

Elena Blanco
Born: 1965
Hometown: Barcelona
Based in: London
Born: 1965
Hometown: Barcelona
Based in: London
Elena Blanco is a Spanish artist and illustrator based in London since 2000. She started her creative practice as an architect working in different offices in Barcelona and the UK. After a long career break looking after her young children she started painting and illustrating in 2007 and since 2014 she’s worked full time in her art practice. Her work is sold and commissioned internationally.
What inspires you?
Because of my background in architecture I approach my work from design and composition. Because of my love of literature and philosophy, stories and ideas are a constant source of inspiration and many of my pieces have an illustrative character.
Describe your creative process.
Ideas come from books, photographs, exhibitions, sketchbooks… Work in my sketchbooks is what I most value. I keep lots of them where I try ideas out or find new ones. I work every morning. When the weather is good, I sketch out and about. I work on various pieces at the same time, very often in series. Some pieces are done quickly, in a couple of days. Some take months or years. I leave them aside and come back to them again and again and one day somehow I consider them done.
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
Introspective, poetic, joyful
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
Paul Klee, Joan Miro, Sonia Delaunay, Henri Matisse, Raul Duffy, David Hockney, Quentin Blake, Luli Sanchez, Daniel Egneus.
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
Brushes, pens and pencils, good paper, ink and watercolour.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
From Rodin, via Rilke, “Il faut toujours travailler”
Where do you go for inspiration?
Books, nature, museums.