ELLEN'S WORK
Is best characterized as figurative and mainly people oriented. She always captures her subjects involved in what they are doing- never posing. She uses photography (both video and stills) as a way of collecting raw material. She then works from the photographs, using them merely as a model with the objective of interpreting the character and the movement in the photographs and not trying to copy them She will often use several photographs to create one image.

Ellen has established herself as an expert in silk screen. Each piece is created by hand and in small editions (10-12). Her technique is both uncommon and non-traditional, as she uses transparent colors only and creates her prints directly on the screen, working from only a basic sketch.

She finds that the transparent colors are more flexible and blend better, not leaving such flat areas of paint, as do the opaque colors on standard silk screens. The overall affect is more aquarelle-like rather than graphic.

In recent years, Ellen has been concentrating more on oil painting, as well as pastel and other media.

WORK EXPERIENCE
1976 - 1999 - Teaching silk screen, painting, drawing and photography in her private studio and various institutions such as: The Youth Wing of the Israel Museum, the Cultural Centers in Gilo and Baka'a, the Moshav Movement, the Cultural center for Youth and others.

2001 - Salesperson at the Society for the Preservation of Nature, Jerusalem

1999 - 2001 - Salesperson at Braveheart Gallery, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

1995 - 1996 - Jewelry salesperson for H. Stern on a Greek ship in the Mediteranean and Red Seas

1986 - 1990 - Jewelry salesperson for H. Stern in Jerusalem and Eilat

1983 - 1986 - Jewelry salesperson for Eshkar Ltd. Jerusalem

1982 - 1983 - Technical drawing at the excavations of the City of David, Jerusalem.

1975 - 1976 - Assistant in the Bezalel Art Department, especially for the silk screen and drawing teachers.

1968 - 1972 - Archaeologist in charge of registering the finds at the excavations of the Southern Wall in Jerusalem.

 

Buy Ellen's book of Jazz Musicians -
over 70 images and interesting stories.
Preview or purchase the book
at PrestoPhoto.com

INTERVIEWS "Tones of Character", an interview with Ellen Lefrak, in the Mayo (Ireland) News, 2013 (PDF Version) Radio Interview with Ellen, WRFM, 98.2 (Ireland), 2013 Interview with Ellen in Italian, 3 Pages, Click to Enlarge:     , (Click here for English)

EDUCATION

2001 - 7 week course in Web Site Design

1995 - 5 month course in video, organized by Community TV. Specialized in video photography.

1993 - 4 month course in Computer Graphics, given by the Open University in Jerusalem - supported by the Ministry of Labor. Studies included; Macintosh based drawing, Freehand, Photoshop, scanning techniques, use of Rav Daf and Rav Ktav ( desk top publishing).

1976 - Received BFA from the Bezalel Academy of Art. Won second place for the Struck Prize for artistic printmaking.

1972 - 1976 Studied in Bezalel’s Department of Fine art, learning painting, drawing, sculpture and especially print making techniques such as lithography, etching and particularly, silk screen.

1968 - 1972 Private courses in drawing, painting, sculpture and etching.

1963 - 1968 Studied Archaeology and Jewish history and received her BA from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

1962 - Studied sculpture and drawing at the Bezalel Academy of Art.

1962 - Studied English Literature and Jewish History at the Hebrew University.

1961 - 1962 Hebrew studies at Graetz College, Philadelphia, Pa.

1961 - 1962 Studied art at the Tyler School of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pa.

Ellen's latest book of Irish images
including musicians and landscapes.
Preview or purchase the book
at PrestoPhoto.com

EXHIBITIONS

One Woman Shows

1976
Schatz Gallery, Jerusalem

1977 - 1981
The Jerusalem Courtyard Hans and Graetz, Jerusalem

1980
The Center for Visual Arts, Jaffa

The Municipal Museum, Eilat
YMHA-YWHA, Jerusalem

1981
The Artist's House Jerusalem

1983
The Print Museum, Tzfat

Alon Gallery, Jerusalem

1985 and 1987
The Artist's House, Jerusalem

1990
Philip Murray, Eilat

1991
The Red Sea Jazz Festival, Eilat

1992
The American Cultural Center, Jerusalem

1994
Westport LIbrary, Co. Mayo, Ireland

The Artist's House, Jerusalem

1996
Private Home, Monte Sereno, California

1997
The Israel Festival-official exhibit at the Jerusalem Theater

1998
Kay Gallery, Beersheva
Gallery Tzurim, Kibbutz Urim
McLoughlin Gallery, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland

1999
Targue Music Center, Jerusalem

2000
The Municipal Gallery, Jerusalem

2001
Braveheart Gallery, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland

2002
Westport Library, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland

2003
KYLe Studio Gallery
669 main St
Falmouth Ma

Westport Library,
Co. Mayo,Ireland

2007
ClewBay Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland

2008
ClewBay Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland

2009
ClewBay Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland

2011
ClewBay Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo, Ireland

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