Elsie Shackleton

Ever since can remeber I have been drawing or sketching. I am left handed and always started at the back of my sketch books and worked to the front. This constantly amused my mother and the many teachers I had as a young child. Colour exploded into my life when one of my teachers gave me some old brushes that were to be thrown out with some paint and said "Elsie, add some colour to your art and it will amaze you!" So I did and have never looked back. I am self taught and whilst I have never formally trained I now lecture and run workshops for beginners to advanced students. I love to paint landscapes, flowers and illustrative art.This is the style I mostly paint now. I tend to lean toward graphic design and illustrative style of painting. I use oils, acrylics and a new technique I discovered using printers inks. The reason why I like to use the printers inks is because they lend themselves really well to the style of illustrative work I do. I am restricted in South Africa beacuse of the dangers of travelling so this has become the style I find I am using more and more.