I’m Ellen Negley and I was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois but now I live in Lake Worth Beach, Florida. For me, watercolor is the perfect medium. It’s elusive, unpredictable and has a mind of its own. I’m fascinated by its nuances. One minute the colors are bold and electric and the next they’re delicate and transparent.

Watercolor is traditionally done by drawing the subject matter in pencil on the paper and then painting on top of that sketch. My goal is to use fewer pencil marks and rely heavier on my instincts and feelings about the subject. It’s a lot riskier so unexpected things happen along the way, and I like that. I like the feeling of losing control of a painting and then trying to find my way back.

My watercolors are a reflection of my surroundings, so lately, my paintings are likely tropical. There is something so special about the light in south Florida and I am captivated by tropical foliage, especially palm trees, as you might have noticed. I also love including figures in my paintings because it’s the people that make the place. I choose busy urban settings with lots of people bustling about where the energy inspires me to cut loose with color.

Travel has been an important influence in my paintings. I spent quite a bit of time in the Caribbean as a child and the travel bug has taken me to Europe, South and Central America as well as Africa. Traveling has opened my eyes to so many colorful places and someday I hope to be able to host workshops abroad so that I can combine my love for both painting and travel.