Background
Phyllis
Bryce Ely is a Rochester, NY, artist who has lived and exhibited in the
Rochester area and Northeast US for over 20 years. She is a 1981
Painting/Fine Arts graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology. Phyllis
is featured in corporate and private collections and has been represented by
the Oxford
Gallery since the 1980s. The Mill Gallery and Art Center in Honeoye
Falls, NY, began representing her work in 2003. Phyllis is primarily
known as a landscape painter who works ‘plein air’ in upstate New York and
Southern Maine. She is also an "Under 5" curler at the Rochester
Curling Club.
Recent landscape exhibit
|
"Distant Nubble" (York Beach, Maine) |
Why Curling Art?
Because my family of three curls many times a week, over the past few winters I've found myself at the curling club more than in my studio.
It occurred to me I could paint at the curling club just as easily as I normally do
in the studio or
outdoors in the landscape. Better than outdoors, I get heat, a table,
chair, coffee and plumbing! So I began to paint during my daughter's
weekend practices. As an artist, I found I enjoyed the colors,
design and shapes in the curling environment. I also like the
addition of people to my paintings. I work directly on site or from
my own photographs (fellow club members kindly tolerate me out on the ice
with my camera). At times other curlers also offer their photos for
which I am grateful.
At a friend's suggestion I donated a few small
paintings to a fun club fundraising auction. They were well received and
earned some money for the Rochester Curling Club. With that encouragement, I kept painting
curling images and began to imagine this Web site. And, in the spirit of
curling, I wanted to find a way to give back to the sport as I continued to
make and sell curling art. As I discussed this idea, another friend suggested I consider
supporting the USWCA's Future
Fund, whose purpose is to develop, improve and sustain women's (and
junior women's) curling. I checked it out and found it to be a
meaningful way to help grow the sport. I now donate a portion of every
sale of original art to the Future Fund.
That was nearly two years ago. I've
continued to create curling art and this Web site is now real. As I've
learned more about curling, visited other clubs and met many curlers, my enthusiasm for this idea has grown.
Thank you to all of you who have encouraged me along the way. I hope you'll
view the gallery and consider adding some curling art to your life or the life of a curler you care
about. Please come back often to see new work. I welcome your
hellos, comments and ideas in my guest book.
Good Curling,
Phyllis
