Ellen Catanzaro – Artist and Textile Designer

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I am a 58-year-old Greek American woman, and creativity has always been a big part of my life. As a child, I loved making things, and as an adult, I continued to create, often painting little pieces as gifts for friends and family.

Once, I painted a small pet portrait for a friend, and another friend saw it and commented, “That’s a nice painting of the dog, but look at the sky you created.” That statement stuck with me and led me to focus more on the skies.

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Category

interior

Date

30/10/2024

Length

3 min read

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I am a 58-year-old Greek American woman, and creativity has always been a big part of my life. As a child, I loved making things, and as an adult, I continued to create, often painting little pieces as gifts for friends and family.

Once, I painted a small pet portrait for a friend, and another friend saw it and commented, “That’s a nice painting of the dog, but look at the sky you created.” That statement stuck with me and led me to focus more on the skies.

When I was asked to contribute to a school fundraiser auction, I decided to put my love for skies to the test. I created a large canvas on wood and painted my first piece of “atmospheric abstraction.” The piece ended up going home with a client of the same friend who had first noticed the sky in my pet painting!

That friend, who happened to be an interior designer, then commissioned me to paint a large piece for her living room. Soon, she began referring me to her clients, and an accidental art career took shape. Before I knew it, I became known for my large, moody, atmospheric paintings on wood.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet.

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To preserve my work for myself and my children, I decided to scan my paintings. My printer then pointed out that my brushstrokes and colors would lend themselves well to textiles—and so, my first pillows were born! From there, I expanded into fabric yardage and eventually wallpaper. It’s amazing to look back and see how people’s belief in me, combined with my openness to suggestions and willingness to teach myself, put me on a creative path that I absolutely love. The love and support of friends and family have been at the heart of this journey.

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"I see the world around me as layers of color and energy, storms brewing, and whirling swirls. A paintbrush in my hand is a direct connection to my soul. The colors flow through me on to the canvas, and the end result is a very raw expression of myself and a personal interpretation of the world, as I see it."

Today, my art reflects the natural beauty I’ve experienced throughout my life and travels. I was born in the Bronx, NY, to a Greek-American family and spent summers in Greece, where the brilliant blue sky met the vast sea, and golden wheat-covered hills were dotted with wildflowers. After marrying my college sweetheart, Mike, we made our way to the West Coast. We first lived on the beaches of Southern California, where the sunsets stole my heart, and then in Seattle, where the moody, foggy mornings left a lasting impression. Our travels around the world only deepened my love for bold colors and interesting cultures.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet.

Integer nec odio.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet.

Integer nec odio.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet.

Integer nec odio.

My life experiences became the foundation of my large, atmospheric abstractions on wood. From childhood to adulthood, drawing, sewing, painting, and decorating were my ways of expressing myself. When I started painting primarily for myself, art wasn’t in our budget, so I painted gifts—often recreating scenes from vacations with friends and small pet portraits. The first large painting I did on wood was the piece for my children’s school fundraiser, which eventually sparked demand for my art, leading to commissions and collaborations with local interior designers.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet.

Lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet.

Integer nec odio.

I now live in Chester County, PA, with Mike, our daughters Maggie and Claire, and our two cockapoos, Loulou and Sasha. My paintings are in homes across the U.S., including Florida, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, and North Carolina. I’ve had the pleasure of teaching workshops at URBN Headquarters in Philadelphia and seeing my work showcased in places like West Elm, Pottery Barn, Terrain, and Anthropologie. I’ve also had the joy of participating in local events like The Chester County Studio Tour and The Brandywine Arts Festival, sharing my art with the community that has always supported me.

ellen catanzaro

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