One recent fall I had the great joy of painting the portrait shown on the easel at left. Throughout the process, I felt the almost tangible love between the sisters every time I approached the canvas. I couldn't help it.

All of my paintings are painted with love, but the snapshot from which this painting was inspired struck me the moment I saw it in my client's email. I could feel an almost tangible, unbreakable connection, like an invisible thread, between the eyes of the sisters.

The younger child on the right was born with almost incomprehensible handicaps, but also an indominabable spirit. Her older sister is looking at her with so much love I could feel it.

It was a rare sunny day on the beach for the young one. She has been through countless surgeries that I didn't know were even possible. She has more ahead of her. Now a teen, she attends school using a walker and wheelchair, yet she is a cheerful and brilliant student.

This painting was commissioned by the children's grandparents as a gift to their parents for Christmas. They're response was my best possible Christmas gift.

Someone once commented to me, "I guess all artists have to paint portraits to keep the bills paid." No, that's not the case. I'm grateful for each portrait that comes my way for the opportunity to bring happiness and in some cases bring back memories of loved ones who have passed on. I've had a gift for capturing real likenesses from a young age, not something all artists can do, and as corny as it sounds, it fills my heart to use that gift to bring joy.

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Next up? a painting of a Great White Egret in the James Farm Ecological Preserve next door.

​Be sure to take advantage of the fact that there is a Disney travel concierge and Orlando Travel Expert on staff at the Ellen Rice Gallery.

The gallery's volunteer manager Duane Whitman has been a Disney enthusiast all his life and in recent years has been helping individuals, couples and multi-generational groups plan magical Disney and Universal Studios (think Harry Potter) vacations as a Glass Slipper Concierge travel advisor.

Today traveling with Disney is a more complex undertaking with new requirements for guests, new ways of booking reservations, even passes to get on rides. Duane is staying abreast of changes on a daily basis so he can guide you through the maze of booking and planning requirements.

Duane Whitman has been planning dream Disney travels for more than 30 years and specializes in travels to Walt Disney World, on the very-soon-to-be five ships of the Disney Cruise Line, with Adventures by Disney, the rest of Disney's many resorts, as well as luxury travel destinations around the world.

​Feel free to call him or stop in the gallery during regular hours. Duane does in-home and in-office consultations, as well as group talks. Call now for an appointment.

The Ellen Rice Studio & Gallery is now situated in a beautiful, purposely built, ground-level building on the Cedar Neck Peninsula of Ocean View, Delaware, overlooking the southeastern side of the James Farm Ecological Preserve. Click here for directions & live Google map.

It is a few minutes from Bethany Beach (without using Rt. 26) and a half hour or less from Dewey, Rehoboth, Fenwick Island, Delaware, and Ocean City, Maryland. Using Fred Hudson Road from Coastal Highway, it is just three turns away.

The studio's primary focus is Ellen's internationally collected original paintings and prints of her inspirational woman series and her seascape, landscape, wildlife, portrait and animal paintings. 

You'll also find the works of many of fine artisans creating jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, raku, blown glass, fine leather, as well as small gift items featuring Ellen's paintings.

Note: This is the cleanest and neatest you'll probably ever see it!

​For the fifth time, Ellen has been voted Best Artist for Sussex County, Delaware, including the entire coastal area as well as inland Sussex County towns, by the large readership of Coastal Style Magazine.

​Sussex County is a region with a large, fast-growing number of very talented artists, and Ellen only rarely, at special invited events, shows her work outside of her studio & gallery, so "The news was a very pleasant surprise! Thank you everyone who voted for me and my work!"

'It started with one hotel manager and one painting in the lobby. That turned into one in the restaurant and then six more in the conference and ballrooms, and now, several years later, my paintings can be found in 17 locations in Bethany Beach Oceanside Suites, a luxurious oceanfront Marriott Residence Inn overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the coast of Delaware.

I am honored to have been invited to share my work with guests of the hotel, even more so with the placement of a 6 ft. tall reproduction of my oil painting Reawakening over the fireplace in the main lobby, and four others in the main lobby and restaurant.

If you have a chance, stop in and check them out and plan for ample time to enjoy the culinary creations of the hotel restaurant's new chef. 

Bethany Beach Oceanside Suites was a favorite oceanfront hotel of my late uncle and his wife. I visited them there, dined with them there, judged a plein air art event there and have enjoyed becoming friends with the hotel's management team, particularly concierge "Uncle" Frank, with whom I share having worked in journalism - though his career spanned far larger venues than mine. 

I hope you enjoy a selection of my work in this beautiful setting and come see the entire collection of my work and paintings in progress in my studio during open studio hours and by appointment. Call (302) 539-3405 to schedule a visit.

When they told me they were seeking calming art "suitable for a healing environment" I realized I should apply and broke my unspoken rule.

In June, the group narrowed the field of applicants down to 50, then after a few more weeks, down to four.

I was one of the four visited by the group a few weeks ago to further discuss the project and how my work might fit in, with the group going through my gallery and getting my work's scope.

I was thrilled to learn that I was one of the two artists awarded the commissions. Thank you to the many people who have sent me congratulations. Your kind sentiments are very much appreciated.~ Ellen