2025 February Artist of the Month

​Ellen Cholski


Sunburn Survivor


12" x 9"


Soft Pastel
​

​When walking around the Washington State Capitol Grounds in 2001, I saw and watched some people painting.  They invited me to join them the next week.  So I bought some watercolor supplies and began painting with the Olympia Art League.   After taking a pastel class in 2006, I was completely hooked.  I love working with my fingers and with the numerous, vibrant and subdued colors.  My winters are spent in sunny Tucson in the richly diverse Sonoran Desert, and my summers are spent in Olympia near the sparkling shores of Puget Sound.  I am grateful to be able to paint in two beautiful places.  I also paint from photos taken on my travels.  Nature is delightful, and, hopefully, my art reflects some of her beauty.