Ella Richards

What is a drawing? You can draw with charcoal, ink, spray paint, a computer, so why not with paper. Drawing is where the art starts and ends. I do a study with a pencil then I redraw the study on the reverse of the black art paper. The drawing continues as I refine the line when I am cutting the drawing out of black paper. I am an avowed minimalist. I like the simplicity of black on white. It allows me to focus on the line and emotion of the piece. I also like the themes to be clear and uncomplicated, simply elegant and beautiful. My education is in pediatric medicine with a minor in art history, I studied in Tartu University in Estonia, when it was the USSR. I get inspiration from events and people in my memory before I left the USSR. Today I am lucky to live in one of the most fascinating neighborhoods in the world, Greenwich Village. I never lack for inspiration, I simply step out of my apartment and it is there, all around me. I feel like we are so busy and so connected to one another electronically, that I want my art to be a pause to encourage people to take time to reflect on what is truly important.