Ellen Trumbo and Chris Protas met in New York City while studying painting at The New York Studio School of Drawing Painting and Sculpture in the Greenwich Village area of lower Manhattan. While living together in Brooklyn, an opportunity came up to move to Grand Haven Michigan in 2010.

Both Ellen and Chris have traveled extensively to study painting; Ellen has spent time in Paris studying at the Louvre and has traveled the country sides of Italy. Chris has been to the Czech Republic, France and all throughout Italy, including Naples and Pompeii. They have brought back a lot from these places, and also from living and studying in New York, that they put into their paintings.

Chris has said, "I have many ideas about painting, they are like ingredients in a cake, but you need the time and patience to bake the cake and Grand Haven is a perfect place to do that". Ellen has said that "...the light here in Grand Haven is very similar to the light of the Italian country sides, especially the Tuscany region of Italy. Its very beautiful to paint with."

They both have their work hanging in the Grand Seafood and Oyster Bar in down town Grand Haven. "Ellen and Chris's work has put this restaurant into another class of restaurants, you can't underestimate the effect of original paintings on a restaurants' atmosphere." owner Steve Loftis said.

In this exhibition they are showing their recent works all done in the last year here in West Michigan.

The show opens Thursday May 3rd, 6-9pm, with a gallery talk by the artists at 7pm. Complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. All public welcome.

The show will run through May 19th with regular viewing hours on Wed, Fri and Sat. 12-6pm.