Richard Ely

Ely was born in Rochester, NY. Began work as a fashion illustrator in NYC in the late 1940s. Also studied in Munich.

While still in high school, his drawings caught the eye of the advertising manager at a local department store who game him occasional jobs, and encouraged him to pursue a career in fashion illustration. Ely also took some courses with Jack Potter SVA (School of Visual Arts in NYC).

He began free-lance work in 1960, working a lot for Saks and Lord & Taylor, as well as magazine work. In 1972 he began to do portraits of notable New Yorkers, and has had considerable success as a portrait painter.