Family Physician by day...

"Artist by Night"

Art Inspired by Life

I am James Michael Elia M.D., an artist at heart since my youth. I have always worked with various forms of art in some fashion my entire life.  From art projects in school, to sketching in my spare time, or strolling through the aisles at the Pearl Art & Craft store I grew up with as a youngster hoping to have one of everything, the interest was always there.  

My day job is in the healing arts where I have been a practicing family physician since 1997.  I suppose my attention to detail in medicine has also been an attribute that serves me well in my artwork yet I endeavor to be taking on a "looser" style. For the last 20 years, by night, I have been expanding my art portfolio having taken courses in my hometown of Lancaster, PA at the Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, Lancaster Museum of Art, Lancaster Art Association, and on-going classes in watercolor with local artist Steve Wilson. In 2019 I attended Art of the Carolinas workshops in Raleigh, N.C. which included spending time with renowned artists Sterling Edwards and Tom Lynch. In January 2021 I attended the very first virtual Watercolor Live conference and soon will participate in the Pastel Live conference August 2021.  I am currently a member of the Lancaster Art Association and the Lancaster Museum of Art.

I consider myself versatile in many mediums such as pencil, charcoal, pastel, and oil but am especially drawn to watercolor.  My hands have also gotten into wheel throwing pottery and even glassblowing! Life is what inspires me, be it a travel destination, a unique still life my eyes connect with, curious animals, stunning landscapes, or just the desire to create something beautiful out of the ordinary.

My inspiration comes from my own life experiences, often using my own reference photographs for my art, or at times an image in the public domain. My travels include sites across the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska, Delaware beaches, our National Parks such as Yellowstone, the vineyards of Virginia or the Finger Lakes, scuba diving, snow covered mountains of Vermont, or my own backyard.  In addition my international adventures include Italy, France, Curacao, Honduras, and Mexico.  Those who know me know my Canon camera (or phone) is always closeby, and now I have a lifetime of experiences to create something that you too will have an emotional connection with.  What's next... ?  I have been playing with my new drone which has captured some amazing views of Sedona and Prescott, AZ.

When I am not doctoring a patient or a painting, I am caring for my backyard chickens or aquarium fish, creating another homemade wine, bicycling on a rail trail, revving up my Zuma scooter by the Delaware shore, playing with our rescued cats George and Jasper, our yellow lab Champ, or spending time with my family.

Originally from East Meadow, N.Y., I relocated to Pennsylvania in 1994. I live in Lancaster County with my lovely and supportive wife, Dana, and have four children: Michael, Anthony, Elena, Adrian. I am excited about writing this next chapter in my artistic vision storybook by sharing my online storefront to showcase my current body of work, accepting commission assignments, and the pieces I have yet to create.

I hope you will sign-up for my mailing list so that we may stay in touch with my newsletter and updates. I will provide links to several social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and hope to include videos of my creative process.

Thank you for visiting!

Artfully yours,

James