Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ell Treese. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Ell thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

I wanted to share a wild story that I’m still currently living in. At the beginning of March I got lots of signs and synchronizations pointing me in a certain direction, a path away from the gallery I had a studio in for 2.5 years, towards a bigger space that I felt aligned with my dreams of working in a larger scale and eventually gaining representation and collectors. Everything felt so right and I was excited, so I signed the lease on the new space, gave 30 days notice to the gallery and I started the move in/move out process right away. Not even two weeks til the end of March, I received word that I was to vacate the new studio as the building was to be torn down and rebuilt. This news came a day after someone signed the lease for my old studio and in that moment I truly felt hopeless. Painting feeds my soul, it brings me energy and helps me process my intense emotions and observations of the world around me. My initial reaction was fear that I would lose myself again if I can’t have a space to paint, but with the help of my loved ones, I was able to rally and get everything out of both places and into storage by April 1st. Currently, I have set up a space in my apartment where I can paint at all hours of the day, and I have stored the rest of my equipment and larger works in a temporary unit. I’m sharing this because a month ago it seemed like the end of the world. I blamed myself for taking a risk and leaving my comfort zone, and I was mad at the Universe for giving me so many signs that this new place was right for me, but at the end of the day the events that have transpired have been completely out of my control. Through this experience I’ve re-learned how resilient I can be, how I tend to pre-maturely assign meaning to things that I will only know the true meaning of in time, and how my creativity never stops it adjusts, adapts, and expands as I do. I know now that this experience has been a catalyst for growth and it’s forced me to regroup and re-assess my goals for the future. I’m extremely grateful for the upheaval and for the trust I am leaning into everyday.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Ell Treese (they/them) and I’m a queer intuitive artist and tarot reader. I’m 25 years old, I was born and raised in Dayton, OH, and I have a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from VCUarts. I’ve wanted to be a painter since I first saw Georgia O’Keeffe’s work when I was in 6th grade. I’ve always been an observant person, so painting became a way for me to document my observations, whether they be from life or energetic. I offer original paintings, prints, tarot readings, and a variety of commissions. One commission that I love to do is my energy paintings. Basically, I will tap into the commissioner’s energy and provide a timeless tarot reading. Then I will consult the reading and any other intuitive insights I feel to paint something healing for that person. I believe what sets me apart from other artists is my attention to detail, my vibrant intuitive color palettes, and my ability to tap into the inner child of the collective. I bring a fun, fluid, and ethereal energy to the art world and a big goal of mine is to empower others to tap into their inner child’s creative potential (as we all have one), and begin to see ourselves as divine beings that are connected to the entire multiverse.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I think the most rewarding part of being an artist is the ability to touch the lives of so many people. Whether it be through the healing nature of an energy painting, the nostalgia of seeing something in my work that reminds you of your youth, through workshops, or by having my work up in your home where you can see it and smile. I love being able to talk to folx about how they see my work. I never want to tell someone the right way to view it. It’s all open to each persons unique interpretation. Besides sharing my work with the world, the second most rewarding thing is the healing I receive from the process of painting. As long as I can remember I have benefited from the flow state I get into when in front of a blank canvas. It’s hard to describe because it’s so personal, but I really believe I channel things I won’t even understand until much later in life, and it feels so good to have these vibrant works move through me and into the physical realm.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The goal that crosses through all aspects of my work is to inspire people to create. I want my work to hit somewhere deep in the soul. The part that’s been wanting to make something, paint, draw, organize, write, direct, capture, etc. Each of us has an inner child and it’s our job as humans to heal that little version of ourselves and express creativity, especially when they weren’t allowed to growing up. The world is so dark, but darkness cannot exist without light. Creativity helps anchor the light into this reality. I’m blessed that my inner child was nurtured in their creativity enough so I am able to inspire others to tap into their own divine expression.

Contact Info:

• Website: elltreese.com
• Instagram: @ell_tree