Writer's Notes: I met Ellen Gabehart several year's ago and have spoken to her often at art walks as well as viewed her art in several gallery shows. Ellen's watercolors of musicians and scenes from her visits to Mexico have offered a colorful view of people and places in her active, high-energy life.My visit to Ellen's home studio was a delight of color and conversation.
Her home has many pieces of art on the walls from her travels, other artists, and from her former students. In addition, there are several pieces of furniture in the living room which she has painted with native designs in bright colors.Ellen's studio is located on a sun-filled porch -- bright and busy with small tables, bookshelves filled with sketchbooks, and a painting in progress on an easel.
She pulled a few of the sketchbooks off a shelf and we flipped through them to see a variety of drawings from her life experiences. What a wonderful "artist's diary" she has! I placed four sketchbooks on a table and took a photo. She also showed me several loose sketches from her visits to Mexico which she had painted in color.Ellen sketches quickly so has an amazing "archive" of her work within the pages of her many sketchbooks. Most every week, she goes to a music venue to sketch musicians "at work" -- a practice which began when she attended a High School of Music & Art in New York City. She's had an amazing art education -- attending schools in New York, California, and Oregon -- as well as participating in workshops with many different artists.
A very active art teacher in our community, Ellen offers a regular schedule of classes at Willamalane Adult Activity Center as well as does workshops in the area. She mentioned to me that years ago, she also worked as a courtroom artist doing sketches at the famous Diane Downs trial for KMTR-TV.Ellen loves the fact that "at her age" (I didn't ask, but 70's would be close enough) she is able to create art every day of her life and stay active -- even walking to Eugene's Saturday Market from her north Springfield home! What great energy she has ... and you'll always know Ellen is around when you hear her wonderful, unmistakable "Bronx" accent.
I look forward to many more conversations with Ellen Gabehart and wish her many more years of sketching, painting, and teaching what she so dearly loves!
More photos of Ellen's art follow the newspaper article.
Featured in the Springfield Beacon (June 27, 2007)
50 Artists: 50 Years of Art in Springfield
Celebrating arts and culture in our community
By Todd Peterson
For The Beacon
Ellen GabehartPainting with the energetic feel of music
Ellen Gabehart has lived and breathed art for virtually all of her life. A self-described "high energy person", Ellen has a sketchbook with her everywhere she goes -- always ready to quickly sketch what she is seeing.
While the subjects of her watercolor and mixed media paintings are often landscapes and florals, what Ellen loves most is drawing musicians while they're playing. Her work captures the energy of the music and feelings of the musician (and the artist doing the drawing!).
Ellen has an extensive education in the arts and has taught art in elementary schools, high schools, and colleges. Since coming to Springfield, she has taught art at Lane Community College, Maude Kerns Art Center, OASIS, the U. of O. Craft Center, and local senior centers. She now teaches art regularly at Willamalane Adult Activity Center, offering classes in drawing and painting.
For the past six years, Ellen has served as librarian for the Emerald Art Center which has a large collection of art books. She has also co-authored a book titled, "Young At Art: EasyArt Lessons for Educators" available from her by emailing: gabehart@efn.org.
Always busy with her art and teaching, Ellen is offering a free "Plein Air" Workshop for all ages at Island Park on Saturday, June 30 from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. (register at the Springfield Public Library). "Plein Air" art is created in nature, using the light, color, and sights you see to paint a landscape, figure or abstract design in one session.
Ellen Gabehart's drawings and paintings come from her heart -- clearly original -- and definitely overflowing with life energy. In her own words:
Inspiration To Begin: "It sounds funny but -- a pencil -- when I was about three years old. When I was eight, I was going to museums and copying the Old Masters. I remember drawing the 'Blue Boy'. I've been drawing in sketchbooks ever since. They're like a diary of my life."
Important Mentors: "I've had many teachers ... Frank Reilly at the Art Student's League in New York (when I was 14), Saul Bernstein at Cal State-Northridge, and Robert E. Wood who I studied with at his workshops in the San Bernadino Mountains. I also consider the Old Masters -- Rembrandt, Van Gogh -- as mentors and even Kandinsky for his unusual designs."
Value of Art in Life: "I have a quote in my studio -- 'art to me is like breathing'. Art is totally integrated into my life. There is no day that I'm not doing art and sharing art with other people. I think the Emerald Art Center is an inspirational place for people of all ages. It touches all levels of society. Everyone has a place there. It's not judgmental and competitive. A good word for the art center is 'inclusive'."
Her Artist's Legacy: "I hope people will remember that art should be in everyone's life, not apart from their lives -- not separated. As an art teacher, I've tried to help my students bring out who they are in whatever art they're doing -- to 'find their own voice' in their art."
For more information about Ellen Gabehart and to see additional images of her photos, visit the blog: www.emeraldartcenter.blogspot.com and the art center's website: www.emeraldartcenter.org.
"La Musica" by Ellen GabehartAbout The Artist
Birthplace: New York City (The Bronx)
Arts Education: High School of Music & Art, Art Students League, Chouinard Art Institute, Santa Monica City College, Cal State - Northridge, U. of Oregon
Media of Choice: Mixed Media & Watercolors
Favorite Place to Do Art: Mexico - San Miguel de Allende (visits over 15 years)
Favorite Subjects To Paint: Musicians (while they're playing)
Arts Organizations: Emerald Empire Arts Association, Maude Kerns Art Center, Oregon Watercolor Society
Currently Showing: Member show at Emerald Art Center (through end of July)
Website: www.creativeescape.com/egabehart
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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.
All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.
"Rainbow Victorian" by Ellen Gabehart
"Poppy Variations" by Ellen Gabehart
"Quacker's Blues Bash" by Ellen Gabehart
