Surprising is the term that could be used to describe the work created by Arturo Elena. Beginning with his technique and moving on to his style, this self-taught artist has revolutionized the world of graphic illustration.
His work in fashion illustration has received both national and international recognition and has appeared in prestigious publications.
The realism achieved, the colouring and attention to detail are this artist’s most outstanding qualities. When we observe one of his drawings, we see an illustration which is not just simply typical of the fashion world, but one where we can actually enjoy such details as the texture and colour of the fabrics, the composition and the expressions on the figures’ faces, and one where we can further perceive in these details his mastery in the handling of materials and the subtle technical control in his execution of shapes and colours.
This sample of Arturo Elena’s work is the current result of a personal and professional journey undertaken, rich in creativity, personal effort, and an originality of composition which has given rise to a school of thought in the field of graphic design.
While still in his native Teruel, his initial work at the Santa Eulalia school already evinced his outstanding drawing skills: it could almost be said that art was in his genes, given his family’s great sensitivity in this respect.
Subsequently, he obtained a scholarship to study in Valencia and Toledo.
During this period, he was particularly attracted to the work of the classical masters such as Velazquez, el Greco, A. R. Mengs. He was also fascinated by fashion illustrators such as René Gruau or Stefano Canulli, whose techniques he learned from.
After doing his military service, he moved to Barcelona in order to complete his studies. For a year, he worked with the design team in charge of women’s collections for a well-known fashion firm.
Over the next four years, he further developed his career in other cities such as Seville and Murcia among others, executing designs for both men’s and women’s collections.
While in Seville, he met José Victor Rodríguez and José Luis Medina (Vitorio & Lucchino), who, feeling attracted by Elena’s unique style engaged his cooperation for the production of press images for their collections, illustrations for new promotions, etc.
In 1992, he obtained the commission to design the above firm’s press files for the new perfume and collection, both known as “Carmen”. This circumstance allowed him to enter in contact with, and contribute to, publications such as “Cosmopolitan” and later “Telva”, “Elle” and other international magazines.
From there, his prestige grew and he began to contribute illustrations to the press files of firms such as “Roberto Verino” and “Chanel”, and with images for “Loewe, “Citroën” and “Gacela Tejidos”, among others.
As a result of this work he began to experiment with portraits on a professional level, depicting well-known models on the one hand and friends on the other, this last for pleasure and entertainment, and representing the former in classical environments and compositions, and the latter in a freer lighter style.
Thanks to his well-thought of development, he joined the Madrid “Instituto Europeo di Design” to teach his drawing techniques and work methodology.
Currently, he continues contributing illustrations to “Cosmopolitan” and “Telva” and teaching drawing at the “Instituto Europeo di Design”, as well as contributing designs for several firms such as “Vitorio and Lucchino”, “Roberto Verino”, and others.
The most noteworthy aspects of Elena’s work are the lengthening of the human form while maintaining perfect harmony of proportions, the carriage of the figures and the movement suggested. The facial expressions manage to convey a multitude of sensations: sensuality, femininity, dynamism… the faces themselves, the hand movements, the distinct details of the garments give rise to not only a fashionable image but also to a complete universe of gratification for the observer.
All in all, realism is the element that predominates in his compositions.
The handling of light and colour are the two features that predominate in his technique: a perfect representation of both the figures and the texture of the tissues, together with other characteristic elements, is thus achieved.
The special effects resulting from the subtly applied light and shadows learned from the classical masters are filtered by their own style and transmit modernity and exquisite genius.
The colours wherein the combination of shades, sheen and intensity maintain perfect and coherent harmony with the rest of Elena’s work, also contribute to the above effect.
The materials used are, preferably, paper and synthetic inks applied with markers to achieve extraordinary effects.
To sum up, we here encounter a singular artist with a very personal and suggestive style, who applies his own techniques to achieve admirable results outside the present artistic currents and extraordinary brilliance, undoubtedly the marks of great talent.
His work in fashion illustration has received both national and international recognition and has appeared in prestigious publications.
The realism achieved, the colouring and attention to detail are this artist’s most outstanding qualities. When we observe one of his drawings, we see an illustration which is not just simply typical of the fashion world, but one where we can actually enjoy such details as the texture and colour of the fabrics, the composition and the expressions on the figures’ faces, and one where we can further perceive in these details his mastery in the handling of materials and the subtle technical control in his execution of shapes and colours.
This sample of Arturo Elena’s work is the current result of a personal and professional journey undertaken, rich in creativity, personal effort, and an originality of composition which has given rise to a school of thought in the field of graphic design.
While still in his native Teruel, his initial work at the Santa Eulalia school already evinced his outstanding drawing skills: it could almost be said that art was in his genes, given his family’s great sensitivity in this respect.
Subsequently, he obtained a scholarship to study in Valencia and Toledo.
During this period, he was particularly attracted to the work of the classical masters such as Velazquez, el Greco, A. R. Mengs. He was also fascinated by fashion illustrators such as René Gruau or Stefano Canulli, whose techniques he learned from.
After doing his military service, he moved to Barcelona in order to complete his studies. For a year, he worked with the design team in charge of women’s collections for a well-known fashion firm.
Over the next four years, he further developed his career in other cities such as Seville and Murcia among others, executing designs for both men’s and women’s collections.
While in Seville, he met José Victor Rodríguez and José Luis Medina (Vitorio & Lucchino), who, feeling attracted by Elena’s unique style engaged his cooperation for the production of press images for their collections, illustrations for new promotions, etc.
In 1992, he obtained the commission to design the above firm’s press files for the new perfume and collection, both known as “Carmen”. This circumstance allowed him to enter in contact with, and contribute to, publications such as “Cosmopolitan” and later “Telva”, “Elle” and other international magazines.
From there, his prestige grew and he began to contribute illustrations to the press files of firms such as “Roberto Verino” and “Chanel”, and with images for “Loewe, “Citroën” and “Gacela Tejidos”, among others.
As a result of this work he began to experiment with portraits on a professional level, depicting well-known models on the one hand and friends on the other, this last for pleasure and entertainment, and representing the former in classical environments and compositions, and the latter in a freer lighter style.
Thanks to his well-thought of development, he joined the Madrid “Instituto Europeo di Design” to teach his drawing techniques and work methodology.
Currently, he continues contributing illustrations to “Cosmopolitan” and “Telva” and teaching drawing at the “Instituto Europeo di Design”, as well as contributing designs for several firms such as “Vitorio and Lucchino”, “Roberto Verino”, and others.
The most noteworthy aspects of Elena’s work are the lengthening of the human form while maintaining perfect harmony of proportions, the carriage of the figures and the movement suggested. The facial expressions manage to convey a multitude of sensations: sensuality, femininity, dynamism… the faces themselves, the hand movements, the distinct details of the garments give rise to not only a fashionable image but also to a complete universe of gratification for the observer.
All in all, realism is the element that predominates in his compositions.
The handling of light and colour are the two features that predominate in his technique: a perfect representation of both the figures and the texture of the tissues, together with other characteristic elements, is thus achieved.
The special effects resulting from the subtly applied light and shadows learned from the classical masters are filtered by their own style and transmit modernity and exquisite genius.
The colours wherein the combination of shades, sheen and intensity maintain perfect and coherent harmony with the rest of Elena’s work, also contribute to the above effect.
The materials used are, preferably, paper and synthetic inks applied with markers to achieve extraordinary effects.
To sum up, we here encounter a singular artist with a very personal and suggestive style, who applies his own techniques to achieve admirable results outside the present artistic currents and extraordinary brilliance, undoubtedly the marks of great talent.
Image courtesy of Arturo Elena
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