Art Dimensions
5 min readMar 14, 2024

Ellen Scobie: Versatile & Vancouver- Based Artist

Ellen Scobie — self portrait

In the artist’s own words: My graphic design career led into marketing and I wound up working for an architectural firm and using Photoshop for retouching. This was in 2000–2001 before Photoshop was everywhere, and mostly professional photographers and artists were using the program. I got to thinking, what can I do in Photoshop to explore my own creativity? And that’s where I started working with my own photographs, cutting and pasting them — digitally in Photoshop — to create these quite structured compositions. My work was definitely influenced by the architectural realm I was working in — quite rectilinear, with the sense of it being built from components. I was also pulling from my background making lithographic prints and layering the photographic fragments to build the composition. And over the years my work has become more and more abstract to the place it is right now.

I started showing my work through an artist-run centre in Vancouver where it attracted attention from interior designers. This led to commissions that could be exactly sized to their specifications — since I was working digitally I could accommodate any size they required. This, in turn, ultimately led to working with set decorators for tv productions where the benefit of having a digital artwork that could easily be resized or colored proved to be very convenient on set — especially when time was of the essence. — Ellen Scobie

Sculptures by Ellen Scobie

Ellen Scobie — Art Dimensions: Beyond the Palette Podcast #66: Photo-Based Artist and Sculptor

Welcome back to my podcast — Art Dimensions: Beyond the Palette. Here, you’ll hear the behind-the-scenes of some of today’s great painters, sculptors, photographers, and collectors. I’m your host, Whitney Rosenson, Owner of Art Dimensions Online — your online home for art leasing and sales from over 80 talented artists.

This is Episode #66 and today’s guest is Ellen Scobie. She’s a versatile artist who uses digital imagery and sculpture to explore the interconnectedness and interdependency of all lifeforms. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast spots — follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling happy creating!

  • Episode Summary & Player
  • Show Notes
  • Art Dimensions: Beyond the Palette Summary

Episode 66: Ellen Scobie — Photo-Based Artist and Sculptor

Ellen Scobie is a versatile artist who uses digital imagery and sculpture to explore the interconnectedness and interdependency of all lifeforms. She combines fragments of photographs into new compositions and also shapes clay into representations of the human body. Hear how she fell in love with these different types of art, how we can lift others up by creating something beautiful, and why the fear of having to do something else for a living can be the best motivation. This episode covers everything from layering images to staying positive. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

  • How long has Ellen been shooting & sculpting?
  • What’s the first creative project she remembers doing?
  • How would she describe her aesthetic in 3 words?
  • What does she hope people get from her creations?
  • How does she approach her 2 main forms of art?
  • What art does she show in her own home?
  • Which artist is her biggest influence?
  • How do you bring all the pieces together?

Check out Ellen’s artwork at ArtDimensionsOnline.com.

Enjoy the show by clicking on the “play” button below! Check out the show notes below for much more detail.

Episode #66: Ellen Scobie

Show Notes

  • Intro
  • [0:50] Art Dimensions: Beyond the Palette
  • [0:54] Whitney Rosenson, Art Dimensions
  • [1:01] Check out Ellen’s artwork at ArtDimensionsOnline.com
  • [1:32] How long has she been shooting & sculpting?
  • [4:03] Where was she educated in art?
  • [7:09] How many places did she study art?
  • Creative Process
  • [7:50] What’s the first creative project Ellen remembers doing?
  • [9:37] How do you bring all the pieces together?
  • [10:41] What does Ellen do with photography?
  • [14:40] Check out her artwork at ArtDimensionsOnline.com
  • Style
  • [15:09] How would Ellen describe her aesthetic in 3 words?
  • [18:40] What does she hope people get from her creations?
  • [19:58] How does she approach her 2 main forms of art?
  • Rapid-Fire Q&A
  • [22:19] How does Ellen stay motivated?
  • [23:55] What advice does she have for emerging artists?
  • [25:26] What art does she show in her own home?
  • [26:33] Which artist is her biggest influence?
  • [28:26] Check out Ellen’s artwork at ArtDimensionsOnline.com and EllenScobie.com, and follow us on Instagram @ArtDimensions
  • [28:34] Email Whitney if you have any questions on Ellen & more
  • [28:42] Join the Beyond the Palette Facebook Group
  • [29:16] Follow Art Dimensions: Beyond the Palette and tell a friend about the podcast
  • [29:19] Check out Art Dimensions: Beyond the Palette on Goodpods, where you can see what your favorite people are listening to

What is Art Dimensions: Beyond the Palette?

How does contemporary art get created? Hear the behind-the-scenes of some of today’s great painters, sculptors, photographers, and collectors. Learn the inspiration, motivation, and creative processes that make contemporary art possible. Hosted by Whitney Rosenson, Owner of Art Dimensions Online — your online home for art leasing and sales from over 80 talented artists.

What is Art Dimensions?

For more than thirty years, we have specialized in the leasing and sale of fine, contemporary art including painting, print, sculpture and photography. We are proud to have more than 80 talented artists on our roster.

Our “lease to own” program provides an opportunity to “live with the art” before electing to purchase it. Both residential and corporate clients can create appealing and exciting spaces with artwork, while creating an investment for themselves.

We are able to coordinate delivery, installation, and also offer framing consultation and art relocation. Cleared artwork has appeared in numerous feature films and television shows.

Our team will work within your timeframe and budget to provide you with fabulous artwork for your film, print, home staging and commercial projects.

We are a business member of the Set Decorators Society of America.

Thanks for listening to Ellen Scobie on Art Dimensions: Beyond the Palette. To hear more talented artists, follow Art Dimensions: Beyond the Palette and tell a friend about it. Happy creating!!

Feel free to call/email Whitney with questions about leasing or purchasing fine, contemporary artwork from Ellen Scobie and other artists on the Art Dimensions roster.

ph) 310–433–8934 e) info@artdimensionsonline.com

Art Dimensions
Art Dimensions

Written by Art Dimensions

Art Dimensions Inc. is a web-based art leasing and sales business that specializes in the leasing of fine contemporary art with option to buy.

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