Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellen Rolli.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Ellen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My interest in drawing and painting started at a young age. I knew early on that art would be an important part of my life. I can still recall, while in elementary school, sketching portraits of the Beatles from my Beatle albums! I was fortunate to have parents who supported and nurtured my love of art. My aunt, my mother’s sister, also a painter, was a positive influence and mentor, and we painted together for many years. In addition, I had two fabulous art teachers in high school who encouraged me to attend The Massachusetts College of Art. I graduated MassArt with a major in Art Education and a painting concentration. Although I never secured a full-time Art Teaching position (I worked in the graphic arts field for many years), my fondness for teaching remains today.
Although I have maintained a Studio space outside of my home for 14 years now, before that, I always established a home Studio space wherever I lived. Doing so, supported my commitment to my work, and my husband and daughters respected my Studio time. Throughout the years of having a home studio, in addition to painting at home, I took steps to build my Art career and grow as an artist. I participated in workshops, joined Art Associations, entered my work in juried exhibits, gave Art Demos, taught workshops, showed work in group exhibits, had solo exhibits in my hometown of Melrose and found Gallery representation. I also loved connecting with fellow artists, whether painting out in the landscape or drawing from life with a local Sketch Group. In addition, an important step in my art career was to apply for an artists residency. In 2009, I completed a month-long artists residency at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. To have a month to concentrate, uninterrupted on my Art was life changing, and that experience had a profound impact on my work.
I had often dreamed of having a Studio outside of my home, and in 2004, I decided to take a leap of faith and lease a Studio in Boston’s South End SoWa Arts District. I began offering painting workshops to help offset the rent and found I truly loved teaching and continued conducting workshops there for many years. Sharing my love of painting and inspiring others was such a rewarding experience. When I moved to a much smaller studio space in the same building, I shifted from teaching large groups to more one on one sessions.
Maintaining a Studio in Boston was a dream realized. I made wonderful connections with fellow artists but also gained important exposure with collectors, art consultants, gallerists, etc. I was fortunate also to be
commissioned to complete a large format painting for the lobby of Jordan Lofts in the South End. Having moved out of my South End Studio last summer, it is meaningful to have my work showcased in a neighborhood that I loved being a part of for so many years.
I now lease a Studio space in Melrose, just a short walk from my home. I decided over a year ago that I wanted to be closer to my work. I had a great run in the South End, but the daily commutes, parking, etc. got me thinking that it was time for a change. I approached a local interior designer and asked her to consider sharing her space, and all fell into place. I had a Grand Opening last fall to introduce my Studio/Gallery to the community. It is exciting to have a Studio in my hometown and to reconnect with the Arts community here. Just last winter, I was part of a team who, in a few short weeks, launched the first Melrose Open Studio Tour! It was a big success and we look forward to the 2nd Open Studio Tour this December. I welcome Studio visitors whenever I am open or by appointment. I will continue teaching workshops and am always excited to share my passion for the arts with others. I am represented by three Fine Art Galleries and work with both Art Consultants and Interior Designers.
Has it been a smooth road?
The artist’s journey is never a smooth road, I believe everyone has heard the phrases, “the struggling artist”, or starving artist”. Anyone who chooses a career or vocation in the arts, be it a painter, or musician, a dancer or actor, knows the journey will have its share of challenges. Because these careers do not guarantee financial security, most creatives have to find that “job on the side” to help support their passion. It is not easy to strike a balance between finding time for one’s art, working another job, and all of life’s other responsibilities. I married young and still had a year of art school left.
Once graduated, I began working part-time, then full time and felt frustrated that I didn’t have the time for my art that I was accustomed to while in school. Making an extra bedroom in a Studio in our first apartment made it easier to find time to create. No excuses to not paint or draw! I always had something in the works. I continued to stay on course making creative time a priority, especially during the times I was raising my daughters and in later years, caretaking for elders. I had to be extra disciplined and determined to make time for my rt then, thus, Studio time became very precious. life’s struggles are why commitment and dedication are a must when choosing an artistic life. As a young aspiring artist, I always had my parents/families/friends/teachers support. My love of art was nurtured. But many young artists may not have the support, may even be discouraged from choosing the path of an artist. I say to them, follow your passion if it is truly a calling. If others discourage you, listen to your heart and what feels right for you. If the creative life is something you cannot imagine living without, then you must follow that path. Find time for your art, no matter what else is tugging at you. It is too easy to say, I do not have time now, I do not have a space to create. Many of my students express the concern that they don’t have a home studio or space to work. Make time, find a spot at home where you can have a simple or portable place to do your work and do it. Just show up! When you are not creating, visit galleries and museums, hangout with other creatives, read artists’ biographies and follow fellow artists whose work inspires you. Regarding marketing one’s art, young artists today are fortunate to have the benefit of social media to gain exposure for their work. Certainly, take advantage of that! Instagram is a fabulous platform for the visual arts. It is not only an easy and cost free way for an artist to share their own work, but a way to discover the work of so many talented artists around the world. A daily dose of inspiration! It is important for artists to inspire and support each other.
We’d love to hear more about Ellen Rolli Contemporary Painter.
In 2009, after completing my Artist Residency in Provincetown, my work shifted form representational work to abstraction. So, for many years now, I am know for my abstract work. I consider myself a contemporary abstract painter, and as I express in my artists statement, “I do not search for the literal truth of a subject, I seek an expressive, emotional reaction.” On any given day, I might be working on a very large canvas, and the next day move to a small work on canvas or paper. I am always eager to talk about abstraction as an art form, and love when studio visitors want to learn more about abstract art my creative process.
I am proud of the fact that I have always remained true to myself as an artist, painting for me, as I am my own toughest critic. When my work resonates with others, when someone chooses to purchase a work and live with it, that is very rewarding. I think authenticity in an artists work is so important. My teaching experiences are also a fulfilling addition to my life as an artist. To inspire others and share what I feel so passionate about is very special, and a wonderful way to pay it forward.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
There are so many women who have inspired me, too numerous to mention here! Regarding female painters who inspire, the abstract expressionists of the 40’s and 50’s are certainly heroes of mine. Artists such as Joan Mitchell, Lee Krasner, Helen Frankenthaler and Elaine de Kooning to name a few, were incredibly gifted. These women inspire me not only because of their talent, but for the fact that they continued to create during an art movement dominated by male painters such as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and William de Kooning. These talented women struggled to gain the recognition of their male counterparts, a recognition that they so deserved.
On a more personal level, my Aunt who I mentioned earlier, was truly an inspiration. She too faced obstacles in her life. As a young child growing up poor during the depression era, her art was an escape from difficult times. I have fond memories of watching her draw and paint when I was just a young child. As I began to realize my own artistic abilities, my aunt mentored me along the way. My Aunt was still painting, well into her 90’s.
Contact Info:
- Address: Ellen Rolli Studio/Gallery
169 W. Emerson Street
Melrose, MA 02176 - Website: www.ellenrolli.com
- Phone: 617-930-7391
- Email: ellenrolli@comcast.net
- Instagram: instagram.com/ellenrolli
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/EllenRolliPainter/
Image Credit:
Ellen Rolli, Katie Pietrowski
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