From a young age, Eliana Lemos found in art her natural space of expression. She cannot remember a time without a pencil in her hand—whether sketching in notebooks or even on the walls of her room, where she created imaginary figures, angels, and fantastical scenes.

Despite this passion, she initially followed a different academic path, influenced by the belief that painting offered little financial stability. She enrolled in Architecture in Lisbon, where she studied for two years. This period provided her with rigorous training in technical drawing, live figure studies, and mastery of ink for typography and geometry work—disciplines where there was no margin for error. However, she felt this path was not her own and sought a course that would allow her to explore greater creativity. She then chose to pursue a Master’s in Cinema, Animation, and Multimedia.

Even before completing her studies, Eliana began working as a Director of Photography, collaborating on music videos and commercials for well-known artists. Despite her youth, she quickly gained recognition for her ability to craft atmosphere through lighting and composition, earning opportunities to work with experienced teams. She also worked as a motion designer for channels including Fox International, National Geographic, and Fox Life, developing graphic animations that often incorporated hand-drawn elements. While dynamic, this career path left her seeking something more personal.

Eliana traveled to Asia, studying sacred art at the Thangka Painting Monastery and School Tsering in Boudhanath, Kathmandu. This immersive experience not only deepened her technique but also offered a new understanding of patience, detail, and spirituality in painting. During this period, she also trained as a Movement teacher, studying in New York and India, and taught for several years.

Returning to Portugal brought unexpected challenges, including health issues that led her to study Traditional Chinese Medicine. She studied for three years in Lisbon and later at the Shanghai University of Traditional Medicine, gaining intense anatomical experience through cadaver dissection. Though demanding, this training greatly enhanced her understanding of the human body—an influence that continues to shape her artistic work.

In recent years, Eliana has devoted herself entirely to painting, developing her skills in oil and charcoal, largely self-taught with guidance from online mentors. She currently lives in Gerês (Minho), where she paints and shares her artistic process on YouTube (Eliana Lemos Art) and Instagram, documenting both studio and outdoor work.

She is now preparing for exhibitions and expanding her online presence with the launch of her Etsy shop. Her goal is to continue growing as an artist, exploring large-scale formats, and sharing her vision with a wider audience.