Artpromotivate

Ellen Van Treuren 
Fort Worth, Texas; United States 
Mediums: I most enjoy working in oil on canvas. I would like to learn to watercolor as well. 
Style: My style of painting can be described as loose realism. While I’m working, I choose to make certain aspects detailed, while other parts are very loose. I tend to be more detailed with my portraiture and less detailed with landscapes and <a title="plein air painting" href="http://www.artpromotivate.com/2012/07/tips-for-plein-air-painting-in-outdoors.html">plein air painting</a>. 
Favorite Quote: One quote I really like is by Edgar Degas: “Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” This helps me to remember that I can use my artistic license to make a painting what I want it to be. 
Favorite Book: My favorite art book is probably Art: Over 2,500 Works from Cave to Contemporary by Andrew Graham-Dixon. I use it a lot when I am preparing art lessons for my students. One of my favorite books of the Bible is Psalms. There is so much imagery and emotion-lots of painting inspiration! 
Favorite Movie:  There are so many movies I love! Megamind is on top movies list for sure. 
  <img title="little-friendlies-ellen-van-treuren" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: none; margin: 0px auto; display: block; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="little-friendlies-ellen-van-treuren" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-E6ngf_T7eqQ/VWs5b5ba90I/AAAAAAAAUXk/IfGjVVzftEI/s640/little-friendlies-ellen-van-treuren.jpg" width="600" height="450"> 
Little Friendlies © Ellen Van Treuren 18x24” Oil on canvas 
This painting was done from a photo I took at the Dallas Arboretum during Dallas Blooms during the spring. 
 
I am a Texas native and currently reside in Fort Worth. I have always been involved in creating artwork, growing up taking <a title="art classes" href="http://www.artpromotivate.com/2012/03/free-online-art-classes-drawing-courses.html">art classes</a>. My passion for painting was ignited while earning a B.F.A. in Studio Art at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. My chosen medium is oil paint and my work is defined by bright colors and strong texture. While I paint mostly from my home studio, I also periodically paint en plein air. Beauty inspires me so I paint a lot of natural scenes. I also paint still lifes, portraits and abstracts. I hope that the viewers of my work see the glory of the Lord our Creator and experience joy and peace.