Meet Elisabete Guerreiro | Artist and Art Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elisabete Guerreiro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elisabete, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

My name is Elisabete and since I was very young I have been fascinated by drawing, painting and art in general. I love to take my sketchbook or easel out to the countryside or the beach and paint the landscapes that surround me there.

I grew up in Faro, Algarve, Portugal and spent many holidays with my grandparents, who lived in the countryside in the Monchique mountains. Walking through the forests of cork oaks, chestnut trees and eucalyptus, which go down to the coast, the Atlantic Ocean, with the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve, made me a nature lover. When I was not enjoying the countryside, I was at home, involved in my art projects. My aunt draws very well, and I was fascinated to appreciate her drawings. My mother is a fashion tailor, and I learned to design dresses from her. So from a very young age, I felt a huge desire to be creative, an artist or designer.

After university, where I studied art education, I became an art teacher. In Lisbon, I felt the need to continue learning; I studied theatre, industrial design and got involved in many projects. But after becoming a mother, I felt that the South of my country was calling me again, I needed the sea, the countryside, nature! I came to live in the South of Spain, on the border with Portugal, where the connection with both cultures fills me with joy and motivation to paint Andalusia and Algarve… so nice, living in the South!
The closer I am to Mother Nature, the more I feel I belong to something beautiful, meaningful and safe. And to be able to record this connection through painting is very powerful and refreshing. It was a natural progression, starting to paint from that relationship. Here I share with you my experience and hope that my paintings deliver my message.”

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

“Colour and positive energy are the essence of my work. I don’t care what the source is, the energy I embody from daily experiences, reflections, encounters and often music, is what I try to convey through movement, composition and a wide palette of colours. I never thought of being a professional artist, but I knew that art and creativity would be my life, the food of my soul. After 30 years working as an art teacher, I started painting again with more enthusiasm. I met fabulous people who joined me in new group exhibitions and little by little I was no longer afraid and never stopped. Painting is a spiritual experience for me. I have a deep gratitude for Mother Nature, and her natural beauty that is part of every day. I can’t imagine a more satisfying way to spend my time on earth than to paint in her honour.
Painting is my meditation, my freedom, I seek comfort in it and strive to provide uplifting, positive and peaceful energy through every painting I create.
There are many qualities needed to be an artist and start exhibiting what we do; intelligence, creativity, ambition, but I believe much of success comes down to perseverance. From the day I started exhibiting at home and abroad, I realised that more than ever I would have to strive every day to improve my artistic technique, while artistically developing the marketing of my work. And while much of the process presents interesting opportunities, it also presents huge barriers that can only be overcome with perseverance and persistence. From the early stages of not knowing how to package and ship a painting or build an electronic website, to the webbs and workflows of inspiration and even sales. All challenges must be met with desire and dedication to work through them until the goal is achieved. None of us will get where we want to be in life without some level of courage and perseverance.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

“The Algarve has a variety of delicious foods that are grown locally, including almonds, figs, olives, grapes, citrus fruits, and sweet potatoes. The people are hospitable and welcoming. The climate is sunny and warm for most of the year. The air is clean and fresh. The Algarve offers a calm and relaxing lifestyle, away from the fast paced and often stressful world of the big cities. I live between southern Portugal and Spain and love walking between the Algarve and Andalusia. The Algarve is where I was born, a beautiful and relaxing region that offers a diverse landscape, warm climate, and an endless list of things to do, all wrapped up in a family atmosphere. Steeped in a Mediterranean climate, the Algarve is vast with majestic mountains, blue water and green fields blessed with the scent of the Atlantic Ocean and a multitude of wild flowers. The coastline is beautiful and can make you fall in love with the region. There are several beaches along the coast that make the Algarve one of the most popular tourist spots in Europe. Culturally, there are some traditions that are observed to this day, skilled craftsmen continue to use ancient techniques to create a variety of baskets, textiles, ceramics, bronze and copper items. In addition to the lovely and tranquil landscape of the Algarve, there are also the smells and flavours of traditional cuisine. We can experience the rich flavour of cooked chickpeas, xerém and cabbage, which are traditional foods of the serra, or try any of the seafood dishes, including clam cataplana or a fish stew. We can also enjoy delicacies from the region such as almonds, carob and figs. The climate in the Algarve always brings us a ray of sunshine mixed with seasonal rain, while the sea breeze brings us a mild climate during most of the year. The Ria Formosa (Protected Natural Area) is situated along the coast and in the interior there are small rural villages spreading all over the countryside.”

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

There are several magnificent people who have influenced my artistic career; starting with my childhood, I was dazzled by my Aunt Amália’s magnificent drawings, I dreamt of being an artist and drawing like her one day, so when I reached secondary school, I pursued the study of the arts. It was then that I met a magnificent teacher and artist, Rosa Trindade, who helped me to ensure that this was the path I wanted to follow. There were many teachers and friends who influenced me, but more recently, friends like Sofia Costa (CPPC), Júlio Antão (Paz, Arte & Sociedade) and Ana Feu (Luz de Mujer), were the people who gave me the impulse I needed to start painting again. To all of them and to many others, I thank them for their strength and encouragement to continue developing what I do with great passion, Painting.

Instagram: elisabeteguerreiro_artist

Facebook: Elisabete Guerreiro – Artist

Other: elisabete.guerreiro.isabel@gmail.com