We’re looking forward to introducing you to Elisa de la Torre. Check out our conversation below.
Elisa, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is a normal day like for you right now?
🌞 Summer brings a gentle rhythm I cherish deeply. Each morning begins early with breakfast alongside my husband. After that, I ease into a yoga session and tend to little things around the house before waking our baby. Then, off we go—just the two of us—to the studio.
🎨 I adore having my one-year-old with me while I paint. Sometimes we paint together; sometimes he dives into his own creations while I focus for a little while on mine. I’m currently working on a large piece, with a few commissions waiting patiently in line.
These shared studio moments have taught me to embrace an even slower pace—reminding me that meaningful creative time often means painting side by side with him. Even if my work takes longer to finish, it’s worth every second. I’m grateful to be spending summer like this—with him.
🚶♀️ Afterward, we take a walk so he can nap and I head home to prepare lunch. 🌿 Evenings are for unwinding at the ranch—horses, a pool, and time spent soaking in the quiet magic of the day.
It’s simple. It’s ordinary. And it’s beautifully meaningful.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My work explores an aesthetic of natural imperfection through material experimentation and abstract re-creations of landscapes that engage with the viewer’s memory. These are like geographical views unexplored.
Driven by an interest in the beauty of nature’s unnoticed and imperfect aspects, my pieces begin with a study of its topography and memory, transforming fluid paint into organic matter via a complex chemical process. The reactions give rise to fractal shapes, reliefs, and natural textures—such as paint crystallization.
Its sensory impact connects poetically with the impressions of memory, since our recollections are shaped by sensations, forms, and colors—like a literal fragment of a sensory memory that becomes a continuous experience, leading the viewer to a specific place and moment.
22k gold highlights the beauty of imperfection and the unseen, turning cracks into the most precious and exclusive feature of the work. It speaks to our own fragility and human nature.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
🎨 In the early days of my artistic journey, I used to paint with precision. I’d sketch everything first, striving to make each detail match the picture in my head. Looking back, I realize that’s how I approached life too. I had it all mapped out—when I’d get married, have children, what I’d be doing at each stage. I clung tightly to my plans… until life showed me that it doesn’t always follow a script.
When those expectations unraveled, it was painful. Slowly, I had to learn to let go, to release control, and allow life to unfold organically.
🌀 We often get so caught up in shaping our ideal version of life that we forget to leave room for serendipity—for things to simply happen. This realization shifted everything, including my art. I dove into fluid abstract painting, embracing its unpredictable nature. It taught me to collaborate with the paint itself, letting it flow freely and highlight the raw beauty of color, texture, and movement. Each piece became a unique abstract landscape, inviting viewers to interpret their own stories within it.
💫 Life works in similar ways—you can’t control every turn, but you can make the most of what you’re given. Sometimes, that leads to outcomes more meaningful than anything you could’ve planned.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were many moments in my artistic journey when I almost gave up—but I’m so glad I held on. Starting out is never easy. There’s rarely financial support to sustain your practice, rent a studio, or devote your days to painting and chasing opportunities. Most artists need a side job just to make ends meet—and sadly, that can eventually consume your time and push art to the sidelines.
I still remember graduating with my Fine Arts degree, not entirely sure where I wanted to go next. I moved abroad for a few months, searching for work, then returned home and chose to keep studying. A master’s degree turned into a PhD, and soon I was teaching at university. At that point, I had stopped painting altogether—I was immersed in academia, and art had slipped away.
But somehow, years later, painting called me back. Thanks to my university job, I was able to afford a studio and slowly reconnect with my practice. Eight years have passed, and through all the ups and downs, I’m grateful I found my way back to this path.
💫 It’s not always a linear story, but every detour has shaped the way I create today.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’m intentional about what I share, and I take comfort in knowing that what I do share truly reflects who I am. There are parts of my life I choose to keep close, but I genuinely enjoy opening up about my world—my family, my experiences, my journey. Everything around me shapes who I am, and that essence is woven into each piece of my artwork.
🎨 I believe collectors appreciate knowing the story behind the art they choose—the energy, the life, the emotion that sparked it. My work isn’t just visual; it’s a living reflection of the moments and memories that inspired it.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
⏳ Time is something I hold close. Watching my one-year-old grow reminds me how fleeting each moment is—I try to soak it all in, knowing it won’t come again. It’s a feeling that sometimes overwhelms me… in the most beautiful way.
🌱 I’ve let go of chasing quick success. Instead, I choose to focus on what truly moves me—doing what I love, embracing the rhythm of time, and sharing my work with people who connect with its energy and with me. I believe in slow progress, the kind that grows roots.
✨ If I knew I had only ten years left, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’d keep doing exactly this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elisadelatorre.com
- Instagram: @elisadltl
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