Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Ellis.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Carolyn. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I didn’t find my way to abstract art until 2012 when I was 62. To my total surprise, the passion, power, and impact of my first painting struck me to the core. Here in 2018 I am still dumbfounded by what pours out of me into my work. The fact that translated into form and color my personal fears, energy, joy, discouragement, hope…, ends up speaking a universal language continues to amaze me.
Applying the phrase “fail harder” to my art journey, I right away went “all in,” committing myself emotionally, psychologically, and financially, painting big six foot work, buying the best paints and cavasses, renting a studio, pursuing making art with everything that was in me. The idea that I might not sell anything that no one might come to see my work, that I was wasting my money on a pointless dream entered my head of course but I completely rejected it. Fail harder became my battle cry!
The fact that I live in a rural area, outside a town of 1,000, has always been a challenge. My first solution to remote and rural living was to rent a studio in nearby Athens (pop. 12,000), which has a Community College, a 50 year old Community Theater (enthusiasm for the arts), and wealth dating back generations.
My 10’x 20′ studio, a lawyer’s conference room, was directly across the street from the #1 café in town, meaning “my people” all ate across the street! I sold 5 large paintings to a Dallas “Super lawyer” and 5 to a Doctor from Dallas, the head of the Trauma Unit at Baylor, from this tiny little space, which I left in June of 2017 when my lease wasn’t renewed. After a glorious six months at a free pop-up studio in Dallas, which I vacated this past March, I have been working from home – Kemp, TX.
For me abstract art nourishes the soul, engages the mind, rejoices the heart, challenges fear and prejudice, creates limitless new realities, rejects conventions and limits, is an unending experiment, a fearless adventure, is free verse in color, is personal even intimate…and so much more. Through abstract art I am not just becoming a better artist, I am becoming a freer, happier, more joy-filled, complete human being, which has had a hugely positive effect on my marriage, family, truly ever relationship, my daily life, health… O the joy!
My art statement summarizes my life as an artist:
Abstract art is about fearlessly pushing conventions and limits until there are none, improvising to the hilt creating endless new realities.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest struggle has been to defeat my own self-doubt. Standing in front of a big new $200 canvas can be petrifying. Practical fears that I would ruin the canvas with second rate work that no one would ever buy it, that I was wasting my time and money had to be fought daily, especially during my first year. The decision to go for my dream, to fail harder, to believe in myself and my process, rather than be killed by common sense, is still a daily decision.
Carolyn Ellis Art – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My specialty is to paint my story, my journey, my interior realities, something no one can do but me- making me entirely unique. Painting big, 5′ and larger, is what I love to do most.
Pride does not enter into my story. My greatest happiness is to be able to paint, to be an artist, to wordlessly express my insides – outside!
After that, my greatest happiness to date is successfully talking my way into a 6 month free 1500sf studio just off of Henderson Ave. (Aug 2017 to March 2018)
The fact that Open Realty Advisors took me on, allowing me access to the heart of the Henderson Arts District, instead of laughing at my proposal amounted to something like winning American Idol for me! I had the time of my life at this studio!
What were you like growing up?
As a child I lived within myself, virtually shunning my brother and sister. My games all related to my fantasies, of which I was always the center! A reader, a thinker, clearly an interior person, I paid little attention to who and what was around me. When I began to paint, abstract art- which is entirely about interior reality – was a perfect fit. In fact, I like to say that abstract art picked me much more than I picked it.
Pricing:
- Most of my work prices out in the $500 to $5,000 range.
Contact Info:
- Website: carolynellisart.com
- Phone: 903.880.3005
- Email: carolynellisart@gmail.com
- Instagram: Carolyn Ellis Art
- Facebook: Carolyn Ellis Art
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
