I spent ten years as a marine biologist before I picked up a brush.
About Elena
The work is still about the sea: currents, foam, the colour of deep water seen from a boat. I pour each canvas on the studio floor in one go, then spend weeks deciding what to leave alone.
Most mornings start with a swim off Matosinhos, and the light on the water decides the palette. Back in the studio I mix the paint the night before so it settles, tilt the canvas until the currents find their own way, and leave the room. The hardest part is not touching it again. A few pieces a year become commissions; I like those best when someone tells me about a stretch of sea they can't forget.
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originals sold this year
Kind words
“It changes with the light all day. I didn’t expect a painting to feel alive.”
“The commission was calm and clear, and the painting is better than the room.”
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Studio Notes
New work, a week before it goes on sale.