For artist Ellen Welch Granter, painting is a way to honor the quiet beauty of everyday life.

“I’m drawn to the textures, patterns, and shapes that surround us — whether it’s the quiet geometry of moored boats, the glint of gold on water, or a row of sparrows celebrating over a muffin wrapper,” Granter says. “These are the moments I return to with brush in hand — not because they’re rare, but because they deserve to be seen.”

For her, meaning is found in the small wonders.

“The boats in my paintings aren’t about technical detail. I’m not focused on rigging or precision, but on form, harmony, and that still, floating rhythm,” she explains. “Their soft curves and calm presence — no matter the time of day or year — bring a sense of peace. Their motion and stillness leave me wondering.”

Gold often appears in her work, but not in a literal sense. She uses it like a calligraphic stroke—a shimmer that hints at a reflection or simply a line that holds energy. It’s more about feeling than meaning, offering the eye a resting place.

“My past work — as a technical illustrator, graphic designer, video editor, and silk screener — shaped the way I see,” Granter reflects. “Each creative role added something to the path I’m on now. I have no regrets. As the French say, Non, je ne regrette rien — no, I regret nothing.”

New work, she says, is both a promise and a puzzle. Every canvas poses a hundred choices: thick or thin? Pale or bold? Flat or full of depth?

“My process is intuitive, messy, and deeply satisfying. I couldn’t explain it if I tried. I just know I love it — the blank surface, the spark of an idea, the hope that something beautiful might appear.”

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