His art was so well thought of that it made its way onto calendars, magazine covers, and advertisements.
Elsley’s paintings have an affable and serene effect. He used soft brushstrokes and often repeated colors throughout a painting. His skill was incredible; he was a master of composition and attention to detail.
In the painting High Expectations, the children appear to be dreaming and writing down some grand hopes for their future. A collie weighs in, wanting attention, and the little girl holds his paw to assure him—a completely intuitive scene.
The painting’s focal point is the girl’s eyes, which glance across the collie to the girl looking with eagerness off in the distance. The girl’s fingers are unevenly clenched in excitement.
The mood of the painting is one of unattached longing and reflection that only children are capable of. Elsley gives back to the elder veterans of life a moment of unfettered excitement.
In the summer of 1908, Bibby’s Quarterly notes: “Mr. Elsley is master of these bright scenes of childhood. He knows all the ingredients that compose the children’s paradise: a pony and a dog, a lovely garden and romping spirits untouched by any shade of care.” (Christie’s.com)
Suffering from poor eyesight, Elsley was said to have used opera glasses to see his models. Throughout his career, his paintings tend to use brighter and brighter colors to offset his poor eyesight. However, the charm in his paintings never faded.
During his long career, Elsley exhibited 52 works at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
