Artist: Patricia Baker Ellis 

I have always wanted to be an artist. As a child of a US Army Master Sergeant, I moved around a lot and used Art to make friends in my “current” new school. In High School it was my therapy, grounding and centering me during difficult times. When I started college at the University of Texas-El Paso, there was no question that I would be an Art Major. However, I quickly figured out that, given limited credit for each class and many hours in the studio, it would take me a long time to graduate. I had to two small children to support and needed to graduate quickly and make a living. So, vowing to return to painting when I got old, I changed my major to Psychology and later got a Master’s Degree in Social Work. 

Fifty years later, after a long and rewarding career as a psychotherapist, I have taken several classes at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. These classes, long hours in the studio plus support and encouragement from my family have prepared me to go public with my work. I am older... and, I am back! 

I am incredibly lucky to live in rural Sheboygan County where I am surrounded by natural beauty. I have always seen that beauty through the eyes of an artist. I am inspired by natural landscapes, farms that dot the countryside and am especially drawn to the light. I am learning with each new work and feel my paintings are finally reflecting what I see from my window, my daily walks on the land and down the road. I work in oils, mostly from photographs taken by my friends, neighbors and my husband, Jim Ellis. 

I hope the images seen here provide you as much pleasure as I have had in creating them. Enjoy!