Words from the Shore - Day Three Devon Open Studios with Devon Artist Charlotte Ellis

Passing Storm

Having been closed for three days we re-opened the studio again on Thursday. Really in the swing of things now, the set up was so much easier. As I am showing my work in my home rather than in Seaglass Gallery this year, we have needed to find a way of making household life and studio life somehow sit harmoniously together. Mostly this involves a very messy landing as we dump everything upstairs that doesn’t constitute tidy downstairs. Anything that doesn’t visually add to the ambience and can’t be moved upstairs finds itself hidden under a throw of some description – each of which has its own story. The indigo tie dyed table cloth hiding the freezer comes from Yangshuo in southern China which we picked up on our travels over 25 years ago. At the time, I was teaching in China for a year and it is where my printing journey started so actually the fact that above it on the worksurface is one of my lino prints is rather nice.

Prints...

Visitors keep commenting on how they love the authenticity of my home studio and the way art weaves through my daily life. They are intrigued by Lympstone and how I swim in its waters pretty much on a daily basis, watching the birds as I float silently. There is a real sense of place in my work, as the foreshore of the River Exe where I spend so much time is just steps away. It is my biggest inspiration with its vast skies and ever changing light are my willing muse. The sun sets behind the Haldon Hills and the light reflects across the estuary waters.  It is beautiful and if you stand and watch from the water’s edge you will be filled with awe and moments of awe are so good for us. My paintings help to bring these moments of calm into your home.

One Moment

The rain fell hard during the day but visitors came, with their umbrellas and macs, and as they stepped inside my space they left the harshness of the weather and were welcomed with gentle calm. It was lovely to see old friends, collectors, those on the Devon Open Studio trail and also people who just happened to be walking past and intrigued by signs stepped on in. It is this tapestry of visitors that make the experience so rewarding. I had wonderful conversations with visitors including one about murmurations with a gardener visiting from Hampshire. We chatted about the importance of noticing the little things in life rather than being swept along by a need to get everywhere faster and everything done more quickly. We talked about the early arrival of the cyclamen and how climate change is becoming evident in so many ways.

 Commissions were discussed and artworks wrapped as they left for their new homes.  It was lovely to see my art becoming a birthday gift or knowing that my cards will become messages of love and kindness as they are sent all over the country. Everyone loved Joey, the studio dog, who lay patiently on the stairs just watching. It was a good day! My studio

will be open again today and tomorrow from 10-4.

Charlotte Ellis Devon Artist

P.S. Thank you to my lovely friend Liz for the photos.