At just eight years old, Ellis Pool is already an accomplished artist, showcasing a remarkable journey that began with an unexpected fascination and has blossomed into a profound passion for drawing.
His parents, Tifani and Scot Pool, recently hosted an art exhibition to showcase Ellis's work. Held at the Nessmith-Lane Building at Georgia Southern University on Sunday, June 8, the event featured a curated selection of his works, offering a glimpse into his artistic development from the tender age of three.
Ellis's artistic spark was ignited by an unusual muse: elevators. His mother recalls, "He came across some elevator videos [on YouTube] and just started enjoying not only watching how they operate, but the mechanics of them."
This early interest led him to spend hours at his grandparents' office in downtown Statesboro (his grandfather is attorney Van Pool), meticulously drawing what he observed.
"He first would start with the frame of the elevator, and then eventually the videos, he would get to the more advanced ones that would show the engineering," Tifani explained. "So he would not only draw the exterior, but you would see where he was drawing kind of the pulleys, the wires."
Ellis's parents celebrated their son's passion for mechanics with an elevator-themed sixth birthday party.
As he matured, Ellis's artistic interests expanded to include characters, cars, and other subjects that caught his eye. His process remained consistent.
"He would look at pictures and just start sketching those and just do it over and over and get better and better," Tifani shared.
In a more recent development, Ellis has developed a strong affinity for Michael Jackson, a passion that emerged within the last year. Ellis's MJ-inspired art was displayed in a room, while videos of the King of Pop played continuously. Tifani dressed as the King of Pop for Halloween, complete with signature high-water pants.
Ellis, a student at Bulloch Academy, is currently going into third grade. His artistic prowess has already earned him significant recognition. Last fall, he won first place for his grade in the fine arts category at the Kiwanis Fairgrounds Art Contest. His first-grade teacher, recognizing his advanced abilities, offered him private lessons throughout his second-grade year.
These lessons, Tifani noted, have been instrumental in pushing Ellis beyond his comfort zone, encouraging him to draw a diverse range of subjects "other than Cybertrucks and Teslas." Most recently, Ellis achieved second place in the GISA statewide competition for elementary students with one of his "Tesla Hotel" drawings.
Artistic talent runs in the family. Ellis's maternal grandmother is a talented painter, with one of her pieces – a portrait of Ellis's mother, Tifani, at age five – on display at the event. His father, Scot Pool, also demonstrated artistic abilities in high school and college, with a couple of his paintings also showcased. Tifani even contributed a small comic she drew to announce Ellis's birth to family and friends.
"I think that the talent he has definitely comes from both sides of the family," she affirmed.
Looking ahead, Ellis's family hopes his artistic journey will continue to flourish.
"We hope maybe somebody in the community or somebody here at Georgia Southern may eventually show some interest," Tifani stated, envisioning a potential career in art for her son. "That would be very cool."
Ellis Pool's journey as an artist is a testament to the power of early passion, consistent encouragement, and family support. With an impressive portfolio already under his belt, the future looks bright for this young, promising artist.