Contact Me – Lena's Portfolio

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655-Z62_0329

Contact Me

+27 82 218 1906

lena@lenahugo.com

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Contact Info

+27 82 218 1906

Pretoria South Africa

lena@lenahugo.com

For me, the appeal of drawing is, in part, its dir

For me, the appeal of drawing is, in part, its directness. A sense of dust flowing straight from the finger tips and nails. When I’m really me, I rarely work with much distance between my hands and the surface. On the rare occasions when I do try to paint, I’ll hold the brush just behind its bristles. Even writing leaves me wit ink stained fingers, from gripping the pen at the scruff of its neck. And colour is almost never my driving force. Rather, it is the feeling of chalk crumbling on surface that blows my hair back. To discouver the heritage of the tiniest piece of pastel, I’ll scratch it with my nail. (I guess, in the same manner in which painters would taste their paint? Or is that just in the movies?) Too crumbly - this is the cheap one, but all right. Ooo, smooth as butter, this is the one they used to make, which is discontinued now - factory closed.

#workprocess #inthestudio #chalkpastel
My little pieces are very dear to me.

Had a health issue and surgery in January. Just so

Had a health issue and surgery in January. Just so grateful that I could carry on working on little tiny miniatures that I’m preparing for the exhibition “Place/Plek”, planned for this year’s KKNK, while lying flat on my back.
(Don’t ask me what was the matter and please don’t come and visit me or phone me - I’ve got a dead line! 🫣😂)
I’m really, Really, REALLY excited about the new direction my art is taking and can’t wait till I’m back on my feet (soon!) to work on larger format again! Will share some images of these tiny ones when the exhibition opens, end of March.

#artiststudio #workprocess #pastelart #workinglikefrida

“Porcelain and Jet” 26cm x 22cm Pastel on sand

“Porcelain and Jet”
26cm x 22cm
Pastel on sandpaper

@saffca.eu_saffca.npc
@morecollection1933
@lionsandsgamereserve

#pastelart #dungbeetle #chalkpastel #softpastel #hardpastel

“Fish Eagle’s View” 5 panels of 42cm x30cm e

“Fish Eagle’s View”
5 panels of 42cm x30cm each
Pencil, charcoal and permanent marker on paper

@lionsandsgamereserve
@morecollection1933
@saffca.eu_saffca.npc

#landscapedrawing #bushveld #enchantedlandscape

“Fish Eagle’s View” 5 panels of 42cm x30cm e

“Fish Eagle’s View”
5 panels of 42cm x30cm each
Pencil, charcoal and permanent marker on paper

@morecollection1933
@saffca.eu_saffca.npc
@lionsandsgamereserve

#landscapedrawing #bushveld #enchantedlandscape

“Fish Eagle’s View” 5 panels of 42cm x30cm e

“Fish Eagle’s View”
5 panels of 42cm x30cm each
Pencil, charcoal and permanent marker on paper

@saffca.eu_saffca.npc
@lionsandsgamereserve
@morecollection1933

#landscapedrawing #bushveld #enchantedlandscape

Rained in and getting some work done in my room. W

Rained in and getting some work done in my room. Whoever ruined my drawings, you will be glad to know that I turned the wine stains into a butterfly and the other drawing is also okay, for now. ✌️

@saffca.eu_saffca.npc
@morecollection1933
@lionsandsgamereserve

#drawinglandscapes #rainyday

There is something about art that secures an idea,

There is something about art that secures an idea, an image, a moment in time. One can say the same about a photograph, but photographic images have become so abundant, similar and easy to delete. There is also something in the process of making an artwork which cements a period in time to memory and makes it easier to retrieve.

I will always remember my first morning game drive, that I shared with two amazing British gentlemen and our morning coffee in the bird hide over looking a waterhole and the most interesting jumble of tree- dead and alive, bird’s nests, birds and what nots, everything resembling a wonky cake of incredible craftsmanship, reflecting its imperfections in the water.

Equally memorable is time spent making it: the calm moments, the frustratingly noisy ones, the rain, the glaring sun, constantly saving bugs and sometimes laughing at monkeys. Rushing out of the studio to plonk into the staff pool and relieve my aching back, if just for a moment. The three days I had in solitude, granted to me in an empty guest suite to work on the deck with my back towards the river. The swallows nest there, the lizards, the baboon who flat ignored me and the majestic saddle-billed stork just as I packed up for the day and looked over my shoulder to say good night to the river and all that inhabits it.

Of course this is not what the real image looked like at all. It was a clear bright day and the foreboding overcast rather reflected my mood while creating, like the wonky cake projecting to the water.

Ah rest! I’m in the quiet of my room right now and I hear something that sounds like dogs barking, but much prettier and stranger, and I have no idea what animal it is.

@saffca.eu_saffca.npc
@lionsandsgamereserve
@morecollection1933

#pastellandscapes #lowveld #waterhole #birdsnests #chalkpastel #artresidency #sabisands

A very cleverly constructed condo shared by two di

A very cleverly constructed condo shared by two different species, with a moat around it to keep intruders at bay.
Nature is forgiving but has no morality, as we think we understand the concept of morality. One (as non-human) should adapt and keep one’s wits about at all times just to survive.

My new project here at @lionsandsgamereserve in progress. And the friend that shared my ‘canvas’ for a while.

@lionsandsgamereserve
@saffca.eu_saffca.npc
@morecollection1933

#artinprogress #inthestudio #pastellandscapes #mysteriouslandscapes #birdsandsnakes #africanweavers

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Contact Info

+27 82 218 1906

Pretoria South Africa

lena@lenahugo.com

Copyright Lena Hugo