We recently connected with Ellen Sherman and have shared our conversation below.

Ellen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

It was about mid-way through my first year of college at Arizona State University in 2003. I have always processed emotion, memory, and my response to the world through making things, (predominantly through painting and drawing) but it usually took a backseat to school work. At some point during that year, nestled in the Sonoran, the drive to make things became impossible to ignore. I enjoyed my classes (I had previously been a good student on track for a major in Biology) but I found myself consumed with a need to draw, a need to paint. And as such my grades began to slip. I was cataloging my existence in graphite and oil, processing new adulthood on canvas and everything else began to fall by the wayside. Once I was placed on academic probation, I realized I was following someone else’s path – this would not work for me.

I remember calling my parents, going over and over the script in my head – explaining the situation and relaying it with trepidation – I wanted to switch my major to art.

And lo and behold, they were thrilled. They knew I was struggling, and as creative, crafty folks in their right they saw that same spark, knew I had the right drive and were overjoyed when I finally embraced it as a career path.
I remember that conversation with warmth and frequency. It was like a weight had been lifted from my chest and I could breathe again. I pursued my BFA in Studio Art and never looked back.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am a painter, who destroys her paintings.
(…And then makes them into something new)
I received my BFA in Studio Art from Michigan State University in 2008, spent some time as the lead designer/writer for a game studio, and then in 2011 left that position to become a full time artist. My process has morphed over the years, but the main themes have remained the same; I am endlessly interested in the meeting of opposing forces. Planned and unplanned moments, hard lines and soft pools of paint, quiet layering of fabric and loud, heavy power tools.
My current process addresses this through painting, cutting up that painting, and reassembling it into something new. Sometimes I’ll pull a grouping of cut pieces out randomly and assemble based on color, movement, or a question I’m trying to answer. Other times I’ll carefully select the pieces, but lay them down in a fast, unplanned jazz-like manner. Sometimes I leave them in their negative space on the canvas, other times I take their shapes, apply them to wood and cut around their form. All in pursuit of the little moments that occur when I’m not looking.

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

When I get to watch someone connect with something I’ve made, in person. You can see it when it happens; a memory will surface, or the title will trigger a thought and a connection is forged. I get to explain the backstory of the piece and we have this moment of meeting – and it’s beautiful.
Sometimes they take the piece home, other times they take a photo of the work – for me it doesn’t really matter, all that matters is that bolt of lightning when understanding is reached.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Value art. Value art from real people who are trying to connect with other humans, to share their interpretation of their world. When there are art events in the community – go out and see it! Participate! Buy work from living artists you enjoy and support the creative ecosystem when you can. If you can’t buy a piece, sign up for a mailing list, come out to shows, or throw a like or comment on the artist’s social media. Little things can go a long way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ehsherman.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/ellen_the_lemon/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ehsherman