Ellen Nordgren

I am Ellen Nordgren. I was born and raised in Portland OR, the youngest of 3 girls. In 2007, immediately following the death of my sister Sue, I started taking painting classes. Sue was the middle child, and we were extremely close. She was an artist.
I began to take lessons from a master watercolor artist, Kathy Allegri, who was a good friend of Sue’s. This lasted several years, learning about value, composition, color mixing, sketching, both in the studio and plein air.
Several years later I ventured out into acrylics. This was a whole new world for me! I really enjoyed creating bright, colorful paintings, a real departure from the more muted watercolors I had been doing, but still not really finding my voice through my paintings. I longed for a more abstract style with lots of texture to express myself. Then I discovered oil paint and cold wax medium…a whole new universe!
Using color, shape and texture, I am finally able to paint my stories, weave my experiences. Whether traumatic, angry, peaceful or joyful, they are an interpretation of my many emotions around love, loss, life, nature, and healing.

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