Ellie Taylor: Lifetime of Painting

About the artist

Ellie Taylor’s art is dramatic with bold colors and heavy strokes, yet the soft focus of her still-life, landscapes and abstract pieces result in an effect that is soothing to the soul of the viewer.
Elinor known as (Ellie) Parham Taylor was born and raised in Houston Texas. After teaching elementary school all over Texas for 33 years, she retired early saying “when I grow up, I want to be an artist. “

She studied art with Arlene Barnes in El Paso, Texas for about six years. After retiring she went back to college to study under Joe Taylor and Dr. Ollie Thiessen. Barnes drilled into her that art should make a statement not tell a story; the less said the better or keep it simple do not overstate.

Van Gogh is her favorite artist and she also admires the work and style of Sergei Bongart and Fechin. Ellie agrees with the philosophy of William Wendt who says that his art becomes an “adoration sign devoted to the Trinity .”

Ellie and her husband now live at Holly Lake Ranch north of Tyler. Her husband retired for the
pastorate and is now Pastor Emeritus at Holly Brook Baptist Church.

A prolific painter with many finished pieces stacked along the walls in her studio. “I paint for the love of art and for the passion that my Lord has given me .” Ellie
says with a grin.”