Ellen Gavin

www.greenbootstudio.com

Painterly Oils of Horses and Dogs

June 25 - 28, 2011

Medium: Oil
Level: All Levels
3-Day Studio Class

Ellen A. Gavin’s equestrian paintings have been  widely exhibited, awarded & collected. Her energetic  painting style – is reflected in her teaching philosophy.

In this fast paced workshop, learn to fearlessly explore a fresh approach to oil painting. Emphasis on mixing color, value, composition. Horses, figures and dogs will be the main subjects, stressing movement & expression. You can keep the anatomy and avoid getting ‘too tight’. This is primarily a studio workshop, working from photos, though working from life will be discussed.   

Artist’s Statement

I don’t know what came first, my love of horses … or my love of art.

As a child I wanted a pony. But perhaps because it was dream was deferred, or maybe, just because I could – I drew mostly horses from the age of 4 ‘til high school. As child I indulged in a rich fantasy life of horse ownership. My imagination-based drawings were fueled by intense observation…at least for a 7 year old. I remember trying to figure out “how the hind legs worked” by watching the Diving Horse at Steel Pier… and all those TV Westerns.

Eventually I received a BFA from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia, and moved to New York. Took the practical route and enjoyed a successful commercial art career designing packaging for the cosmetics industry and.…Finally bought a horse. Well, three actually and showed Hunters and Equitation for years

Although I have been painting consistently my whole life…in 2001 began to paint full time, opening my Studio / Gallery in Millville New Jersey. From. Member of the American Academy of Equine Art (03/09) won the 2006 Museum Directors Award. In 2005 & 2003 the Sporting Art Award. I also regularly show work at Devon and other horse events in NJ, PA and MD, and have been feature several times on the national publication The Chronicle of the Horse.