Ellen Sinclair is a native of Virginia Beach, Virginia. She received her BA from Hollins University and spent a year abroad studying and painting in France. She is greatly influenced by the Impressionists and shares their love of color and light. After a career in interior design at Interscapes Custom Interiors, Inc she followed her long-time passion for painting. She continued her studies with notable artists such as Quang Ho, Adrienne Stein, Colin Page, Janet Fish, and Charles Souvek in Maine; and in Maryland at the Chesapeake Fine Arts Studio with Larry Moore, and in Virginia with Charles Kello, Renata Keep; and at Nimrod Hall with Sara Linda Poly and Andras Bality. Ellen's work hangs in both public and private collections all over the world. You can see her art at the Xaloc Resort in Isla Holbox, Mexico, Kaufman Lobby at Norfolk Sentara Hospital; TASTE Corporate headquarters , Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church, and St Stephens COGIC in Virginia Beach. Ellen loves to travel and paint en plein air as well as in her home studio.
"Art is my passion. The thrill of experiencing something beautiful and sharing it with others is magic and the joy for me is in the creation. In my work I seek to portray the beauty in everyday scenes. I encourage viewers to take a moment to see and appreciate the way the light falls on a country road, or the brilliant colors of freshly arranged flowers in a vase, or the aftermath of a delicious meal shared with others. Color excites me! I paint what I love with all my heart. My hope is that my paintings will ring true and touch the lives of others in a meaningful way."
Memberships
OPA Oil Painters of America, associate member
AIS American Impressionist Society
AWA American Women Artists
LPAPA Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, artist member
MAPAPA Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association
NOAPS National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society
Hampton Arts League
VBAC Va Beach Arts Center
CBAA Chesapeake Bay Art Association
Awards
2024 Garden Club of Virginia/ Winter Journal Cover
2023 Suffolk Plein Air / Honorable Mention
2021 BEST IN SHOW /"Bubbles"/ Va Beach Art Center Show -Believe, Dream, Inspire
2020 Virginia Beach Garden Tour /Historic Garden Week in Virginia-Brochure and Poster Artist
2018 Neptune Festival Poster Artist
2011 Out and About Norfolk Plein Air, Honorable Mention
2008 Out and About Norfolk Plein Air, Honorable Mention
Education
2025 Workshops In France with Quang Ho and Adrienne Stein
2020 Plein Air Live Conference
Continuing Art Education Workshops with the following artists: Quang Ho , Adrienne Stein, Janet Fish, Colin Page, Charles Souvek, Larry Moore, Charles Kello, Andras Bality, Norman Goodwin, Janice Gay-Maker and Renata Keep.
1975 Bachelor of Arts degree Hollins University, Roanoke, Virginia
1974 Studied in Paris, France, Hollins Year Abroad Program and the Sorbonne
