WELCOME TO

The Art Of Depth:
Individual Bas Relief Projects

These projects are your path to mastering plaster bas relief — one beautiful piece at a time.

Pick the project that excites you most and dive in. Each one is a standalone, step-by-step experience designed to deepen your skill and elevate the quality of your work. The more you complete, the more your artistry — and your career — will show it.

CLASS / PROJECT

Perspective And Volume

This project introduces you to the magic of depth in plaster relief. You will learn how to build visual perspective using layered application, carving, and controlled drying times so your artwork feels dimensional and alive. Ellie guides you through creating realistic foreground, middle ground, and background forms while teaching you how to avoid cracking and sagging. You’ll discover how thickness, pressure, and carving direction influence the final look, allowing you to sculpt with intention instead of guesswork. By the end, you will have a beautifully textured relief that demonstrates true depth and spatial illusion—skills that apply to every future plaster project you create.

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CLASS / PROJECT

Mt. Hood

This project invites you into the dramatic beauty of Mount Hood, sculpted in rich plaster relief and finished with luminous gold leaf. You will learn how to use your palette knife to carve crisp ridges, sweeping slopes, and layered terrain that gives the mountain its powerful sense of depth. Ellie teaches how to sculpt-seal the plaster so your surface is strong, smooth, and ready for gilding. You’ll then apply gold leaf to highlight the peaks, creating a glowing contrast between texture and light. This project blends fine art sculpture with decorative luxury, resulting in a breathtaking mountain relief that feels both timeless and contemporary.


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CLASS / PROJECT

Modern Florals

This large-scale floral relief teaches you how to create bold, modern botanical art with depth and elegance. You’ll learn how to properly prep a 24” × 36” panel, lay out your design, and use piping bags to sculpt flowing petals and sculptural forms. Ellie shows how to cut and carve the plaster for crisp definition, add a richly textured background, and balance negative space with raised floral elements. This project is perfect for artists who love dramatic, gallery-worthy florals and want to master large-format plaster relief.


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CLASS / PROJECT

Lace and Roses

This romantic relief combines delicate lace textures with dimensional roses, leaves, and buds. You will learn how to create a lace-like surface, cast floral elements from molds, and sculpt individual roses so each flower feels unique. Using piping bags and specialty tools, you’ll add graceful details and layered depth that bring the composition to life. This project teaches both precision and softness, making it ideal for anyone who loves elegant, vintage-inspired relief work.

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CLASS / PROJECT

Catch the Wave

This dynamic ocean relief teaches you how to create motion, energy, and flow in plaster. You’ll learn how to pigment the plaster before application so color becomes part of the sculpture itself. Using your hands and palette knives, you will sculpt sweeping curves and organic movement that capture the power of a crashing wave. Created on an 11” × 14” panel, this project is both expressive and technically rich, giving you a stunning piece that feels alive with motion.

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The Herron

This elegant Herron relief teaches you how to combine stencil, templates, texture, and gilding to create a graceful heron in flight. You will build a modern, textured background and sculpt the bird’s wings, body, and movement with precision. Ellie guides you through shaping, refining, and finishing the heron, then applying gold leaf for luminous highlights. This project blends realism and contemporary design, resulting in a striking, gallery-quality piece.

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The Peacock

This project shows you how to use stencils to quickly and accurately lay out a complex design while still achieving a fully sculpted, hand-crafted look. You will create a stunning peacock perched on a tree branch, sculpting layered feathers, flowing forms, and rich surface texture. Ellie teaches how to build depth, carve fine details, and bring elegance and drama into your relief. This project is perfect for artists who want a bold, show-stopping piece with refined technique.

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CLASS / PROJECT

The Mirror

This modern sculptural relief combines flowing fabric-like folds with a dramatic mirrored element that appears like a planet drifting through space. You’ll learn how to sculpt soft, elegant movement in plaster while integrating mixed media into your design. Ellie teaches advanced layering, shaping, and finishing techniques that elevate your work from decorative to truly artistic. This project expands your creative confidence and opens new possibilities for contemporary plaster relief.

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The Octopus

This whimsical underwater relief brings movement and personality into plaster. You will create a richly textured ocean background, then sculpt an octopus with flowing tentacles that twist and dance through the water. Ellie shows how to shape graceful curves, build dimension, and add playful bubbles that enhance the sense of motion. This project is joyful, expressive, and packed with sculpting techniques you can use in many future designs.

