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 and 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 Program for five years.

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 Sr. Center, Emerald Art Center, Maude Kerns Art Center and OASIS Senior Program. Like my early mentors I combine teaching the formal principles of art and encourage my students to explore their personal artistic visions.
My trips through Mexico expanded my visual and spiritual experiences. Mexico's streets and 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 church 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 become 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.

Email: Ellen Gabehart

Ellen Gabehart

Tres Abudas (Three Grandmothers), 32 x 27, watercolor/mixed media	Woman and Baby, 33 x 27, mixed media
Flower Vendors, 24 x 30, watercolor	La Noche, 17 x 19, mixed media
Garden Victorian, 20 x 26, watercolor	Beach Cottages, 20 x 26, watercolor
Waterlily Pond, 28 x 37, watercolor	Siltcoos Lake at Sunset, 16x20, watercolor
Heceta Head, watercolor	Before the Frost, 26 x 20, watercolor
Bus Station Blues, 20x16, mixed media