Al Elsbree
1940-2025
Al Elsbree graduated with a degree in Visual Arts from Illinois State University. He taught art at Washington Middle School in Aurora, Illinois, for 36 years. During that time, he always had a work-in-progress painting in the classroom. His students' art covered not only the walls of the art room, but also the walls of the halls, gymnasium, cafeteria, and the local pizza joint! He was named the Kane County Educator of the Year based on his belief that every child is an artist.
His medium of choice at that time was acrylic and pen and ink. He did a lot of commercial portrait work and was called upon by many to paint portraits of their children, grandchildren, and pets.
After his retirement, he began to spend more time on photography and has become fascinated by how a computer can change and
enhance a picture.
He spent much of his time exploring, not only the power of technology but also the nature that surrounded him in Galena, Illinois. His subjects began to meet his surroundings, and so while living in Galena, his focus turned to landscapes.
Al Elsbree graduated with a degree in Visual Arts from Illinois State University. He taught art at Washington Middle School in Aurora, Illinois, for 36 years. During that time, he always had a work-in-progress painting in the classroom. His students' art covered not only the walls of the art room, but also the walls of the halls, gymnasium, cafeteria, and the local pizza joint! He was named the Kane County Educator of the Year based on his belief that every child is an artist.
His medium of choice at that time was acrylic and pen and ink. He did a lot of commercial portrait work and was called upon by many to paint portraits of their children, grandchildren, and pets.
After his retirement, he began to spend more time on photography and has become fascinated by how a computer can change and
enhance a picture.
He spent much of his time exploring, not only the power of technology but also the nature that surrounded him in Galena, Illinois. His subjects began to meet his surroundings, and so while living in Galena, his focus turned to landscapes.
