I’m Chelle Ellis, a creative web designer/developer and studio artist based in the Memphis area, with decades of experience spanning print and digital design, writing/editing, and visual art. I’ve built and maintained many websites, led art direction and layout work for magazines and online publications, and supported content creation that blends strong visuals with clear communication. Alongside my web and design career, I run a visual art studio focused on mixed media painting, printmaking, and metal sculpture techniques, and I also teach workshops as time allows. From early graphic roles in regional publishing to long-term freelance/editorial work, I’ve developed a practical, hands-on approach to creative problem-solving—turning ideas into finished layouts, functioning sites, and art experiences I’m proud to share.…

Chelle Ellis

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I’m Chelle Ellis, a creative web designer/developer and studio artist based in the Memphis area, with decades of experience spanning print and digital design, writing/editing, and visual art. I’ve built and maintained many websites, led art direction and layout work for magazines and online publications, and supported content creation that blends strong visuals with clear communication. Alongside my web and design career, I run a visual art studio focused on mixed media painting, printmaking, and metal sculpture techniques, and I also teach workshops as time allows. From early graphic roles in regional publishing to long-term freelance/editorial work, I’ve developed a practical, hands-on approach to creative problem-solving—turning ideas into finished layouts, functioning sites, and art experiences I’m proud to share.…

Available to hire

I’m Chelle Ellis, a creative web designer/developer and studio artist based in the Memphis area, with decades of experience spanning print and digital design, writing/editing, and visual art. I’ve built and maintained many websites, led art direction and layout work for magazines and online publications, and supported content creation that blends strong visuals with clear communication.

Alongside my web and design career, I run a visual art studio focused on mixed media painting, printmaking, and metal sculpture techniques, and I also teach workshops as time allows. From early graphic roles in regional publishing to long-term freelance/editorial work, I’ve developed a practical, hands-on approach to creative problem-solving—turning ideas into finished layouts, functioning sites, and art experiences I’m proud to share.

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Skills

Experience Level

Language

English
Fluent
French
Intermediate

Work Experience

Owner, Graphic Artist, Web Developer, Video Editor, Social Media Marketing at Jaded Artist Media (jadedartist.com)
January 1, 2020 - March 1, 2026
I re-opened a limited-client web media firm during lockdown in 2020 but closed in 2026. As owner, there wasn't any aspect of the business that I did not know well and utilize daily.
Owner, Blogger, Graphic Artist, Web Developer, Video Editor, Social Media Marketing at Sadie's Old House (sadiesoldhouse.com)
September 1, 2017 - Present
I developed and maintain this restoration blog on our 130+ year old Colonial Revival house in Coldwater, MS. My husband and I create the content that details our restoration projects and other interesting news. I write my content and edit all content for the blog.
Visual Artist, Instructor in Mixed Media Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture in Metal & Clay at Moosh Print Studio
December 31, 2011 - Present
Owner of this visual art studio, where I produce mixed media paintings, monoprints and small metal sculptures. As time allows, I teach workshops in mixed media painting, printmaking and copper metalsmithing. At least twice a year in varying regional & national venues, I exhibit my work and/or curate art exhibits.
Art Director, Graphic Artist, Design & Layout, Writer, Photographer, Web Developer at DeSoto Magazine (desotomagazine.com)
December 28, 2003 - December 28, 2013
I began as Graphic Artist for DeSoto Magazine and was promoted to Art Director within the first year. After a few years, I left my full time position to handle the demands of my own growing web firm. I continued to work remotely: writing/editing articles, maintaining the website I developed, and designing ads. In 2011 and 2013 I returned to the magazine, acting as consultant to the publisher, art director, and training newly hired graphic artists.
Artist, Site Producer at The Commercial Appeal (commercialappeal.com)
January 1, 2000 - April 1, 2002
Artist and Site Producer for this online version of The Commercial Appeal, the major daily newspaper serving Memphis, TN. When I joined the new media staff, I was one of four web designer/developers who created the online news site it is today. Additional duties were to design and develop special sections of the newspaper and add them to the website and navigation; develop commercial websites for our advertisers; and create in-house and advertiser banner ads, and place them into rotation.
Artist, Web Developer at Raytheon Aerospace (rtx.com)
October 15, 1999 - January 15, 2000
Artist & Web Developer hired under contract, to create a demo intranet Java applet, with complementing graphics, that accessed status of equipment repairs.. A two billion dollar contract was awarded, but I chose to leave at contract end, for The Commercial Appeal.
Web Artist/Developer at The Free Lance-Star & StarWeb (fredericksburg.com)
September 15, 1998 - October 15, 1999
Web Artist and Developer for the online version of The Free Lance-Star: the major daily newspaper serving the Fredericksburg, VA area. When I joined the Internet staff, I was one of three joined by advertising, forming a think tank to create a site plan. We focused on user interactivity with newspaper content. I also designed and developed special sections of the site and commercial websites of advertisers. Before I left this position to move back home to North MS, I was working in a telecommuting position from home.
Owner, Graphic Artist, Web Developer, Video Editor, Social Media Marketing at Web Brats (archived at webbrats.chelleellis.com)
December 26, 1996 - December 25, 2007
Owner of this web design firm, I ran webbrats.com from 1997, until it closed, in 2007. As owner, there wasn’t any aspect of the business that I did not know well and exercise daily. Upon closing the business, I transferred all my clients to local web developer: Desoto Web.
Paralegal working defense in the Louisiana Asbestos Litigation (formanwatkins.com) at Forman, Perry, Watkins, Krutz & Tardy, PLLC (formanwatkins.com)
December 31, 1994 - August 14, 1998
I prepared a half dozen attorneys each week for discovery and hearings in the defense of over 30,000 plaintiffs in the state of Louisiana, mostly alone until they gave me another paralegal to train six months before inevitable burn-out. I obsessed over the calendar to be sure I didn't send them to New Orleans each week for canceled hearings or depositions; I provided case summaries on whatever plaintiff deposition was in queue that week; I sifted through rooms full of documents for the needle in a world of haystacks; All while acting as ground control to get them maps and directions to places I'd never even been (these were pre-GPS days). Before that, I really enjoyed working in law for three other law offices (David Walker, Batesville, MS; Joseph Fernald, Brookhaven, MS; Paul T. Benton, Biloxi, MS) in family law, plaintiff personal injury, plaintiff breast implant litigation, and criminal defense. In those roles I contributed more to the research and authorship of pleadings, appeals, and appellate briefs. I was also a member of the Mississippi Association of Legal Assistants (MALA) and a member of the newsletter committee, then later made editor. My duties included selling ads, writing a column, and securing/editing columns, articles and artwork for the quarterly newsletter that I laid out for publishing. Even after I left the paralegal grind to go into graphic design and web development, I kept my membership with MALA and built and hosted the MALA website until they folded in 2007.
Humor Columnist at The Panolian (panolian.com)
June 1, 1990 - December 31, 1993
Humor columnist for The Panolian, in Batesville, MS. Keeping Up with the Joneses (as Michelle Jones), was a very popular column of 700+ words, submitted before deadline each week. The Panolian is a independent, weekly newspaper, with a circulation of 10,000.

