Ellie Smith has called the Lebanon area home since 1996. Many people know her for her love of gardening, but another passion runs just as deep in her life: art.
Ellie has always been creative, though for many years that creativity showed up through music. She played piano, violin, viola, flute, and oboe, and she also sings. Music was her main artistic outlet for decades before she began focusing more on visual art.
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Growing up, Ellie believed the “artist” in the family was her brother. Because of that, stepping into the role of an artist herself meant overcoming something many creatives struggle with: imposter syndrome. Over time, she realized the validation of being an artist has to come from within.
For Ellie, the reward isn’t recognition or sales. It’s the simple satisfaction of creating something meaningful.
One of her biggest inspirations came from a trip to Antarctica. Instead of the icy gray landscape she expected, Ellie was struck by the endless shades of blue in the ice and water. When she returned home, those colors became the focus of several of her pieces. She also enjoys experimenting with unusual textures and materials, even using things like netting from a cantaloupe to add depth to her work.
Her art often includes playful ideas and wordplay. Some of her pieces include titles like Think Outside the Box, Walk the Line, and Beyond the Event Horizon, each visually exploring the meaning behind the phrase.
Alongside her larger work, Ellie has spent years practicing art journaling. She began her first journal in 2011 and has continued the practice ever since. Art journaling allows her to explore creativity freely without the pressure of framing or displaying every piece.
Recently, Ellie set a personal goal to create 100 miniature works of art measuring just two by three inches. The project fills two small journals and includes a mix of watercolor, ink, collage, feathers, and even paper from a hornet’s nest used to form mountains in one piece.
The beauty of the project, she says, is that all 100 works live inside two small books. Anyone who wants to see them can simply flip through the pages.
Ellie is also a strong supporter of the Lebanon Art Guild, where she connects with other artists who encourage and inspire one another. For her, the community is just as valuable as the artwork itself.
Ellie believes being an artist has nothing to do with selling your work. If you are creating art and expressing yourself, then you are already an artist.
For Ellie Smith, the joy is simply in the act of creating.
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