Elena Ciolacu

Hello!

My name is Elena Ciolacu and I am a Romanian visual artist creating in a variety of art forms. Formally trained in Illustration and Animation, with an MA in Animation, my work varies from illustrations to oil paintings, animated short films and graphic novels, but all throughout this diversity it is my love for storytelling that ties them all together, which is why I like to call myself a "visual storyteller".

My illustration portfolio showcases a variety of styles and techniques, something that I like to think of as my strength. Instead of trying to develop a „brand style” I prefer to create something special for each comissioned project. I believe every story has a character of its own, and I really enjoy reflecting how each one makes me feel or what imagery it evokes in my imagination. Also, working in a variety of styles and techniques (some of which being cheaper and some being more laborious and expensive) that allows me to adapt and find a solution for every budget.

Despite the diversity in my work, all of it is grounded in my passion for classic and realist art, and the reason for that is that I give utmost importance to the emotions that my characters need to evoke: I want them to fully convey the complexity and diversity of all human emotions, not just simplified versions of them.

The traditional techniques I like to work with are pencils, ink, oil paints, watercolours, gouache and charcoal, while in the digital realm I work mainly in Photoshop.

My process of work is simple but at the same time focused on a close collaboration with my clients, from start to finish. At the end my biggest reward is when they are happy with how I brought their story to life.

If you have a project you think I can add value to, please don't hestitate to get in touch.

Thank you for stopping by!

Elena