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The Pinecone

This project teaches you how to use stencils to establish a strong layout and framework for a highly dimensional relief. You will sculpt, carve, and cut the pinecone design to create layered depth and realistic texture. Ellie shows how to refine edges, build structure, and bring organic forms to life in plaster. This class builds essential skills that every plaster artist needs, while creating a striking natural-inspired artwork.

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CLASS / PROJECT

Modern Minimalist Relief

This project teaches you how to use stencils to establish a strong layout and framework for a highly dimensional relief. You will sculpt, carve, and cut the pinecone design to create layered depth and realistic texture. Ellie shows how to refine edges, build structure, and bring organic forms to life in plaster. This class builds essential skills that every plaster artist needs, while creating a striking natural-inspired artwork.This modern relief focuses on sculpting flowing fabric in a large-scale format. You will learn how to use multiple products and layering techniques to create soft folds, movement, and dramatic depth. Ellie teaches how to shape the plaster so it looks fluid and elegant while remaining strong and stable. The result is a sophisticated contemporary artwork that feels sculptural, artistic, and gallery-ready.

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The Turtle

This under-the-sea relief teaches you how to use molds to cast elements that speed up complex designs while maintaining artistic control. You will sculpt a beautiful three-dimensional sea turtle, then use piping bags to create seaweed, bubbles, and underwater details. This project shows how to build layered ocean scenes efficiently while still achieving depth and realism.

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The Magnolia

This detailed botanical relief teaches you how to create elegant magnolia blossoms using templates, palette knives, piping bags, and carving tools. You will build layered petals, textured centers, and flowing leaves that feel lifelike and dimensional. Ellie guides you through each stage so you gain confidence with multiple tools and techniques while creating a refined, museum-quality floral relief.

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"Ellie is a brilliant teacher. I highly recommend this course to anyone serious about advancing their bas relief practice."

Maxine Ambrose Farmer

SAATCHI ART

Connie Harris

Connie Harris Art

"I’ve been a decorative painter for 37 years. Always intrigued by the incredible plaster relief art of Ellie Ellis, when a restauranteur client requested some relief pieces for a new venture, I knew it was time to seek out her guidance. I spent only 3 days with this genius creative in a private class last February, and immediately, because of Ellie’s immersive way of teaching, I was able to achieve a high level of success with the pieces, not only for several restaurant installations, but then, because of that exposure, I was sought out by a European gallery curator. He represented my pieces in the Monaco Art Fair this past August, and will be exhibiting more of my Bas Relief Art in Paris in October, and then Rome in December. His plans for me for 2025 are bimonthly Art Fairs throughout Europe and Seoul, south Korea. There is No doubt that Ellie’s guidance can lead any artist into a viable and lucrative art business. My decorative painting business has flourished for 37 years and I am excited to dive into this new venture and travel the world! Thankyou Ellie for sharing this incredible art form with me! I am forever grateful."

Carol King

Carol Robin King Art

"Taking Ellie Ellis' 12-month plaster relief course has been a game-changer for me.> I fell in love with bas relief and found Ellie when searching for the foremost expert in the media. I could not have imagined that the skills and confidence that I gained in her course would lead me to an 8' x 10’ PLASTER RELIEF wall mural commission. With Ellie’s detailed guidance and support, I did it! The homeowners were so thrilled with the result that they’ve already commissioned me for another relief in one of their second homes. I couldn’t be more excited about where this journey is taking me.

Ellie's course isn’t just about learning a skill—it’s about gaining the confidence to take on projects you never thought possible. Her videos are incredibly detailed, giving you a close-up view of every technique. Plus, the support from the Academy's community and live Zoom calls was invaluable. I always felt like I had someone to turn to whenever I had questions or needed encouragement.

Thanks to this course, I’ve gone from dreaming about high-end commissions to actually landing them. I can’t wait to see what the future holds as I continue to grow and develop my craft."

Meet Your Guide

MASTER ARTISAN ELLIE ELLIS

Over 25 years ago, I embarked on a journey that was far from easy. I was a Decorative Finisher by trade, but I was captivated by the timeless beauty of bas relief that I had seen while living in Europe. I became obsessed with the idea of learning how to sculpt and carve in plaster to create these stunning reliefs, but there was one major problem—I couldn’t find anyone to teach me. There were no textbooks, no college courses, and no mentors who could guide me.

It felt like I was searching for a needle in a haystack. But instead of giving up, I turned my frustration into determination. Through years of research, countless trials, and plenty of errors, I eventually developed my own system for creating beautiful plaster reliefs.

