Let's scroll through Ella's child artist story...

Ella started fine art classes in 2019, at age 6, while in Los Angeles shooting her ABC sitcom "United We Fall." As a child actress series regular appearing in each episode of the show, she kept a regular Monday-Friday schedule of schooling on set and working.

But she still indulged in life as a kid outside of acting, with play dates, plenty of outdoor activities like hiking, and also enrolled in Krav Maga (martial arts) and art classes.

Here she is at her first art class, learning to draw the bunny example on the left. In her time there, she worked with colored pencils, markers and water colors.
We returned to Los Angeles for a few months in 2020, where Ella celebrated with friends at her fun 7th birthday party — the day before everything started shutting down for the pandemic. Before that drastic change in all our lives in early March 2020, she switched to a different in-person fine-art program that introduced her to pastels. 

These photos show her warming up with a charcoal pencil at her art bench and holding her first pastel drawing — a butterfly.
Thankfully the fine-art program switched to offering virtual classes during the pandemic. Ella completed many pastel drawings and moved on to water color painting, but always felt pulled back to cover those fingers with pastel dust.
​When Ella was ready for more than the structure of the online program could offer, the art gods smiled and allowed her to connect with the absolute perfect match of an art teacher. Deb Pettigrew is a pet portrait artist who also has private instruction students and teaches art to seniors. She and Ella are kindred spirits, and Deb immediately elevated Ella's pastel skills.

Deb introduced Ella to the best quality materials (Ella even named one of her pet mice Schmincke after the top pastel brand), and each lesson is rich with new techniques. In addition to learning quickly, Ella showed an aptitude for using color. Deb literally wrote the book on color, you can learn more about her book "Color With a Twist, Understanding the Science of Color for Artists" at her website: pastelsbydeb.com

What Deb offers Ella is the perfect example of what one might call the lost art of apprenticeship. She and Ella sit side-by-side, the student learning from the teacher in devoted, focused creation. The right tools, materials, teacher and nurturing environment allow the artist to see, express and grow. It's amazing to watch Ella's pastel drawings come to life!

Just like Ella's instructors in ballroom dancing, piano, guitar and voice, she is learning from wonderful people who understand her artistic soul and passions. Plus, Ella is homeschooled, which we started due to her travel for acting, but soon realized was the greatest asset in allowing her time to experience the arts in the manner that she does.
Ella started selling Ella Bella Beads bracelets at farmers markets at age 5. (Click here to see the commercial with Derek Jeter that features Ella's entrepreneurship and philanthropy). She started selling prints and notecards of her work at the markets alongside her beads when she was 8, before meeting Deb. We could unofficially call Ella's early drawings the "first phase" of her art journey. Many people still purchase those first phase prints, loving Ella's unique expression as a child artist. 

Gallery of Ella making her early pastel art

Those early prints were done on smooth newsprint. Once she entered the "second phase" of her pastel journey, Ella started using proper pastel paper and the best brands of pastels — some sticks and some pencils. Deb introduced Ella to Schmincke, Derwent and Unison pastels, and all the amazing ways to use them. 

These images are of Ella with her most recent drawings, all with pastel.

Ella's artivism path (art + activism = artivism)

Ella has always been overflowing with extreme empathy. She wants to become president so she can implement her plans to eradicate homelessness, eliminate litter and otherwise help people, animals and the environment.

Since the age of 4, in 2017, Ella has been selling bead bracelets as her own business, Ella Bella Beads. It started as a fundraiser and evolved into regular giving and packing of food for hungry children in her community. Her efforts were highlighted in a commercial with Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Derek Jeter. You can watch it here.

At age 8, Ella began selling her artwork and formulating plans to continue her legacy of giving back — this time supporting organizations that empower youth ambassadors to educate and prompt change around the pressing issues facing Earth. Ella wants to combine her love of art with her disdain for litter and pollution to raise awareness and lift spirits. Stay tuned for more details.

Ella and Earth thank you for your support!

Some more of the process:

SEALING: We sealed Ella's first phase pastel drawings on newsprint (Mom sprayed, Ella just wanted to hold the can for this photo :) Some of Ella's current drawings on pastel paper get a spray mid-design, which allows for building more layers of pastel. They are not sprayed again at the end.
SCANNING: Ella's first phase drawings were scanned at a professional company over an hour's drive away. They had weeks wait time. Now that we are in rhythm of selling at markets and Ella constantly produces new art, we are handling the scanning in a different manner. 
SELLING IN PERSON
Ella debuted her art prints and notecards at local farmers markets and craft fairs at the end of 2021. People love using her notecards to send happy mail messages, which uplifts this young artist. She's been pleasantly overwhelmed with the support of those purchasing her prints (and ordering commissions) to make their happy places even happier.
​
Keep up with Ella's booth locations on Instagram: @EllaBellaBeads and on Facebook
SHOP ONLINE: Virtual art store launched!
Ella's artwork is available to purchase at her online art store ! Browse and shop with a secure platform backed by Square, the same point-of-sale company and products we use for transactions at the markets.
ACTION: Ella graduated Ocean Heroes Networks' boot camp as an Ocean Hero in June 2021, at age 8. She was among youth from around the globe learning about their power to educate and effect change through grass-roots campaigns. That's where Ella learned about ARTIVISM — using art as activism, and realized she can mix her love of fine art with her detest for litter as she formulates her environmental campaign.

The organization rebranded as Planeteer Alliance HQ, and is backed by Captain Planet Foundation. She looks forward to joining the Planeteer Alliance.
"The Planeteer Alliance is a global network of young people who are putting their passion and impatience for change into action for the planet."
— Planeteer Alliance
"At Ocean Heroes HQ, we see a world in which our most powerful leaders - youth - have the tools and resources to grow, thrive, and work together to restore the health of our ocean. Join us and gain access to the tools and training you need to transform your passion for ocean health into tide turning campaigns."
— Ocean Heroes HQ