Education

Pre-BA at Belhaven College, Northwest Mississippi Community College, Holmes Community College
January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1998
Less than 20 Hours from Completion - Major: History Minor: Art
AAS - Paralegal Studies (with Honors in Civil Litigation) at School of Paralegal Studies
January 1, 1993 - January 1, 1995

Qualifications

Udemy Academy: PHP
July 10, 2020 - October 10, 2020
Self Taught: HTML, dHTML, HTML5, Javascript
October 10, 1997 - October 8, 2024
Kai Krause: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, After Effects
October 8, 1998 - October 8, 2024
Self Taught: Canva
October 8, 2019 - October 8, 2024
Other - Continued Education (Studio Art)
January 1, 2007 - September 4, 2026
Other - Continued Education (Design, Web Development)
January 1, 1997 - September 4, 2026
Other - Continued Education (Toward BA)
January 1, 1996 - January 1, 1997
Other - Continued Education (Toward BA History, Art, Pre-law)
January 1, 1993 - January 1, 1997
AAS - Paralegal Studies with Honors in Civil Litigation
January 1, 1993 - January 1, 1995

Industry Experience

Software & Internet, Computers & Electronics, Non-Profit Organization, Education, Media & Entertainment
    Jaded Artist Media

    I solely own and operate Jaded Artist Media (jadedartist.com) since March of 2020, with my portfolio of limited projects available at https://www.twine.net/signin

    I have very purposely limited the number of my clients, so I can control my time. This is not the first web firm I have run, I owned Web Brats Web Design that lead the web development industry in Memphis, TN, for over ten years. I closed that business in 2007, when it became too successful and I couldn’t have a life outside of it. My commercial clients usually have very little knowledge of how to maintain their websites, or drive to learn, and I am never able to say no to them, so it all ends up severely co-dependent. So I am looking at work opportunities that I wouldn’t have previously considered, just so someone else can tell clients no and I can be free to work.

    Moosh Print Studio

    I am a visual artist creating acrylic and mixed media paintings, printmaking, and clay and metal sculptures from my backyard studio, Moosh Print Studios. At times I instruct classes in mixed media painting, printmaking and metal sculpture.

    Of course, I designed and developed my website for Moosh Print Studio. You can view my artist bio/cv website I built decades ago in dHTML and javascript at https://www.twine.net/signin and you can view my art store website (no inventory presently) at https://www.twine.net/signin

    Memphis/Germantown Art League

    MGAL.org is a social networking website that I designed and developed for over 130 members, where artists can build a small webpage with a featured project, supporting slideshow, links & video; add photos to their galleries, send/receive messages and “tweets” to other members, post in forums, view calls to artists, group exhibits and news.

    I am on the MGAL board of directors as web administrator, but I also act as art director, producing the member directory each year, and creating promotional images and videos for art exhibits and educational events.

    Sadie's Old House

    Sadie’s Old House is a historic home renovation blog that I developed for my pre-1883 home and can be viewed at https://www.twine.net/signin

    Sadie was the wife of the original owner, and the home was known locally as “Sadie’s Place”.
    My husband, Kenny, and I are the content creators for this blog that I developed in WordPress, at the end of 2017. The website has a subscriber membership of over 500 people and a Facebook group with over 200 members. Our audience can engage, comment and subscribe to the website newsletter for emailed updates.