Behind the Frame: An Interview with Simone Elum
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Time to read 4 min
Exploring Self-Love Through Expressive Figurative Art
For this edition of Behind the Frame, we sit down with contemporary artist Simone Elum for an intimate artist interview exploring love in all its forms. Known for her expressive figurative wall art and fashion-inspired silhouettes, Simone’s work feels especially fitting as we head into a month dedicated to connection, emotion, and presence.
February often asks us to define love in narrow terms — romantic, outward, performative — but Simone Elum’s art invites a quieter interpretation. Through flowing forms, bold color, and emotionally rich compositions, her work explores love as presence, self-trust, and personal expression. Each figure feels grounded in identity, reminding us that the most enduring form of love begins within — and that the art we choose to live with can deepen the emotional resonance of our spaces.
Simone Elum | Pink Contemporary Girl Floating Framed Canvas in Black (Front View)
Simone Elum | Pink Contemporary Girl Floating Framed Canvas in Black (Side View)
“These figures don’t perform love — they embody it, expressing confidence, softness, and self-trust through color, movement, and form.”
How do you structure your day?
I try to spend the first half of the day journaling, collecting inspiration and preparing my workspace. Then, I do administrative tasks and light chores before dedicating a few hours to sketching or painting. I do research and content creation at night. Most days don’t go as planned, so sometimes, there isn’t much of a structure, and I just go with the flow.
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m experimenting with using more color in my work. I’m also creating some abstract pieces that I can incorporate my portraits and figurative work into.
How do you approach creative roadblocks?
I do things to relax and find inspiration, like going to the park, visiting a museum, trying a new medium or new technique and taking a social media break to do some self-reflection.
Simon Elum | Abstract Woman Illustration Black Framed Gicleé Print (Front View)
Simon Elum | Abstract Woman Illustration Black Framed Gicleé Print (Side View)
How does your background or environment influence your art?
Growing up, my mother used to design and sew her own clothes, so from a young age I was drawn to the fashion illustrations in her sewing pattern books and to high-fashion photography in the magazines she collected. Working in the Fashion industry for over 20 years has influenced my work in so many ways. From the elegant, stylish figures, to the fluidity of movement that mimics the flow of fabric, to the intentional use of color contrasts, or the fashion editorial-inspired composition of a painting.
Has your relationship with your own creativity changed over time, and how has that shaped your work?
When I first started, I wanted my work to be more polished and controlled. Discovering Indian inks and their fluidity allowed me to loosen up and trust the creative process. My work is much more intuitive and expressive now.
Simone Elum | Abstract Girl on Red Floating Framed Canvas in Black (Front View)
Simone Elum | Abstract Girl on Red Floating Framed Canvas in Black (Side View)
"Sometimes, the most beautiful pieces evolve when I let go of my expectations."
Your work feels confidence yet introspective. How do you think about self-love or self-trust when creating?
Self-love in my process looks like not being hard on myself for the mistakes I make during the creative process. Self-trust looks like letting the ink and watercolors do what they want to without trying to control them too much. Sometimes the most beautiful pieces evolve when I let go of my expectations.
Do you see your figures as expressions of identity, emotion, or something more abstract?
My figures are both an expression of the female identity and her emotions. They are bold and self-assured but also delicate and sensitive.
Simone Elum | Girl in Pink Jacket Black Framed Gicleé Print (Front View)
Simone Elum | Girl in Pink Jacket Black Framed Gicleé Print (Side View)
“Each silhouette feels like a personal language — a way of saying ‘this is who I am’ without explanation.”
How do you use color to communicate softness, strength, or vulnerability in your pieces? Pink and red appear frequently in your work. What draws you to these colors, and what do they represent for you emotionally?
I use colors that are bold and vibrant to convey strength and muted, warm and calming colors to express softness and vulnerability. Pink is the embodiment of femininity, elegance, softness and sensitivity. Red represents boldness, confidence and strength.
What do you hope someone feels or takes away when they live with your artwork in their space?
I hope they experience peace, freedom, and self-acceptance. I hope each piece brings elegance, nostalgia, and glamour to any space.
As we move through February, Simone Elum’s work offers a refreshing perspective on love — one rooted in self-expression, confidence, and emotional presence. Through expressive color, fluid form, and figures that feel grounded and unapologetically themselves, her art invites us to celebrate love in its many forms, starting from within. Whether displayed as a statement piece or woven thoughtfully into a gallery wall, these works serve as gentle reminders that love doesn’t have to be loud or performative to be meaningful.
Thank you, Simone, for sharing a bit of your creative journey and for encouraging us to embrace softness, strength, and authenticity — not just this Valentine’s season, but every day.
Shop the Simone Elum collection
Simone Elum is a contemporary artist who channels her love of fashion, faith, nostalgia, and music into her delicate female portraits and figurative art. Since her discovery of Indian Inks, she has grown to love the vibrancy, spontaneity, and subtlety that can be obtained with this medium. Simone's work depicts elegant women lost in moments of quiet introspection. She uses layers of transparent washes of monochromatic ink or watercolor with occasional accents of vibrant color when creating a piece.
Before pursuing Art, she studied Fashion Design and worked as a Technical Designer and Illustrator for many years. Simone is originally from the twin isles of Trinidad and Tobago and currently resides in Atlanta, GA. When she is not creating art, she enjoys reading a good novel with a cup of tea, playing the guitar, or watching period films.
