ARTIST STATEMENT

NEW WORK
Change is essential to growth, and nowhere is this truth more evident than in the new work by Ellen Gamble. Ellen is back, back to her Abstract Expressionist roots in this powerful series of big, bold, color-saturated paintings. Motivated by a deeply-felt impulse, Ellen simply had to make a change, relinquishing watercolor for acrylics, and the immediacy of a small size for the commitment of a large scale work. She wanted to express more deeply-felt themes than the watercolors allowed, seeking out the enhanced textural capabilities and richer pigment of acrylic paint—always a colorist, she needed to push more paint onto her canvases. Seizing the opportunities for expression which the change in medium and size created, she also relished the physicality involved in painting much larger works.

The new paintings track Ellen’s physical and mental states of being which may be temporary or more permanent. As an example, gratitude may be expressed as pink rays emerging from a box, but the next day that feeling is submerged under green paint. A wide range of feelings may persist in her work for a day, a month, or even for years, some originating as far back as the 1980s when her work was characterized in part by layered surfaces and unique textures. Geometric forms or shapes are representational of the artist (“the Me shape”) or an issue or another person—they are living (in the sense that they are changing) themes, abstracted and inserted to occupy space. The power of Ellen’s new guardian totem is contrasted with the judicious use of more organic forms, incorporating older issues into the new work. In this way colors and shapes change with the mood of the day, the paint builds up, and the canvas fills. A kind of record is kept, creating the inherent moodiness of Ellen’s work.

WATERCOLORS
Ellen Gamble’s watercolors represent a self-imposed challenge to maximize the use of this paint within the boundaries of a smaller format. Ellen’s curiosity about the limits of the medium drove her desire to see a finished work sooner, and the smaller size made this possible.

Coming from a background in oils, Ellen was intrigued by the possibilities of watercolor paint. Experimenting with how best to achieve textural impact, she developed a process for layering on color, first a transparent film, then pushing the color ever deeper. Inspired, she added iridescent watercolors to her palette, playing with the way light interacts with her work.

Ellen’s roots in abstract expressionism are nonetheless evident in this work, characterized by geometric shapes, dynamic lines and vibrant, contrasting colors. Yet here and there more organic shapes are seen, and flowers, leaves, seed pods, animals, birds and shells often emerge. The natural forms play off the geometric surfaces to reflect Ellen’s journey as an artist whose richly layered floral paintings were noteworthy for symbolic organic shapes. She continues to be inspired by movement in nature, brilliant colors, rich textures and captivating layers.

RESUME

EDUCATION
2008 Art Students League, Studied with abstract expressionist painter Larry Poons, New York, NY
1982-83 UNC Chapel Hill, Studio art classes with focus on painting. Studied with visiting NY artist Doug Sanderson
1980 BS Physical Education, Specialization in Recreation Therapy. Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE
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SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Twelve Minis, Sertoma Art Center, Raleigh, NC
2022 Flowers and Nature Series, Apple Gallery, Stokes County Arts Council, Danbury, NC
2021 Ellen Gamble New Abstract Work, Hampton Inn and Suites, Raleigh, NC
2019 Arthur S. DeBerry Gallery for Botanical Art and Illustrations, Chapel Hill, NC
2015 North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC
2012 Nine New Nature Paintings, RebusWorks, Raleigh, NC
2012 Featured Artist, Nofo @ The Pig, Raleigh, NC
2011 Retrospective 1983 - 2010, David Bibb Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2010 Karma Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC
2009 Flanders 311 Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2007 Crocker's Mark Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2007 Karma Gallery, Winston-Salem, NC
2005 Helios, Raleigh, NC
2004 Blake Street Studios, Raleigh, NC
2000 Art Advocate, New York, NY
1999 Blue Star Studio, Hoboken, NJ
1999 Block Gallery, Raleigh Arts Commission, Raleigh, NC
1998 Kelly Roland Gallery, Winston Salem, NC
1998 Ravenscroft, Raleigh, NC
1997 Gessner Fine Art
1995 Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC
1994 Louisburg College, Louisburg, NC
1989 Haeger Smith and Huffman, Raleigh, NC
1988 The Paper Plant, Raleigh, NC
1986 Palm Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
1985 Dive into Abstract, Food Stamp Gallery, Bronx, NY
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SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 The Pocket Gallery, City Market, Raleigh NC
2021 Sertoma Art Center, Raleigh NC
2020 Sertoma Art Center, Raleigh NC
2015-Present Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, NC
2012 Art of the Auction, juried group exhibition, North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh NC
2012 Interiors, Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh NC
2012 Two Person Show, Rebus Works, Raleigh, NC
2012 Featured Artist, Nofo Cafe, Raleigh, NC
2012 Group Holiday Exhibition, Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2011 Group Holiday Exhibition, Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2010 Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2007 Featured Artist, Flanders Art Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2006 Glance Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2003 Alice Ehrlich and Her Students, Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC
2002 The Museum of Natural Science, Raleigh, NC
1997 Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh, NC
1997 Gessner Art, Raleigh, NC
1996 Duke University School of Law, Durham, NC
1995 Block Gallery, Raleigh Arts Commission, Raleigh, NC
1994 Lee Hansely Gallery, Raleigh, NC
1994 Art Source, Raleigh, NC
1993 Lee Hansley Gallery, Raleigh NC
1987 Vital Spaces, Mokatov Gallery, New York, NY
1987 Elder Gallery, Lincoln, NE
1986 ABC No Rio, New York, NY
1985 M-13, New York, NY
1984 Artist in the Marketplace, Bronx Museum of Art, Bronx, NY
1984 Palm Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
1983 Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art, Winston-Salem, NC
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PRINTS
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences Store, Raleigh, NC
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CORPORATE REPRESENTATION
1996-2007 Rosenberg + Kaufman Fine Arts, New York, NY
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AWARDS AND GRANTS
1999 Arts Education Program, United Arts Council of Raleigh, and Wake County
1999 Regional Artist Project Grant, United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County
1999 Purchase, City of Raleigh
1995 Emerging Artist Grant, Raleigh Arts Commission

CONTACT

gamble.ellen@yahoo.com
(919) 802.4148