizes. But, still, when you paint as much as I do, you need the kind of basement (with plenty of storage slots) I have. I love giving my visitors the choice of many works from which to select a piece that's just right for the spot they have in mind.

A good number of my Studio visitors are other artists. Many of them bemoan the fact that while they wish they could, they don't paint enough. Many complain: "I don't have the time." Or, "I don't have the space."  Or, "I can't get motivated." Some, recognizing these as excuses, admit they are simply afraid of what might happen if they did paint—they might not be good enough. Or, they harbor a very deeply buried concern—they might be better than they thought.

While at times it feels like I'm torturing them, I love inspiring the artists to deal with whatever it is that apparently blocks their artistic expression. I want them to at least give themselves the chance to find out what art might want to flow through them.  The more you paint, I tell them, the more you will learn to make better art. Making  lots of paintings and what you learn from making them is key to fulfilling your potential as an artist.

I inspire myself each day by seeing the paintings I've already made. Then, I pick up a brush and get to work. Something unexpected invariably happens. Sometimes I try too hard and make something I don't like. But, then, in frustration, I don't try at all and something brilliant occurs. It's not about making perfect paintings, it's often about forgiving my attempts to block the art that wants to be made by me—about letting go and letting God create through me.

One vital key to my ability to make a lot of paintings is a dedicated space in which to make them. I encourage any artist who's frustrated with their output to examine the conditions under which they're trying to work. It's not impossible to make art in tight quarters, but making the effort to create more space for your creating is often a sign of a growing commitment. Over the 17 years I've been painting, it's been an increasing priority to enlarge the spaces—physical, mental and emotional—the spiritual practice of my art seems to require.

The rewards of prolific painting have been many—you can check out the SOLD section on my website to see some of the many that have gone to live in other homes. Once I'd made enough paintings that I could enjoy, it became natural to show them to others. In the early days of my first home shows, generous friends purchased my work. Later, as confidence in my work grew, I offered my art to a wider public in gallery shows. Now, I enjoy sharing my work in a variety of settings, including most recently, the installation BIRDS FLY IN: A Human Refuge. In this exhibit, described by many visitors as "moving" and "powerful," I've found a way to integrate overarching art ideas in a very large way. (If you missed it this summer, you'll have another opportunity at the Dennos Museum, September-December, 2021!)

For the way it encourages me to do my art every day—and the ease with which I can do so—I still love my home-based Studio & Gallery. As winter (and the reality of more Covid-related confinement) approaches, I look forward to painting. It's true, there may be fewer visitors, but there will be a lot more paintings and I will find creative ways to share them with you. I invite you to get ready today for whatever is to come by making space in your life for art and art-making—for you too can immerse yourself in bright ideas and colors that will bring about a greater good in our world.

With All Best Wishes for your Art & Life,

Ellie