Meet Tim Ellmers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tim Ellmers.

Hi Tim, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have been exposed to the visual arts for the majority of my life while growing up in the Low Country of Charleston, South Carolina. I have been considered an up-and-coming artist whose paintings capture the hidden simplistic beauty found in unexpected places and fleeting moments of surrounding landscapes. 

My artistic vision began taking shape through school courses in the early 1990s. It was not until high school that I truly started to recognize my abilities and potential as an artist. Growing up, I was exposed to a wide variety of mediums, such as ceramics, pastels, oil and acrylic paint, charcoal drawing, and textural 3D art. Having had this exposure was pivotal to discovering my love for drawing and painting with oil and acrylic mediums. Growing up in the Low Country was attention-grabbing for me as I drew and painted the magnificent landscapes of the surrounding city. While in high school, I participated in many workshops and summer school programs, which afforded me the ability to participate in local community art events with other amazing artists. While in Charleston, I began to win placement awards for many of my works. 

While preparing for higher education, I made a hard decision to not pursue a formal education in art. Instead, I focused my efforts on ways I could give back to my community and help others. I attended Winthrop University in the fall of 2002, where I studied biology and chemistry, later transitioning to Campbell University to study Pharmacy. After graduating with a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree in 2010, I completed a year of pharmacy residency training in Harrisonburg, Virginia. I stayed in Virginia and practiced pharmacy for an additional 5 and a half years. It was during this time I decided to reenergize my love for painting after a 14-year hiatus. In 2015, my wife and I moved to Hendersonville, NC, where I re-focused my efforts and my love for painting. The Blue Ridge Mountains are now where I call home and offer myself the perfect backdrop to continue exploring its beauty and wonders. While still working as a clinical pharmacist in Asheville, North Carolina, I still always find time to paint and be creative. In 2016, I launched a painting blog that then turned into an online portfolio of my work. In 2017, I started taking commissions so that I could share my love for art. Through dedicated self-study, I have been able to discover my own personal style, which is simple and loose while still exploring differing styles. I find creating art to be a very therapeutic vehicle for life but find it even more exciting when sharing it with others. In 2020, I took the leap and started participating in Local and National Art Exhibitions and have had work accepted at the national level. I continue to explore and grow through my art. 

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As with anything in life, failure has to be an acceptable part of the equation to gain successful outcomes. Everyone has heard the phrase, “The road to success is paved with failure.” When it comes to painting (or anything in life), it will be your mistakes that make you more resilient. You should not let your mistakes define you (which can be hard). You should let your mistakes be a catalyst for continuing to try, take chances, and ultimately grow. The best way to learn how to paint is by painting. It is that simple! You can watch all the videos you want and take all the classes you want. The only way to be good at something is by practicing it and continuing to do so even when you are painting “bad” paintings. Personally, getting through a rough patch of “bad” paintings is very hard. It is what you do as a result of this that likely defines your future path. I tell new artists all the time if what you are painting makes you happy, continue that path. If not, change it! 

I have said before that I am a self-taught artist. When I get in a grove of bad paintings, I tend to stop for a while and focus on the aspects of “What makes this bad?” and “How can I go about making improvements?”. Being able to analyze your own artwork is another complex key to success. Sometimes it takes asking your friends (who are also artists) to give you feedback as you may not “see” it early on. But as you become more experienced, you will start picking up on how to “see”. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As an artist, I am still trying to find my voice. By this, I mean my painting style is still fluid. I do not have a consistent style in every single painting. I think this is a good thing as I am still exploring different techniques that I am learning. I paint landscapes and portraits mainly. In the last 3 to 4 years, I have been exploring portraiture more and more. I find painting another person fascinating. Each person has a story. I find that trying to capture the story of the sitter to be a fun challenge. While I am not a John Singer Sargent or Richard Schmid (yet…), I enjoy the process of all the forms and values found in a portrait. Getting outside and painting out in the open air (en plein air) is very therapeutic as well. Nature is very forgiving and filled with so many possibilities. I am most proud of my growth over the years. And that growth stemmed from all my self-dedication, which is a very important part of growth. 

What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
To enjoy the process of painting and not focus on the endpoint. To keep the creative spark alive, you should take time to learn something new and get out of your comfort zone. While going outside your comfort zone may get uncomfortable, growth will ultimately follow if you continue to try, take chances, and explore. Allow yourself time to “play” – it isn’t just for kids!

Pricing:

• 6 x 6 ~ $100 for commission piece
• 5 x 6 ~ $ 100 for commission piece
• 6 x 8 ~ $135 for commission piece
• All prices are on my website @ www.timellmers.com

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TimEllmers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timellmersfineart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellmers