Artist Statement:
Elena Done – born 1973
Full time artist , living and working in Spain, creating large scale oil on canvas artworks.
A graduate of the Academy Art Institute, I have been classically trained, with profound anatomy studies.
My artistic concept is a celebration of life, positivity, and the belief in miracles. My large scale oil paintings bring energy and happiness to people's homes, and serve as a source of inspiration and motivation for those who view them. use oil on linen canvas and employ thick, pastose brushstrokes to achieve depth and use vivacious colors that infuse vitality and energy.
My paintings feature vibrant colors, bold brushstrokes, a lot of pastose layers and uplifting imagery, such as flowers, animals, birds and tropical landscapes. Sometimes I incorporate elements of spirituality, such as angels or other celestial beings, mythological personages to convey the idea of spiritual help and guidance.
My life concept as well as an artistic one is focused on the idea of manifesting dreams and desires. I inspire people to believe in the power of positive thinking, following a dream and the possibility of creating their own personal paradise. My paintings could serve as a reminder that anything is possible if a person wants to grow and is willing to put in the effort.
I have found myself relating with the term “Paradise”, from an idealist’s representation of “Paradise” to an everyday perception of smaller “paradises” of my heroes and their dreams. My artistic concept could be centered around the idea of creating a visual representation of a personal paradise. My paintings could be a reflection of the beauty, joy, and positivity that I believe is possible in life with the help of our heavenly curators, faith and a positive mindset.
As an artist, I explore the connection between figurative and decorative art. What is currently related to the background may become the subject after a while, and what was the subject may become the background. What interests me is the dialogue between realistically depicted figures and dynamic, abstract or decorative backgrounds.The style that I paint can be called Marvellous Realism, I combine figurative painting with decorative elements, with ornaments. Each painting is a combination of life and artifacts. My marvellous realism It is not a fantasy, it is not a fiction, it is combination of a very original figurative and magical decorative context all together. So I merge figutative and decorative art, translating figurative images into the abstract realm.
My artistic purpose is clear: I think how privileged I am as an artist to live in a paradise bubble, to be surrounded by beauty, tropical flowers , manicured gardens, fantastic rare birds, sea and cobalt-blue sky. I hope that other people can look at my work and feel like they can breath in this air too.
Education:
classical painter education in an European art academy
Awards & Distinctions:
Member of artist association of Malaga
Exhibitions:
Personal Exhibition:
Sent20 - Jan 21- Cine de Goya, Puerto-Banus, Marbella, Malaga, Spain
Aug 21 - Partimonio Historico, Casa de la Tejerinas, Estepona, Malaga, Espana
June 22 - Patrimonio Historico y Cultural. Casa de Tejerines. Estepona, Malaga, Spain.
April 23- Sotogrande, Cadis, Spain, Exposición collective "Torros, Meninas, Flamencas"
2023 – Galeria de Art, Fuengirola, Mijas, Malaga (group)
2023 – Galleria Osvaldo Lobalzo, Guardiaro, Cadiz (group)
2023 – Art Gallery Nika, Malaga city ( group )
2023 – Fira de Arte Contemporaneo, Barcelona ( FIAB), Museu Maritim de Barcelona
2024 - Casa de las Tejerinas, Patrimonio Historico y Cultural, Estepona, Malaga
Artistic Influences:
I cherish the incompleteness and imperfection of impressionism;
I admire Pablo Picasso with the tremendous power of his works of art;
often drawing on art history, from the Masters of Russian Avant-garde (Kandinsky) to Abstract Expressionism ( Willem de Kooning), as I reinterpret those traditions through a modern lens.
Artist Tags:
figurative, oilpainting, spiritual, colors, mythology, abstract
