Ela Menescal is a Brazilian artist with a unique approach to the art world. Her artworks are mostly inspired by music and movies and we are really excited to present her to you with our 5 questions with the artist format.
Walk us through your academic experience. How do you think your education shaped your career?
I spent my kindergarten and first years of school at the British School in Rio de Janeiro. I was alphabetized in English and experienced a teaching method that revolved around music and art. Unfortunately, I had to leave that school and was put in a very square, traditional method school but the experience I had at the British School had a huge impact on my life and pretty much shaped my way of thinking and career. After graduating from high school I went to law school and practiced law for a while which is also a very square environment but the creative world was always in the back of my mind.
After graduating from high school I went to law school and practiced law for a while which is also a very square environment but the creative world was always in the back of my mind.
What is indispensable while working in your studio?
Music. And my dogs.
Who are your favorite artists and who are the ones that built your creative imaginary?
My creative imaginary is pretty much shaped by music and movies. I love giving an interpretation to song lyrics and telling the story of a song through my art. With that said, my favorite artists are musicians. The Beatles, Quincy Jones, Frank Sinatra, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Paul Mccartney, John Lennon, Eric Clapton and George Harrison all have a special part in my creative imaginary.
When it comes to paintings, my favorite artists are the impressionists. I’m quite fascinated by their technique. David Hockney (in my completely biased opinion) is one of the greatest painters alive. His approach to landscape and color inspired by Van Gogh’s artwork is a celebration of the joy of color juxtapositions.
Beatrix Potter is a huge influence and Nelson Leirner’s work is certainly an influence as well.
My creative imaginary is pretty much shaped by music and movies. I love giving an interpretation to song lyrics and telling the story of a song through my art. With that said, my favorite artists are musicians.
What is your relationship with social media and how do you use them?
Social media gave me the freedom to create without pressure and also the freedom to be able to sell my art directly to the buyer which is such an amazing experience. To be able to get to know who is buying your artwork, to understand your art from their point of view, to know the impact that the artwork had in their life.
Social media gave me the freedom to create without pressure and also the freedom to be able to sell my art directly to the buyer which is such an amazing experience.
How do you research materials for your creative process?
My research usually revolves around music and movies, dissecting song lyrics. Essentially spending days after days studying lyrics, and then studying the background of the artist’s life. Where were they when they wrote the song. What was going on in their life that made them create that song. Peter Jackson’s Get Back documentary about the Beatles was like finding a gold mine, for example. I suddenly was able to access all steps of my creative process wrapped up in one platform.
