It’s a couple of years since we first met Elno, the Spanish artist who first appeared on the London scene during the 2014 Femme Fierce festival.
There, with her pink hair blending into the bubble pink walls of the tunnel, she was painting what would become one of her recognizable colourful characters. Itself adorned with splashes of green, it was the first time we’d seen her work and it was good to see.
Not speaking much English at that time, Elno came to London with the intention of making a fresh start. Now just over two years on we are speaking pretty comfortably as we share a cup of tea in her studio. We’re here ironically because a documentary is being made on Femme Fierce, made by Dpict Media, it will tell the story of the festival over the past two years.
Elno’s work has been a regular on the streets of the city. This year alone we’ve covered her work a number of times as she she painted in Blackall Street at a couple of paint jams. It’s hard to miss. The style she introduced to the city back in 2014 has been honed and the images stand out more.
Colour, says Elno, is important to her. You can tell her mood by the colour of her hair. Today is blue, it means she is thoughtful, reflective even. When she wears pink or red, it’s her heart ruling the roost, a passionate person she says she needs to be careful not to let the red side take over.
Although bright on the walls, Elno’s preferred style is darker, she likes to use ink on her drawings in the studio. A small show in Camden last year showcased some of those drawings to good effect. A background too in set design she has also designed tattoos, a number of which she proudly displays.
The street art though in London is some of the best around says Elno. With an appreciative public it means that she feels part of a community not only including the artists but with the photographers, bloggers and fans too. It’s all part of a scene which makes living in London a rich experience.
For the full interview with Elno have a listen to this podcast:
Elno was interviewed in her studio on Tuesday 12 April 2016. You can see more of her work from earlier this year featured in previous Inspiring City articles here and here or take a look at the gallery below:
Elno Gallery
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See you soon 🙂 🙂