Now I get to share this knowledge and experience with students worldwide. My passion for this art form drives me to teach others what I had to learn the hard way. I’m here to make your journey smoother, so you can focus on the joy of creating instead of struggling to find the right guidance.

"If you are looking to get your creative juices flowing and learn the art of bas relief, you definitely want to take Ellie’s class.

Carol Leonese

Decorative Artist

"I never would have imagined I could reach this level of art. Thank you for making this available to so many, and online! To be honest, taking this course in bas-relief is part of God's restoration in my life. It opened my eyes to new gates. I will always be grateful!
The course assignments are well explained, easy, and clear to follow, even in English for non-native speakers. I love that the class is self-paced; it gives you the freedom to work at your best time—sometimes at 5 am, sometimes at 10 at night. When a project is presented, Mrs. Ellis shows us each step clearly and makes everything easy.
I love it! I love that classes are pre-recorded and I can revisit an episode anytime and watch it 2 or 3 times until I have it clear. The course is self-paced but with monthly commitments. Sometimes I think a project a month is too little, but then I realize it’s actually perfect because it fits around the busyness of life."

~ Nora Acuna
Italian Artist
"I just finished an online year long master Bas Relief-plastering program with Ellie Ellis. I thought it was an incredible bargain, with 13 different projects, each focusing on a different aspect or technique. I was able to work when it was convenient for me and in my own studio. I really saw the difference in my skills from the beginning to the end, and I have incredible confidence that I can now complete any project I want to do. Ellie is a patient, caring teacher, was always available for help, and the monthly zoom calls with the other participants formed a nice online community. I highly recommend Ellie for any class, and especially this one!"

~ Jodi Heinz
Past President of International Decorative Artisans League (IDAL)
"I started my journey with Elite Artistry Academy and Ellie Ellis over a year ago. I was online just browsing art websites and came upon Ellie’s Bas Relief class. I was immediately interested and signed up for her Introduction to Bas Relief. Ellie is not only a Master with her plaster work she is a fantastic teacher. Her lessons are in writing and on video. Her explanations are spot on and you don’t need prior experience to take her classes. As with anything the more you try the better you are at understanding the plaster and the way it works. When she offered a year long class with one project a month I jumped on it. There were classmates from all over. I highly recommend any of Ellie’s classes."

~ Becky Troutman
Fine Artist
"I wanted to come on here and say how much I am enjoying Ellie's online monthly program. Life gets in the way sometimes, but I really appreciate being able to do this at my pace and when I have the time to work on them. I have gotten behind and still trying to catch up, but everything is getting there. I love how detailed Ellie is in the written instructions as well on the videos, each step is segmented and timed, so you can see where you are in the piece and easily go back and reference the video when needed. I also still watch the zooms meetings that are recorded, even though I haven't been able to be on many. They are great to watch and see possible problems and troubleshoot solutions. The other students have wonderful ideas and suggestions as well. Nice knowing ahead of time some of the issues I may have and what to do about them before I even begin the piece. I can't recommend this program enough, there are so many techniques and ideas. It was one of the best experiences in my art world."

~ Glenda Mosely
Faux Finisher

Frequently Asked Questions

Bas-Relief is a sculptural technique where images are raised from a flat background. It creates a beautiful 3D effect that adds depth and dimension to your artwork.



These projects are designed for complete beginners! No prior sculpting experience is necessary. I teach beginners to seasoned artists.


There is a supply list for each project that you'll be able to download once you purchase the project.

If you are an established artist you will most likely already have many of the supplies on hand for what is needed. Many of the supplies for these projects are purchased at the Dollar Tree Store, Home Depot or Lowes and Art and craft stores (Michaels, Hobby Lobby and JoAnnes). I also have an Amazon Page where you can  conveniently purchase all the supplies. 

Many of the projects use the same materials except for stencils and molds. Depending where you buy the materials and how much you purchase will determine the price. 

Yes, we have an active Facebook group of past and current students that you can meet, ask questions and see others work and projects and share your work.

The project (tutorials, resources, downloads) is accessible for 12 months.

Many students have used their new skills to land lucrative commissions, others show and sell their work in art gallery's or Art Fairs. 

While the projects are designed to be comprehensive and easy to follow, we understand you might have questions along the way. You can tag me (Ellie) in our dedicated community, and also connect with other participants.

Whether you are a hobbyist or professional artist, once you learn this beautiful art form, you’ll have so many choices for what to do with it!

Sculpt Your Future: Master Plaster Bas Relief with Ellie Ellis

Transform Spaces, Elevate Your Craft, and Unlock Lucrative Opportunities

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