Born in Dothan, Alabama and raised in a working-class family in Pike County, Brennan Ellis began formal art training at the age of eight and continued his studies through his senior year of high school, culminating in AP Art. After a 17-year hiatus, he rediscovered his passion/aptitude for drawing at age 35 and quickly found his artistic voice in the medium of colored pencil.
Drawn to its rich pigmentation, sharp contrasts, creamy texture, meticulous detail, and capacity for warmth, Brennan uses colored pencil to create emotionally resonant works that explore the full, complex spectrum of the human condition. Influenced by the narrative realism of Edward Hopper, Terry Redlin, and Norman Rockwell, he seeks to tell layered stories of ordinary life—capturing moments of victory, joy, childlike innocence, and quiet mischief. Yet, he never shies away from confronting darker themes of loss, grief, aging, depression, and the passage of time. Like Rockwell’s portrayals of everyday Americans infused with subtle meaning, Brennan aims to bring thoughtful visual storytelling to a contemporary audience through his own distinct voice.
Brennan’s original piece, “Blue Moon Over Downtown Troy” took home first prize in the 2026 Alabama The Beautiful juried art competition at the Johnson Center for the Arts in Troy, Alabama. In 2025, he was recognized by Former President George W. Bush for his portrait of Barney, the “First Dog” of the United States from 2001-09. Currently, one piece has been juried into the Alabama Wildlife Art Competition at the Kelly Fitzpatrick Center for the Arts in Wetumpka, Alabama, awaiting final results.
Since mid-2023, he has completed 58 works, focusing primarily on portraiture of people, pets, and architectural subjects. In addition to his commissioned work, he intentionally creates several deeply personal pieces each year, prioritizing artistic expression and authenticity as an essential part of his creative vision.
Brennan Ellis-Artist Page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558182344061
© 2026 Brennan Ellis. All artwork, images, and written content. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission is prohibited.
Brennan Ellis 