Biography:

ane A.B. Ellithorpe, ‘jabe’

Watercolor, Pencil and Ink Artist

     I am a watercolor, pencil and ink artist.  I am known for watercolor florals and architectural ink renderings and the combination of the mediums. I grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, which is a very art oriented community with an active community center.  I took classes in oil painting and sculpturing.  I furthered my art education at Syracuse University where I was introduced to my true love of watercolor.

     My husband was invited to join Uncle Sam in the early 1970's and while stationed in Georgia  I was asked to teach oil painting to other military wives.  I had no background in teaching but enjoyed the chance to keep in touch with the arts. To this day I am still teaching art to eager participants in Davidson and find great enjoyment in seeing them create beautiful works of art.

     I was painting with oil when, my then 6 month old baby, started playing in the paint.  I was concerned about the safety, mess and solvents, and realized I needed to change to a medium that dried fast and didn’t require solvents - Watercolor!  It’s a big change from oil but I was determined.  I soon became addicted and am now hooked. 

     Somewhere along the line someone told me that my painting, no matter how good, is no better than the paper I use.  Watercolor paper is beautiful from edge to edge and because of that I feel the necessity to leave well planned white space as a tribute to the paper maker. In need to have enough control to leave a clean distinct edge and the white, even if an occasional lack of control lead to a bleed.  (A bleed is an accidental merge of two areas of pigment water.)  The outcome may, and usually, delivers a wonderful and unexpected surprise!