Lené Ehlers
Cape town-based artist Lené Ehlers is inspired by the botanical world around for her floral-esque paintings and illustrations.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson | Photography: Ru Booyens
A work in progress by Lené Ehlers. Photo: Ru Booyens
Lené Ehlers in her Cape Town studio. Photo: Ru Booyens
Lené Ehlers is not only an artist and illustrator but also a florist in her hometown of Cape Town. The South African artist found floristry while undertaking her university degree studying illustration, seeking a physical activity to take her out of the micro-world of art.
Her love of both art and floristry can be seen within her illustrations, the soft organic forms seeping into the paintings and drawings. ‘I find a very fun dialogue happens between my floral work and my illustrations,’ says Lené. ‘You’ll almost always find some dried and foraged element making its way into my art studio for inspiration.’
Lené’s art studio can be found on the colourful streets of Cape Town, but instead of bringing the outside energy in, her studio becomes a peaceful spot to retreat and focus on creativity. The artist’s day begins here as she takes a moment to check-in and plan her artworks, but beyond this, each day differs. ‘I am a very intuitive person, which means I don’t really have usual days! It completely depends on where I am in my creative process.’
The artworks naturally unfold around a theme that can connect a collection together — from there, Lené allows the creativity to flow, running with her curiosities and experimentation. The artist will first build a narrative through researching ideas and references, and then she begins an exploration of mediums.
When I feel I have collected enough materials and ideas, I’ll start with sketching rough works,’ she says. ‘I do loads of them, and I fill up sketchbooks like crazy. Then I’ll curate from there and refine the chosen works until I get my final.’
‘Sometimes I want to do really fine, detailed and conceptual work, then I’ll go the acrylic route, and other days I just want to be expressive and let go, and that’s when I’ll look to my oil paints,’ says Lené Ehlers. Photo: Ru Booyens
A work in progress by Lené Ehlers. Photo: Ru Booyens
It’s My Favourite Thing, Because It Reminds Me of You by Lené Ehlers. Photo: Salon91
‘I’ll start with a theme, flesh it out, do a lot of experimentation with mediums and finding references. This part is just about following my curiosities and running with it,’ says Lené Ehlers. Photo: Ru Booyens
“I’m inspired by where I am and also where I want to go. My art is a way of making sense of life, but at the same time, it also serves as a connecting ritual.”
‘The colour combinations I love at the moment is pistachio, honeycomb & dark plum. So rich and juicy!’ says Lené Ehlers. Photo: Ru Booyens
Works in progress by Lené Ehlers. Photo: Ru Booyens
As to be expected from a florist, Lené’s oeuvre is filled with the botanical, exploring the symbolism of journeys and renewal. Her illustrations are more figurative and representative of still life, while her paintings take on luscious abstractions in considered mark making as though flower petals texturally adorn the canvas.
Lené’s abstraction colour palette reflects this venture into the natural world—bright rose-like reds, posy pinks, and foliage greens all appear in her rich gouache and oil paintings. In her flat illustrative works, the artist uses acrylic paint and ink, mixing her mediums for a layered feeling. ‘Acrylic ink is so versatile and playful, and it allows for experimentation and collage – oil paint is the epitome of expressive mark making which I just love.’
One year ago, Lené was able to work on her first collection of illustrations, Trust your blood, which immortalised in a photoshoot that brought together her art and blooms. ‘It was just the ultimate project with so many chances of combining creativity in different ways, and it was so much fun!’
Coming up, Lené has a collection of artworks launching with her Cape Town gallery, Salon91. Plus, she recently announced her representation with Australian and UK-based gallery Otomys—hopefully, we’ll be seeing more of her locally!
‘I am inspired by where I am and also where I want to go. My art is a way of making sense of life, but at the same time, it also serves as a connecting ritual—I’m inspired by what goes on internally,’ says Lené Ehlers. Photo: Ru Booyens