Springhill's Own Artists in Residence

This squirrel was whittled by resident Bob Dietly.

Meet some of the artistic talent here at Springhill. Resident Bob Dietly practices whittling – an art handed down for several generations in his family. After dinner he gets out his knife and starts “whittling” away the time. Recently, he shared some truly marvelous pieces with the community, including a wooden chain carved by his great-grandfather.

Another “artist-in-residence” is Pauline Case, who has lived at the community for several years. Pauline, a painter, works primarily with watercolors to create beautiful floral motifs. She uses the extra room in her Garden Home as her studio. 

Pauline’s work is displayed at a nearby gallery and she has entered several art shows. “I get a lot of satisfaction knowing that my artwork is in someone’s home,” she says. “That’s even better than a prize!”  A former educator, she paints note cards, bookmarks and small pictures, and her interest in flowers as her subject stems from her lifelong interest in gardening. Some of Springhill’s holiday cards showcase her creative work.  

Longtime woodworker, Brigadier General Ernest Ellis makes beautiful birdhouses, which have been on display in several areas of the community.  His birdhouses are intricate and unique, and some even come with porches, chimneys and other architectural features.  Ernest does the carpentry and his daughter-in-law, Karen Ellis, a landscape supervisor at Springhill, paints each house with a beautiful design.

Before moving to Springhill in 2009, Ernest primarily made items like small tables, spice racks and cradles in a shop set up in his home’s basement. His interest in constructing birdhouses started recently, and he often uses scraps of wood salvaged from neighbors and friends who know about his hobby. He and his wife Helen live in a Garden Home and he uses part of the garage as his workshop.

“I am very content making these bird houses,” says Ernest, who had a 30-plus-year career in the Army. “I go into the garage, turn on the radio, and get to work.”

And read about award-winning model-ship builder Pete Gonzalez by clicking on this link: http://www.springhillerie.org/lifestyle/resident_profiles/peter_gonzalez/