Born in Dayton, Ohio, and growing up there, Elanor Colburn studied at the Art Institute of Chicago a total of eight years, and also served for one year, 1900, as an assistant teacher. In addition she studied with William Merritt Chase and Frank Duveneck.

She remained active in Chicago until 1924, when she moved to Laguna Beach, California with her well-known artist daughter, Ruth Eaton Peabody. They built a studio on the South Coast Highway where they lived, painted and taught. In 1927, having recovered from some prolonged spells of illness, she resumed her painting career with seriousness, and having developed an interest in Native American culture, began traveling for subjects including to the Navajo R...