ABOUT

During a summer study of art history and drawing in Italy in college I fell in love with etchings and architecture. My career has centered on the creation of detailed representations using the etching monoprint and oil painting mediums with a wide variety of themes; many influenced by my international travel and our wonderful United States.

HAND COLORED ETCHINGS

Drawn to the detail of etchings, I have been comfortable exploring this printmaking medium for over thirty years. Favorite topics include wildflowers, Celtic religious themes, national and international landmarks and a variety of fish and animal species. My most recent etching series is the alphabet incorporated with the language of flowers.

MONOPRINTS

Beginning in 2000, I expanded my printmaking experience to include monoprints. I enjoy the spontaneity of the process and the surprise effects achieved from this intricate medium. Knowing that many of the French Impressionists worked with monoprints, I am experimenting in a variety of new topical areas influenced particularly by travels. Bold contrast and color are evident in my Palace of Versailles Garden Urns.

PLEIN AIR PAINTING

Since 2013 I have revisited oil painting on canvas and linen and am enjoying the challenges of color and prospective in an outdoor setting. (I now have a heightened awareness of the beauty of skies and shadows.)

A IS FOR AMARYLLIS

My son Daniel Dean Mueller and I self published an alphabet book titled “A is for Amaryllis”. It incorporates the alphabet using the illuminated letter fashioned after a 1500’s children’s alphabet and teamed with flowers that begin with that letter and their meaning.

Education:

Degree of Bachelor of Education in Art Education from University of Wisconsin Whitewater

Studied with: Paul Yank, Helena Ehlke, William Schneider, George Shipperley, D.K. Palacek, Shelby Keefe

Associations:

Cedarburg Artist Guild, League of Milwaukee Artists, Wisconsin Visual Artists, Cedarburg Cultural Center, Redline Milwaukee

Galleries:

The Pink Lama Gallery Cedarburg, Wisconsin

Recognition:

Best of Show: The Little Show Cedarburg Cultural Center 2018

“After looking at the entire exhibit, I kept coming back to Mary Ellen Mueller’s paintings. She really expressed her scenes with masterful color, great compositions and a wealth of detail for such small paintings. I felt her paintings expressed the essence of the day she was trying to portray and deserved Best of Show.” Joye Moon

Second Place: Plein Air Competition Grohmann Art Museum 2018
First Place: Plein Air Competition Boerner Botanical Gardens LMA 2015