About Me.

Mary Ellen is a native of Richmond, Virginia who recently moved to North Carolina. From an early age, she has had a passion for painting, drawing and sculpture. Mary Ellen was accepted into the Virginia Commonwealth University Art Foundation Program, has studied portraiture through the Visual Arts Center in Richmond, and has taken several workshops under professional artists to study traditional painting techniques. 

Mary Ellen’s artist career began by painting murals for local businesses and residential homes. At that time, she was also commissioned to do oil portraits of individuals. Over a decade later, she has exhibited her work in various galleries including the Crossroads Art Center and the Windemere Gallery. Through that experience she was able to sell her work, get hired for commission, and display her art in a variety of art shows.  

Some of Mary Ellen’s influences come from the Dutch Masters such as 19th century portrait painter John Singer Sargent and modern day portraiture painter Nelson Shanks, as well as impressionist artists such as Claude Monet and Pierre Auguste Renoir. She created her own style of art by combining modern styles with the techniques of the old masters.

She continues to paint at her new home in central North Carolina, where she is an active member of the arts community, especially as a member of the Harnett County Arts Council.