Ellen Hedfield

I create large-format watercolor paintings that celebrate the beauty and dignity of the ordinary – the abandoned, forgotten, and overlooked. I am an engineer by profession, which influences my choice of subject matter:  buildings, vehicles, signage, and equipment. Working from my own photographs and using a tightly-framed composition, I depict in detail the weathered surfaces and materials – wood and glass, metal and stone – and use bold color to portray textures and decay. I begin with a detailed plan, first laying down large, pigment-heavy “wet-in-wet” washes, then progressively add layers of detail to create texture. With emphasis on highlights and deep shadows, my subjects – with their peeling paint, rusty metal, and broken glass – come alive in three dimensions. I aim to elevate my subjects in appreciation of the stories they tell and in celebration of the dignity of their work.