Meet Ellen Jenkins who serves as a Co-Director-at-Large for Fundraising on your LWS Board. Ellen’s lifelong fascination with history and old buildings, especially in New Orleans, led her to become an architect and an artist. She grew up in New Orleans and attended Louisiana State University, graduating with a BS degree in Home Economics and Art. In the years that followed, she lived in the Chicago area and learned painting in watercolor from artist Nancy Fortunato. Later she followed her childhood dream and enrolled in Tulane University School of Architecture. Ellen discovered that watercolor was well suited for design presentations and elevated line drawings to be colorful and interesting. A long career followed graduation, practicing architecture in various locations and roles.
Ellen has studied watercolor painting with many artists including Gwen Bragg at the Alexandria, VA Art League, Judi Betts, Iain Stewart, Frank Eber, Shari Blaukopf, Diego Larguia and many more. She especially enjoys destination workshops in England and Italy, and opportunities for plein air painting. Her favorite subjects are buildings, houses, urban settings and places she has visited.
Ellen’s paintings are primarily watercolor, as the inherent ability of watercolor to mix and mingle…and surprise, seems well suited for her subjects, and adds spontaneity and life. She enjoys keeping a sketchbook to record daily events, special places, and travel memories using ink and watercolor.
Now retired, Ellen has more time to develop as an artist, paint or sketch every day, explore new techniques and subjects, and participate in activities with other artists. She is a member of Louisiana Watercolor Society, Art Guild of Louisiana, and Associated Women in the Arts. She has exhibited paintings in the River Road Show, LWS shows and the 2024 LWS International Show, and AWA Exhibitions.
