TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF & YOUR WORK + WORK SPACE?

My name’s Ella and I’m an artist based in Byron Bay. I’m lucky enough to work beachside in my home studio. I’m currently working with oils on wood panel, but I’ve explored acrylics and oils on italian linen, always exploring the moody, ethereal, and the strange. 

TALK US THROUGH YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS FOR THIS CAPSULE - WHERE DO YOU START?

Working from the creative moodboard from Afends is where it all starts. It’s always really refreshing to work in a collaborative process, and bouncing off ideas from a creative partner. It injects new creative energy, and gives me a different framework than I normally would have. After building up some compositional sketches, I begin work on the final piece, working from the provided colour palette from Afends. Working in a limited colour palette can pose a challenge, but I think it makes for smarter, more dialled in creative decisions.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE PIECE FROM THE COLLECTION & WHY?

My favourite piece from the collection is called ‘Dripping Alaskan Sun’ which actually went to a new home recently. The other one that I love is called ‘Black Beauty’, which I got so attached to that I ended up just keeping it for myself.

WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING ART, WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?

Most of the time I’m either surfing or grabbing a coffee, or up at the pub having a beer.

WHAT IS THE MOST EXCITING PROJECT YOU’VE WORKED ON?

I did a huge glass mural for Brie Leon’s autumn winter collection this year, and it was so interesting to work on a glass window. I had to paint it in reverse, which is something I’ve never done before, so it showed up correctly from the outside. I was also using a specialty silicone glass paint, and the way the light filtered through the pigment from outside made the painting seem to glow, which lent a really incredible feeling to the space.

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR THE ARTWORK FOR THE CAPSULE?

I wanted to create something really moody - something that lived in a dark atmosphere, adding an edge to florals, which is always such a classic abstract motif. I wanted to give it a cool girl edge, rather than just a pretty floaty abstract painting.

ANYTHING EXCITING WE SHOULD KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR IN 2025 FROM YOU?

I’m currently working on a new collection after taking a bit of a creative break. Coming back from this I’m feeling refreshed and re-energised, so I’m so excited to release these new works.