Capturing scenes of home, Lena Goodison’s painted

technique and colour-blocked pastels give a sense of

etherealism to the everyday.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey in the painting world?

I am Lena, a Swedish self taught artist, living and working in Nottingham, UK (after living in Brighton and London for 12 years).I have always been a creative, whether it was dancing, drama or visual art. I went to dance college and studied journalism, but never went to art school.

I picked up a paint brush 4 years ago after quite a few years working in retail management and I was craving to get back to my creativity!

Instagram has been a massive boost for my art, the way I have been able to reach a larger audience and found people to collaborate with,and galleries for exhibitions.

What’s your favourite subject matter to paint and why?

I am really drawn to painting portraits. It’s something about baring ones soul I find fascinating. Of course, many of my portraits are all dreamt up by myself, so you could say that the bold portraits are a part of me.

Your paintings have a charming simplicity to them whilst showing so much of sitters individual characteristics. Can you talk us through how you developed your style and does your style/techniques change depending on your subject or subject matter?

I am very much an instinctual painter. The mood of the day often sets the tone of where I am going with the painting. I start with simple outlines. Then the basic colours. I can almost feel (especially when working from a photo from a customer) what style will work for that person.

I also do my homework - looking at the person’s instagram: who are they, what colours do they like, are there any patterns? I may ask for more photographs if needs be. When the painting is “done”, I always let it rest for a couple of days before I go back to it. Then the transformation starts. I fill in with bolder colours, make some marks, maybe add a pattern. Being brave and using clashing colours often works a treat. It’s a fine tuned balance.

Your beautiful choice of colour gives a surreal feel to the everyday items you paint. How important is the consideration of colour in your work and how do you come about choosing your palettes?

Colours are the most important part of my paintings.I work very much with instinct even when choosing colours. It’s rare I start with a set colour scheme. I rather pick the hues as I go along, depending on my mood for that day. I do have a vast catalouge in my head of colour combinations I like and find exciting. That comes from experience.

I almost always blend my own colours. I want them to be mine. Even if it’s just a hint from two different tubes, it changes everything and it feels it’s unique to me.I like clashes of colour. The unusual and unexpected. I know it can look odd and beautiful at the same time.

I am a very messy painter! Often use fingers and old rags to blend and paint. Then I clean it up afterwards, by painting a more flat background.

Your custom pet portraits are full of each model’s unique personality which we love! Do you think it’s important for us to preserve our pet’s faces in art and if so why?

I’m not deliberatly trying to copy the pets I am painting. I am more interested in capturing their personalities.

My customers know beforehand that it may come out in an unexpected way! I have a vast spectrum of customers; some give me more freehand and

I can play, some rather want a more straight forward portrait with a plain background, but of course with my abstract style. I love painting both and think my

personality as a painter still shines through. Its always a fun process painting these commissions and great to collaborate with the customers!

Your custom pet portraits are full of each model’s unique personality which we love! Do you think it’s important for us to preserve our pet’s faces in art and if so why?

I’m not deliberatly trying to copy the pets I am painting. I am more interested in capturing their personalities. My customers know beforehand that it may come out in an unexpected way! I have a vast spectrum of customers; some give me more freehand and I can play, some rather want a more straight forward portrait with a plain background, but of course with my abstract style. I love painting both and think my

personality as a painter still shines through. Its always a fun process painting these commissions and great to collaborate with the customers!

Have you been inspired by any concepts, artists or techniques that is maybe influencing any upcoming work?

I always try to educate myself through online classes, playing with new techniques & art materials. That way I accidentally find my way into a different way of expressing myself.

I need to have fun with my art making. It's at the forefront of everything I do. I am constantly looking at other brilliant artists work on instagram, but think it’s really important for me to keep my integrity and listen to my own voice to create art that is truly me. I want people that experience my art can recognise that.

@teklan is an amazing colourist on Instagram that I admire, and the Swedish textile designer Josef Franks patterns were something I grew up with in Sweden. I still admire his work!

I have been inspired by the lockdown (like many other artists) and you will see some new art coming up, much larger paintings than I have done before.

Thats new for me. I feel comfortable painting up to A3 and now I am painting on a series in A2 size. Stretching myself to a new level. Life is for learning and I am intended to keep going!

You can find more of Lena’s amazing work on instagram.