Well, + Wonder's March Madness, a month filled with, of course, so much art, is coming to a close, but on its final day, we needed to squeeze in one final new artist launch. Ella Anderson is launching TOMORROW! Ella is based in Raleigh, North Carolina and has been creative and entrepreneurial since a young age. Her first creative business at age 12 was creating and selling hand-made greeting cards, and after that, she moved into jewelry making. Today, Ella has focused the past 8 years on painting and developing her personal artistic style. Her inaugural collection loads onto our gallery walls tomorrow, March 31st, at 12 pm Eastern Time, and if y'all are anything like us, you will be counting down the hours until her work arrives. Get to know Ella better by reading her responses to our favorite new artist questionnaire. Pardon Me, Ella Anderson, and join us tomorrow when Ella's work is live!
What is currently on your nightstand?
My emotional support water bottle, phone charger & tissue box. Really nothing exciting! I like to keep surfaces pretty clutter-free
Who is your biggest influence as an artist and why?
So many! I prefer to focus on present day artists as inspiration, so a lot of my influences have come from artist’s I’ve met via Instagram, different workshops and local art events.
Tell us about your childhood. What is the most memorable moment as a young person?
I had an amazing childhood and feel so lucky to have had the chance to fully be a child pre-smart phones. I remember a lot of time spent outside making up adventures of all sorts.
If you could only have one supply in your art studio, what would it be and why?
I think I could get creative with painting surfaces and items to paint with, but nothing can replace or compare to Golden branded acrylic paint.
What is your favorite room in your house? Describe it.
My husband and I bought our first house about 3 years ago and have been slowly re-doing it so I have very personal ties to almost every room in the house at this point. I think my favorite room is the kitchen. I spent almost a year designing and re-designing it while we saved. It is a smallish L shaped kitchen so the goal was to really optimize the space functionally and use design choices that opened it up. The cabinets are off white with one wall being full floor to ceiling pantry cabinets and the refrigerator. Opposite the pantry are open top shelves and drawered bottom cabinets with the sink & dishwasher. There is a small working island in the middle of the room with drawers and hidden trash/recycling. My favorite part is the countertop/backsplash. I picked a black granite that looks similar to soapstone for the L-shaped countertops, extending them up as the backsplash. The island has a white and little bits of warm gold colored quartzite to break it up. There is a small circular table near the windows on the opposite side of the room with fun yellow velvet chairs to bring some color to the room.
What is your biggest score online?
I am a thrifter and marketplace maniac, always looking for a good deal on something unique and well-built. My most recent score that I am still incredibly thrilled about are 4 MCM reupholstered dining room chairs. They have a unique shape, beautiful solid wood and a green colored upholstery fabric that ties nicely into my green-themed dining room.
What is the benefit of buying art through a collective? What do you recommend for those that are new to buying original art?
All the hard work of research has already been done for you! The leaders within a collective thoughtfully curate a set of artist based off their style, location, experience, etc., creating a streamlined process for sharing and buying works. A collective gives you confidence and security in your purchase.
If you have the entire day to spend in an art museum, which one and why?
This is SO specific to Raleigh, NC but there is one exhibit a year at the NC art museum that I cannot miss. It’s called Art in Bloom and florists from all over the state participate in this 5-day exhibition. Florists are each assigned to a piece of art in the museum and are tasked with creating a floral installation or arrangement to represent their assigned artwork. It is super cool because it is artists interpreting art in one form and sharing it in another form. The florists are on site and share their process for their creation as well.
What is your favorite hotel and what makes it special?
This question is making me think I need some hotel recommendations. I can’t say I have stayed anywhere nice enough to be memorable in a good way! I like to stay in tastefully decorated places with lots of natural light. Preferably a white duvet cover so that I know it gets washed between guests and is clean. No carpets in the room, please.
If you were lipstick color would you be red, pink, or clear and why?
Probably clear because I am too shy and introverted to wear brightly colored lipstick. Honestly, a little Aquaphor chap stick is more my jam.
I can never get on a plane without….
a Dramamine and a Xanax. Flying is not my friend
How did you get into the world of art?
Kind of by a happy accident. While I was in college, I struggled with my health both physical and mental and saw a chronic pain therapist. My attitude at the time was purely surviving through each day and getting my work done. At this point it had been several years since I had a creative hobby and one day my therapist asked me to give her some examples of things that brought me joy. To be honest I couldn’t even think of anything but eventually answered that painting was something that I enjoyed. She assigned me to paint for 30 minutes every evening and that is what started me painting nearly every day for the past 7 years.
What do you do to relax?
Painting is my biggest way to relax. I typically paint for at least 1-2 hours each evening as a regular practice and way to unwind from the day. When painting is not available going for walks and reading are always an option!
When do you get the biggest surge of inspiration?
When traveling!
Prediction for the Color of 2026?
Some soft, buttery yellow- people are in need of a bit of joy right now.
What is your idea of a date night? Dinner and a movie or dancing all night?
Can I say my favorite night date is a mini weekend vacation? My husband and I are together all the time and don’t have kids yet, so we haven’t needed to schedule date nights. I expect that will change in the future but for now my favorite is grabbing a long weekend and going somewhere new to explore.
Tell us about your favorite painting that you have created.
My favorite painting changes constantly. But I love it when a piece comes together truly effortlessly, where I somehow follow my intuition through the process, and it works out beautifully.
One piece of advice for buying original art?
Have a dedicated fund of art money so that when the perfect piece is available, you can grab it without feeling guilty! Original art is just that- original. So you want to make sure you can move on it when you find something that really speaks to you.
