PLUNGE | Elle Willson

Tucked into the golden, rolling hills somewhere between Morro Bay and Atascadero, CA, sits Elle Willson’s humble home and art studio.This February she welcomed us for a quick visit, and it was such a joy to get to know her and learn about her artwork in person.

After growing up in Idaho and spending time in Montana, Elle found herself drawn to sunny California about ten years ago and fell in love with the central coast. She’s been nestled in this grassy nook, hidden between oak trees, for the past few years and makes her artwork in a corner of her bedroom or the garage she shares with her partner.

Although she’s always been creative, Elle felt things break open about two years ago when she hit her stride working with colored pencils and honing in on flower studies. Her debut solo exhibition at Cruise Control gallery in nearby Cambria in 2023 helped her to access her community in a new way, immersing her in the art world and driving a more ambitious practice.

Elle now balances her time between cleaning houses, occasional waitressing, immersing herself in nature, surfing, and developing her art career. She draws almost every day, and it’s easy to see how she can spend several hours at a time getting lost in her delicate compositions and working til her hands are sore, if she’s not careful. There is equilibrium for her in the joy of helping others and getting outside of herself. Like a true artist, she pushes through any stress she may have by doing more art, switching up scale, or mediums, or experimenting with stained glass.

Sometimes Elle’s flowers are based on something real, a photo she took, or sometimes a memory. They are these nice amalgams of real life and dreamscape ~ beautiful, patient studies in abstraction, with historical influence among the likes of Georgia O’Keeffe and Paul Klee… We were so pleased to have been introduced to her work and can hardly wait to see where Elle goes from here.

Who are you?

I am an artist living on the central coast.

How did you end up in Atascadero and what makes you stay?

I moved here 10 years ago on a whim. I was living in Missoula Montana but looking for somewhere with more sunshine and a community I might connect with. My brother was going to Cal Poly and suggested I move to the central Coast.

You mention having studied art at various schools. Has that influenced your path or current practice, or not?

I really enjoyed studying art in school, but eventually chose not to finish my degree because I wasn’t really sure in what way I wanted to pursue art.

When starting a new artwork, where do you begin and how do you know when a piece is done?

I usually make a small sketch in my journal before I make the actual drawing, so I have it all planned out. When I’m making a sketch I know it’s done when it just feels like it’s working. I can’t describe it.

Your work beautifully combines the figurative and abstract. Could you walk us through how you balance these two perspectives?

I always start with the figurative aspect of the drawing. The figurative part of the drawing is usually the focal point, and the abstractions are complimentary. I am usually searching for balance and harmony, and colors that may unexpectedly pair together. It’s fun to experiment with drawings that are full of sharp contrasts and bold colors, or drawings that flow together in a way where the two perspectives are blending together and perhaps the whole thing ends up being abstract.

How did you arrive at your specific style of drawing? Have you always drawn in this way?

This style of drawing came about suddenly 2 years ago. I just had a few months of rapid change and honing in my style, but finding my personal style was something I had been focusing on figuring out for a while. I have a lot of current artists that really inspire me. I love artwork that has multiple things happening in one drawing like in a comic book style or a collage way, if that makes sense. Current artists I definitely owe recognition to are Ellen Siebers, Maria Medem, and David Abbot. I also am obsessed with Georgia O’Keefe and Paul Klee.

How has your community influenced your art practice?

I think the natural environment has influenced me more than my community. I don’t feel there is much of an artistic scene where I live, but being a small community where everyone kind of knows everyone, and I have received a lot of encouragement. The central coast is a beautiful place to live, and I draw a lot of inspiration from all the wildflowers blooming in this area. I don’t think I’ve ever lived anywhere that has so many flowers. I have also found a lot of inspiration from artist friends I have made up and down the coastline of California, and through social media. I do have a small number of close friends I have made on the central coast who inspire me as they pursue their own art practice.

Does a finished piece ever surprise you or go in a completely unexpected direction?

Yes occasionally! It’s the rough sketches I do that catch me by surprise some- times. I often will have an idea in my head and I’ll make a sketch knowing how it will look for the most part. But sometimes I just sit down with zero ideas and come up with something I wasn’t expecting to work out. But most of the time I am making many many sketches that do not work, until I finally reach one that does. It feels really normal to have many unsuccessful ideas and then suddenly a good one.

Is there a particular flower or plant that has had a significant influence on you?

The first flower I drew that got me hooked on drawing flowers was Borage. I illustrated a children’s book that my friend, Jeff Grimes wrote, for my niece. It is called “Silly Garden”. I drew a lot of flowers but after drawing the Borage I just became obsessed and would draw it all the time. I think it is sentimental now because it reminds me of my niece, Indigo.

What’s one moment or breakthrough that stands out to you as a turning point in your art practice?

My breakthrough was drawing flowers. Something about them helped me access abstract drawing, which I never was able to achieve before. Also another breakthrough was discovering colored pencils. It was a medium that I felt like I could get my ideas out in a way I was struggling to achieve with watercolor or other paints.

Who/what inspires you in addition to nature? Any recommendations/obsessions, things you think we should know about?

Definitely Georgia O’Keefe, because she painted so many flowers and also created abstractions of flowers too. It makes me feel like it’s totally acceptable to just draw flowers if that’s what feels true to my expression.

Paul Klee inspires me because he seems to have had a fascination with colors. And I think his work helped me improve my understanding of colors and what does or doesn’t work.

Oh and for stained glass I’m incredibly inspired by a current artist Janey, I don’t know her last name. Her instagram is @sand_granule. I love to share her art with anyone and everyone. I’m obsessed!

Favorite place to use a towel/swimming spot you want to share?

I use beach towels most frequently as changing towels to surf. I also love to be in water in any way that I can, swimming holes, rivers, ocean or a bath.

Three artists you think deserve more attention?

Janey B, Evan Aproberts, Julia Schwebel

How does making art make you feel?

It feels like a flow state. 

It’s addicting because I just can completely be lost in it. 

It feels very therapeutic.

What are you working on and what is next?

I am currently working on combining my drawings with stained glass somehow.

I am working on my first piece with the two mediums incorporated. 

I have no idea if it will work.

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Jessica Thornton Murphy is the founder of Plunge. Located in San Francisco, California, Jess first began her creative endeavor at the beginning of the 2020 pandemic. Drawing from her relationships with numerous artists and her various job experiences, she started producing a line of artfully designed, 100% cotton, Jacquard-woven towels, which are woven on a loom here in the USA.

All photos courtesy of Jessica Thornton Murphy & Elle Willson

Photo of Elle Willson with black cat by Julia Schwebel @mugwort____

Additional Information

Plunge Website

Plunge social: @plungetowels

Elle Willson @seahrse_

Elle is featured in Plunge Rag Volume 5, Spring 2025!

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