in different fields. But on the way, it is Art that
came back to me. I started selling my paintings
in local horse shows. Then booked more
important venues. At some point I had to
quit my job because my next exhibition
was taking too much time… and I never
had a job since! I have now been making a
living with my artwork for 10 years. I am
31 years old and I have the chance to live
my dreams!
AW: It seems like you mostly
paint Iberian horses. How
did you become enamored
with them, and what is it
about them that sparks your
imagination? Do you ever decide
to paint any other subjects?
Elise: The Iberian horse empowers everything I love about
horses: round shape, extraordinary movement that reminds
me of a dance, sense of theatricality, beautiful black eyes,
mane that is the continuity of their movement… They are
sensible and powerful, they are living work of art themselves.
How could I not be enamored with them? I have worked
a few other topics such as women and birds, but my heart
always comes back to Iberian horses.
AW: I’ve noticed that you are also
a very talented photographer! Can
you tell us a little bit about your
photography?
Elise: Photography has always been another passion for me,
and now more than ever, a huge part of my artwork process
as I photograph all my subjects. I travel the world seeking
for inspiration; I visit breeding farms and private owners,
looking for the muse that will steal my heart for many
paintings to come! Being there, having a horse deploying all
his soul in front of me, is incredibly inspiring. Sometimes
it takes thousands of shots to get that inspiring one… and
sometimes a picture is so perfect as it is that a painting
could not make it better - then I keep it as a photograph and
I don’t paint it.