(Chronicle photos taken by Tricia Fulks) Mason Ellsworth’s original paintings (‘Moons,’ left, and ‘Blue Moon,’ pictured above at right) and prints will be showcased at a silent auction and reception at Stone Soup Bistro from 6 to 8 p.m. March 1. The show will hang until April 5. Proceeds from the event will go towards purchasing additional medical equipment for Mason’s recovery.

Since the car accident over two years ago that left him seriously injured, Mason Ellsworth’s road to recovery meant discovering a new talent along the way.

About a year and a half ago, he started painting with watercolors and just this past December he began experimenting with acrylic paints.

And this Tuesday, March 1, the community will have the chance to view and even bid on some of Mason’s original work.

Stone Soup Bistro will host a reception and silent auction of Mason’s original art from 6 to 8 p.m. Also available for purchase will be limited edition 16×20 prints – backed and matted – of his original pieces.

“This stuff is awesome,” said his mother, Sylvia.

But don’t call her biased. Sylvia said it was actually another artist who convinced her to start selling Mason’s work.

Annie Wisecarver has been an artist off and on for years. She recently returned to Shepherd University to study art.

Sylvia said once Wisecarver saw Mason’s paintings, she began brainstorming ideas of how to get them out into the community.

“She said, ‘You have to have a show. You have to have a silent auction,'” Sylvia said.

Jacob Lynn, manager at Stone Soup Bistro, said Mason’s work shows movement and color, resulting in “great kind of abstract paintings.”

“His artwork is genuinely good,” Lynn said.

Proceeds from Tuesday’s event will go towards purchasing medical equipment for Mason.

“The only chance he’ll have walking again is if we buy a walking frame,” Sylvia said. “And insurance doesn’t cover it, so that’s what we’re trying to do.”

With community support always present for the family in the past, Wisecarver hopes it continues now.

“There is a constant give and take with their insurance company,” she said.

And community is just one of the reasons Stone Soup decided to open their venue to the Ellsworth family.

“We’re hosting it because we wanted to do something to help the Ellsworths because they’re such a large part of the community in Shepherdstown,” Lynn said. “We wanted to show off something (Mason has) been doing.”

Wisecarver said she thinks it’s wonderful now that Mason is home and doing better that he is able to contribute to his own care and recovery.

“To generate income with his art, he’s helping foot the bill for everything. That’s super cool,” she said. “He’s getting to use his talent and use the skills he’s acquiring.”

And these new skills that Mason has taken on aren’t only therapeutic for him but for Sylvia, as well.

“We do it together,” she said. “He loves painting. He really loves doing it.”