Ellen Cornett exhibit to open April 4

Don’t miss “Once Upon a Time,” a new one-artist exhibit featuring 52 drawings used in four of Ellen’s recent books. The show runs April 4-24 at Artists and Makers Studios in Rockville (receptions and location details at the end of this post).

For several years Ellen has reimagined and illustrated classic fairy tales and nursery rhymes in her art. In three of the books with drawings in this exhibit, she collaborated with art model Harry Edgel in illustrating all of the characters–both male and female.

Here are the four books, with a few drawings from each.

The House That Jack Built

This rhyming narrative, perhaps from the 1600s, interlinks the animals, people, and things connected with Jack’s house. Drawings are in carbon pencil.

The Fisherman and the Flounder

The Brothers Grimm version of this tale is titled The Fisherman and His Wife, but Ellen has her own version, with drawings in colored pencil and Flashe paint.

In this story, a fisherman catches an enchanted flounder who will grant wishes if the fisherman lets him go. The fisherman keeps going back and asking for bigger, better things, until–spoiler alert–the flounder is fed up with the fisherman’s greed and takes everything away.

Stone Soup

In Stone Soup, a clever man with a charismatic personality persuades people to help him despite their first instincts to not. Over the centuries, the man in various versions of this story was a soldier returning home, a homeless beggar, a monk, or a pilgrim. Originally suspicious and hostile, the villagers come together as a community through the shared meal. 

Drawings are in colored pencil.

Hush Little Baby

Many of us know the lullaby that begins, “Hush little baby, don’t say a word, mama’s gonna by you a mockingbird. . . . “

Ellen delightfully illustrated the lyrics in this song, using her childhood doll, Mary Lou, as the baby.

Where and when to visit

Exhibit location:
11810 Parklawn Drive, Suite 210
Rockville, Maryland 20852

Opening reception:
Friday, April 5, 5 to 8 pm

“Meet the Muses” reception:
Saturday, April 13, 1 to 3 pm.
Ellen and Harry will lead a tour of the exhibit and discuss their artistic collaboration.

Gallery hours:
Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm and by appointment. Contact Ellen at ellencornet@comcast.net to arrange a visit.