Ellen Gabehart
Web Site: www.creativeescape.com/egabehart
E-mail:
gabehart@efn.org

BIOGRAPHY

My first professional art training began in New York City, where I attended the High School of Music and Art and the Student's Art League. I studied figurative drawing, painting composition and perspective. I continued to study drawing and painting at Choinard Institute in Los Angeles.

My early professional training was influenced by Frank Reilly and other art instructors who guided me gently, but firmly onto my own personal pathway. Although my art education was rather formal in instruction, I felt free to explore my personal imagery as well as exploring a wide range of subjects and mediums.

I received my Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of California, in Northridge. I majored in Education and Fine Arts. I received a Teacher's Credential as well as a Special Credential to teach Art. I continued to study fine arts, printmaking and was involved in the Art Education Masters.

I began teaching art classes and workshops twenty-five years ago. I worked for the Los Angeles School District and taught elementary school for seven years. I began to teach drawing and painting to children as well as adults in California. When I moved to Oregon I was hired by Gold Beach High School to teach art classes. I began my career as an art teacher for adult education at the Southwestern Community College and Lane Community College. Presently, I teach classes and workshops at Willamalane St. Center, Emerald Art Gallery, Maude Kerns Art Center, and OASIS Senior Program. Like my early mentors, I combine teaching the formal principles of art and encourage my student to explore their personal artistic visions.

My trips through Mexico expanded my visual and spiritual experiences. Mexico's environment was full of vibrant and explosive colors. I walked around on cobblestone streets and sketched and painted the wonderful rich architectural structures adorned with statues of saints and intricate carved designs, the Mexican people shopping in the marketplace, working on their daily tasks, or sitting in the plaza chatting with a friend. However, my primary change was of a spiritual nature. When I climbed the ancient pyramids, or when I gazed at the ancient I felt myself going back in time. Frequently, I would become emotionally overwhelmed as I watched the religious ceremonies. The churn bells rang as flower petals drifted into the air. The padre emerged from the church followed by the elders carrying flowers and candles singing songs and chanting prayers.

Each year painting becomes more meaningful and necessary to me. I become emotionally involved with my subjects and seek to extract and record its spiritual nature through color, design and movement. For me, where there is life there is art; where there is art, there is life.

"Buddhist Sounds" 28x36 WTC/Mixed	"Goddess Melodies" 20 x 26 Water Color	"Sizzling Blues" 28 x 36 WTC/Pastel	"Quackers Blue Bash" 28 x 36 Water Color
"Folk Ballads " 25 x 32 WTC/Mixed	"The Offering" 36 x 28 Water Color	"Temptation" 48 x 32 Acrylic/Collage	"Endangered Species" 48 x 48 Oil
	"Ethnic Cleansing" 48 x 32 Acrylic	"Candelabra" 35x42 Acrylic

© Reproduction without permission is prohibited.
The artist reserves all rights under US and International Copyright Law.

Exhibit List
ONE-PERSON SHOWS (JURIED)

TWO/THREE PERSON SHOWS: (JURIED)

GROUP SHOWS: (Juried)

TEACHING CAREER

2003	Willamette Senior Center	Springfield, OR
2001-2003	Matting & Framing Workshops	Springfield, OR
1995-98, 03	Coos Bay Art Museum	Coos Bay, OR
1995-2000	Elderhostel	Hancock Field, OR
1995-2003	Oasis Enrichment Classes	Eugene, OR
1994-2003	Lane Community College	Eugene,OR
1993	San Miguel Private Watercolor Class	San Miguel, Mexico
1993	Creswell School Dist. (Art for Teachers)	Creswell, OR
1992-94	Linn-Benton Community College	Sweet Home, OR
1991	Village Gallery of the Arts	Portland, OR
1987-1988	University of Oregon, Art Education Dept.	Eugene, OR
1984-1986	Artist-In-Education Program, Lane County Excellence in Education Award	Eugene, OR
1981-2003	Maude Kerns Art Center (Adult & Children)	Eugene, OR
1982-99	Eugene Department of Recreation (Children)	Eugene, OR
1984-98, 03	Emerald Art Gallery (Adults & Children)	Springfield, OR
1988-90	Green Earth Art Center	Eugene, OR
1980-2003	Watercolor Workshops: Siltcoos Lake, Florence (94-2002) Heceta Head Lighthouse (86-93) Florence Art Association Dunes Art Club Coos Bay Art Museum Coquille Art Center Port Orford Gold Beach Brookings	Oregon Coast
1977-81	Southwestern Oregon Community College	Coos Bay, OR
1977-79	Gold Beach Union High School	Gold Beach, OR
1976-79	Gold Bead School District (after school children's cl.	Gold Beach, OR
1973-79	Los Angeles School District (Grades 3,4,5,6)	Los Angeles, CA