Sunday 25 November 2012

Raffle winner

The winning number for the raffle to win a 'Grenadier Guard' gouache on paper is n.22.
Congratulations Paul!
Thank you everybody that has taken part!

Friday 23 November 2012

10 years of making art in London

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Recently it hit me, I’ve been 10 years making art in London: over 100 paintings and 50 drawings, over 25 exhibitions; was endorsed by the Prince’s Trust to set myself as a sole trader; 1 prize that involved exhibiting in Berlin; an auction record £7500 to do a portrait of the winning bidder, all money going to The Prince’s Trust; one invite to go to St James’s Palace and have the pleasure to meet Prince Charles. I wonder what is waiting for me in the next 10 years! I hope to still be making art; I wish to have a patron and/or gallery to support me; to take part in interesting exhibitions all over the world and inspire many people with my art!
Thank you for all those who have supported me by buying or just being there!

Thursday 22 November 2012

Alan Hescott's words on Elena's work

Elena Garcia de la Fuente is an artist who conjures with paint.  She takes a simple family group in a familiar setting and makes it into something magical.  The pictures have a stillness and a strange quality of silence as if we are seeing the last moment of one life before something dramatic happens to change things forever.  The tranquillity is deceptive; it is the time between one tick of the clock and the next.  It is a world waiting.  This drama is heightened not with ferocious brush work but by extraordinary detail.  The sunlight itself in these bright compositions is subversive.  Parents walk, children play, friends talk, the world about them is beautiful, but it seems to be that last happy moment before ‘boo.’
Similarly with her portraits Elena works a strange magic.  When I saw the picture of her father I thought I knew him although we’d never met.  She connects by capturing that one moment, that one expression that is that person and she puts it down in paint; the edge of a smile, the tiny physical moment of one mood moving to another.  I’d love to see her do a series of people on the cusp of sneezing.  Elena’s portraits, like her group paintings, have intimacy and humour.  You feel this is a painter who likes people, but only when they are being themselves.  Not for her phoney status and stiff upper lip, her Prince Charles giggles – and he looks all the better for it. 
Elena’s style is unique; I recognise her pictures as Elena’s instantly.  I know of no other artist who paints like her.  She hasn’t submerged her talent into a school or movement with a facile message.  Elena has the courage to paint her own way and that comes through as an artist looking - not judging, listening - and not preaching. 
Alan Hescott

Raffle tickets for sale to win a Grenadier Guards gouache on paper

The exhibition is officially opened and party starts in 30min!

This time I'm giving away a Grenadier Guard soldier gouache on paper in a raffle.
£2 for 1 ticket or £5 for 3 tickets.

The lucky winner will be announced next week on this blog and in my facebook page, ElenaGF.

Good news is that they are being very popular and I just had my first soldier commission. The idea is to introduce an element of humour in them!

Looking forward to seeing you at the Open Studios, Wimbledon Art Studios, Wimbledon Art Studios, 10 Riverside Yard, Riverside Road, London SW17 0BB

I better get started with preparing the Spanish tapas!

Saturday 17 November 2012

Affordable art on paper, Grenadier Guards Series

I'm delighted to show you a preview of my latest affordable work series, Grenadier Guards (gouache on paper, 23.5 cm x 23.5cm).
I'm hoping to have more of this series ready for the show at Wimbledon Art Studios (22-25Nov). If it sells quickly... you can always commission to get it done!
There has been great interest through facebook already! If you don't want to miss out on the latest images and offers, please follow me on facebook, Elena GF.
I hope you can make it to the Open Studios because, not only I will be taking photos for free but there's going to be a raffle too!
For only £2 you can buy a ticket to win a similar work of the one shown here! More details later!

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Interviewed by Harry Pye for The Rebel Magazine

I'm delighted that an artist and writer that I admire, Harry Pye, has decided to publish an interview about my work in 'The Rebel Magazine'. My interview is along side one to Harry Shearer the voice of Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner and the excellent Mr Burns in The Simpsons. Well, I feel important! To read it, please click the link and go to the post of 3 November 2012:
http://therebelmagazine.blogspot.co.uk/

The photo above is Lizard Island (2004). I would say one of the first paintings I did to capture memories. To find out more about it you'll have to read the interview! Enjoy!

Monday 5 November 2012

Open Studio at Wimbledon Art Studios


Please join me for a glass of wine at the
Private View on thursday 22nd November from 6pm-10pm
Wimbledon Art Studios, Riverside Yard, Riverside Road, SW17 0BB

or just come along anytime from 22nd-25th November
Thursday & Friday 2pm- 10pm, Saturday and Sunday 11am- 6pm

You can find me at studio 259, Red Studios, Second Floor

Portraits start from as little as £75 and they can make great Xmas presents!
I'll be offering FREE photo sessions during the show if you commission a work!

Even if you don't want to buy, please come along, it's a really fun event! It's a very big artists complex (approx 150), so it's a great opportunity to see their wonderful work and buy directly from them!


Find me on facebook, ElenaGF, to see exclusive images

Friday 2 November 2012

Courtfield Road, a family portrait

After quite a few months of work I have the pleasure to show you my latest painting.
'Courtfield Road' was commissioned by a group of friends as a leaving present for the Pinto Marti family.
After having the painting for months only 10cm away from my eyes, it's now departed to Paris! I only wish I had longer to admire it from afar! I'll miss it!

If you think you're interested in having a painting of your family or have similar ideas, I'll be happy to discuss this further. Just get in touch or come to my next Open Studios at Wimbledon Art Studios from 22nd-25th November. Details to follow soon.