In a sunlit Fort Worth studio, the light mineral scent of oil paints mingles with the indiscernible but pleasant-sounding song lyrics softly playing nearby. Large portraits lean against the wall in every shade and tone. The browns are showstopping, in values so deep and rich that they appear endless, like the soul of the work itself or, maybe, its artist. Elle Caerbert made them all, a lithe woman with clear, cool eyes and brown hair to her mid-back. The beauty's earth-toned rainbow caught the eye of Academy Award-nominated Fort Worth musician Abraham Alexander. Elle painted the striking cover of his SEA/SONS album from an old photograph of Alexander and his four brothers. In Elle's signature style, the boy's backs are to the viewer. She explains how a subject's body language becomes more apparent and readable without their eyes or face. In the cover art, the boys are in Greece. They're entering the water of some sea from some beach. How they move is nostalgic, pushing into the cloudy green water while waves crash into their stomachs. They keep moving forward, raising their arms out of the water for leverage or for other reasons adults have forgotten. Alexander's picture reminded Elle of that feeling, and her painting brought it back to life, with scent and breath from that memory all adults share. It's powerful storytelling and hopefully just the beginning for Elle.
"Art has always been a part of my life from a young age," she shares. "I loved it throughout school—taking advanced high school art classes, entering competitions, and staying up late to draw." Yet, like many artists, the transition from passion to profession wasn't immediate. After years of navigating a traditional career, Elle needed to engage her creative side, painting Alexander and his brothers in 2021 when everything changed.
"That painting was a breakthrough moment for me as an artist," Elle says. "It helped me recognize my style, the necessity of making time for my art, and my own talent."
Describing her style as "very stylized," Elle gravitates toward loose brushstrokes and intentional color choices. One of her boldest decisions remains painting some portraits with closed eyes. "It adds a softness, making the viewer study the piece more deeply to find the emotion," she explains. "Eyes hold so much, and by omitting them, I invite the viewer to travel through the painting and read the tone differently."
Elle recreated the physical feeling of running into the ocean using these techniques, wielding them in varying measure in her other works.
"I want you to feel something when you look at my art," she says. Whether it's the nostalgia of a musician's childhood or the quiet contemplation of a café patron, her paintings evoke a sense of connection and curiosity. "It has to be an exchange—something sparked internally that needs to be released externally."
Fort Worth plays a substantial part in deepening Elle's artistic journey and inspiring her style.
"The people and their stories will always be something I want to capture," she says. Her subjects often include local musicians and familiar faces, like Alexander, Grammy-winner Leon Bridges, and Charley Crockett, to name a few. "The music scene and the lives of musicians have always fascinated me," she adds. But her influences extend beyond the city's boundaries, where the European bug that bit many preceding American artists found her. "Traveling has given me so much inspiration, especially café culture in Europe. Every day people have beautiful stories I want to tell."
Elle paints strangers immersed in conversation or sipping espresso in her newest series. Some subjects are lost in thought or reading the folded pages of books they know well.
"These scenes are universal, and there's something so grounding about capturing those unguarded moments," she explains.
Elle knows she's always been an artist, but a working artist keeps close company. The distinction means something to those who have reached the other side. Elle broke through within a few short years thanks to undeniable skill and maintains a balanced artistic practice that is both disciplined and intuitive to avoid burnout.
"I have dedicated painting days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. where I don't allow myself to do anything else," she shares. "When I have a brush in my hand, I can't be looking at my phone, doing housework, or getting sidetracked. I have space to let my mind wander and fully enter the creative process."
While she works primarily with oil paints for their depth and flexibility, Elle's creative choices remain instinctual.
"I don't stop. I don't analyze it," she laughs. "It's a wonderfully random process."
Her future in Fort Worth will include several collaborations, with projects planned at Sol House in Dallas, The Magnolia, and Sundance Square. "Fort Worth always shows up, and it means so much!"
Looking ahead, Elle is eager to complete her café series and pursue new projects that reflect her evolving artistic voice.
"I see another gallery show in the future, travels that will inspire new work, and expanding my reach beyond DFW," she says. Yet, no matter where her art takes her, the emotional core of her work will remain. "My best work isn't surface-level; it comes from a place of feeling, connection, and personal experience."
Elle's website (www.ellejoyannaart.com) includes a catalog of her past works, prints, and commission opportunities for those interested in her pieces. You can also follow her artistic journey on Instagram at @ellejoyanna, where she shares glimpses of her studio life and upcoming projects.
"Never stop creating," she advises other aspiring artists. "Develop a workflow and push yourself to create daily. It's easy to fall off when you don't feel inspired, but having a practice keeps you going."
It's good advice she knows will work, taken straight from her own playbook. There was a day in 2021 when Elle was one painting away from her big break and didn't know it. She kept going and honing her craft. Now, there are endless possibilities. So, keep an eye out for the blue-eyed artist who hides the gaze of her subjects, inviting viewers to pause, feel, and discover themselves within her art.
Photoshoot Credits:
Location: The Holly - Fort Worth's only Natural Wine Bar and Retail Shop. Owner - Liz Mears.