Ellen McCormick Martens
Artist Statement
My work is a hybrid of painting and collage, blending representational and abstract elements. I create vivid, lively abstractions with collage, often adding quirky shapes that meander across textured backgrounds, bringing a sense of movement and play.
A few years ago, I shifted from representational art to non-objective abstraction because my inspiration comes from within, rather than from the external world. Recently, though, representational elements have returned in my Ogham Tree Alphabet series, where symbolic forms connect nature, myth, and heritage.
I believe we create from the inside out. Reacting to what is happening outside of ourselves is not enough; true change begins in imagination. By envisioning beauty, balance, and regeneration, I make paintings that offer a vision of what could be, not just what is. Each work is a symbolic gesture toward healing—of self, of community, and of the natural world we have harmed but can restore.
The wild forests, shifting seasons, and waters of the Great Lakes landscape gave me my first sense of beauty and belonging, and they continue to shape my imagery. I am drawn to myth, spirit, and the timeless rhythms of the natural world.
Art is meant to be seen. In this time of crisis and transition, I believe images can hearten us and remind us of our shared humanity. Each painting carries the energy of unity and compassion—an offering to those who encounter it. The true power of my work is in the moment of seeing, when spirit meets spirit through image.
