Ella Delyanis

I have been a professional artist since graduating from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts as a painting major in the 1970’s. Having had a formal and traditional art school education, primarily drawing and painting from the figure, after graduation I experimented with abstraction for a couple of years. Some of those abstractions were evocative of landscape and I started working from the landscape in greater Boston. When I moved to Worcester County, my interest in the landscape as a subject increased. At first those landscapes were fairly abstract, but over the years my landscape paintings have become more realistic.
The landscape as a subject fascinates me largely because of its diversity. I enjoy finding interesting locales to photograph or paint from. What I am usually looking for is a dynamic space with strong illumination, interesting cast shadows, and a variety of interesting forms. It usually takes me a month to resolve an oil or pastel painting as I work in numerous layers of paint or pastel. In warm weather, I combine this practice with faster plein air paintings and sketches. Having drawn from nature is helpful when I work from photographs.
I have been exhibiting and selling my work for a number of years. I have had my work in various galleries over time and my work has sold to both private parties and corporations. I also have had a long career as an art instructor for adults, primarily at the Worcester Art Museum. Teaching also helps me to think more about the art elements that make for strong paintings.