Ellen Masko

My current work is the result of an exploration of the rambunctious side of watercolor paints. I apply the transparent hues to a smooth surface and they spread with a mind of their own. Once the paint settles, I discover motions and textures within the undulating color juxtapositions and begin drawing out my vision. In many ways, my non-representational paintings are the truest self portraits i have ever created. 

A New Hope, Bucks County artist, Ellen has degrees from Pennsylvania State, Temple and Arcadia Universities. Her works have been exhibited in the Peninsula Gallery in Lewes, Delaware and the Annapolis Marine Art Gallery, in addition to numerous galleries in Bucks and Hunterdon Counties (The Golden Door in New Hope, PA  for 17 years and the Coryell Gallery in Lambertville, NJ).

Ellen taught art, including Painting and Advanced Art as well as the fledgling Art 1 and 2 classes for 35 wonderful years in a Bucks County high school. She was also the curriculum supervisor of K-12 Art. Ellen credits her lifelong passion for art to her estimated 7000 students' creative talents, energy and zest for experimenting with new materials, techniques and color mixing. Since retiring 7 years ago, she has devoted her time to creating paintings, usually on a large scale of 36"x 48" x 2". Feeling on Top of the World is 16"W x 16"H x 2"D; watercolor on Ampersand Claybord. As a painter, Ellen enjoys watercolor, gouache, acrylic, and mixed  media such as color pencil/watercolor, that all reflect her personalized colors. Her watercolor/ color pencil painting, "Open Space Preservation "2" Grow" was accepted in the 2012 juried show held at the Gratz Gallery for the Doylestown Bicentennial. Ellen's watercolor on Ampersand Clayboard, "Fish On!", won Best of Show, Coryell Award, in The Lambertville Historical Society 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition in 2014.