THE ART OF PORTRAITURE

naturalistic portraits - created entirely by hand

HELLO and THANK YOU, for your interest in my WORK.

I am a full-time portraitist since 2017, working for clients in Europe and the USA.

In my works, I am aiming to reveal a precious moment of stillness, showing the model resting in itself. My portraits are meant to honour, respect and represent the profound personal bond and emotional value of the beloved family member, partner or pet.

THE FEEDBACKS, I receive from my clients are revealing what my portraits cause to arise: A sense of belonging, being deeply moved and a knowing, that the portraits will be cherished for generations.

I am very grateful for the immense beautiful opportunity, to combine my affection for art with being of service to others.

I would love to welcome you as a client.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you feel inspired by my work.

Sincerely yours,

ELKE MACKUS

WHAT MY CLIENTS SAY…..

The author Danielle Steel, on her Instagram account, May 14th 2022:

…I recently commissioned these wonderful portraits of Minnie, Blue and Lili by the incredibly talented German artist Elke Mackus. The portraits were a gift to myself, and well worth it. I LOVE them, they are not only beautiful likenesses, but she captured the spirit and personality of each dog.

Each of them stand out in these gorgeous portraits. I've had three portraits done for a close friend, and last Christmas, I had portraits done for my children. Elke is as talented with people as she is with dogs. She has done 19 portraits for me now, one more beautiful than the next. I've never had a single disappointment with her, on the contrary, she stuns me each time with her beautiful work and incredible talent and insight. Our association and mutual admiration grew from there as I asked her to do one portrait after another, and each one is more exciting than the last. Her portraits are the embodiments of joy and beauty, and I LOVE Minnie, Lili and Blue's portraits. I smile every time I look at them and they warm my heart!!!

ELKE, this took my breath away. You portrayed her spirit and personhood in color, composition, and light so breathtakingly beautifully and it is just so her!! You have made my day/week/month. I am beyond thrilled.

Thank you so, so much, Elke. Entrusting you with her portrait was such an easy decision because I knew you would “see” her. You have such a gift.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. So much gratitude, Annie

28th of February 2021, Ohio, ANNIE SPRADLEY

DEAR ELKE, This is MAGICAL. Truly. I am so touched by every little detail, thought, pastel stroke, and feeling of connection that you brought to life in this portrait. You have captured my mother. She will now be with me forever. THANK YOU.

Much love, India

23rd of March 2019, Cotswolds, INDIA HICKS

Dear Elke,
I saw the painting yesterday, and all day I’ve been trying to come up with the right words to express my sentiment about your magnificent work. As I was viewing the video, I had a whirlwind of emotions, we teared up with so many feelings. This painting means much more then a portrait for us, you captured the essence of Bela and Luciano in an exquisite way. It depicts her personality so well; your work is beyond words. The picture being taken in Paris, you working in Germany in such times, and then adding us to the painting, was an amazing surprise for us and for Bela.

Thank you Elke, we hope to see you soon!
Love, Natasha

14th of July 2020, La Jolla, NATASHA KATZ

Dear Elke, I am elated by the brilliant work you've done. I am speechless. You’ve captured my daughter and ‘Maltese son’ in an impeccable and timeless work of art. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We can’t wait for its’ arrival.I hope we can see you very soon in Paris again! 

Sincerely, Reuben

14th of July 2020, La Jolla, REUBEN KATZ

ELKE, I love it so much!  It is incredibly beautiful. You have done it again! More beautiful than I could ever imagine. Truly stunning. I’m so happy. I definitely don’t want to change one thing about it. It’s perfect. Leigh

1st of July 2020, Monroe, LEIGH LILES 

DEAR ELKE, I received my portraits. Upon opening my package, I found myself speechless.  I had the same reaction as I did when you sent the finished portraits via email.....tears came to my eyes.  They are absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! I love that you are able to capture the drool on baby George's fat lower lip. :)  You are truly an artist and incredibly talented.  I found myself just staring in awe.  Their portraits are moving and I cannot wait to see them framed.  It was well worth the wait.  I thank you for your time and efforts.  It was truly an honor to have met you. Thank you.  Thank you. 

Sincerely, Charlotte

16th of October 2020, Monroe, CHARLOTTE SHAW

Dear Elke, today I did receive your portrait.  And I am so in love with it!  I put it on my dining room mantle, along with your beautiful note, and stared at them all night long.  My husband was blown away.  (I left it a surprise for him…he didn’t know I had you do it at all). The artistry, especially in the eyes.  I am blown away by your talent.

Thank you so much, Sincerely, Margaret

14th of August 2020, Monroe, MARGARET PRUITT

ELKE, I am home, and just had the pleasure of opening the portraits. A moment I will never forget! The boys kept saying, “That’s me! That’s me!” And indeed, it really was them! You captured them so amazingly, and it’s as though they are both frozen in time and yet so alive on the paper! 
I absolutely love your letters about the boys and the Italian school! I am so very inspired! You are amazing! I feel honoured our paths have crossed, and I hope they do again!
Love, Lindsay

9th of February 2020, Atlanta, LINDSAY SPEROS

Elke, 

My portraits have ARRIVED!!
And opening them today was the most exciting experience I had in a very very LONG time! Thank you so much for sharing your incredible talent with me. I am in absolute awe of these works and they will be treasured for a lifetime and more! I’m so excited. My daughter absolutely loves her portrait, too. My nanny was at home with me when we opened the box and both of us just felt so moved by the beauty of the portraits. I will send a picture of them hanging when I get them framed!

Much love and gratitude, Nikki

14th of April 2019, Oregon, NIKKI COLQUITT

OH ELKE !

These are stunning! I opened my parcel and they took my breath away! I can’t believe how talented you are and how you’re able to capture the spirit and personality so exactly! This is the treasure of a lifetime to see our baby boy rendered with such love and beauty!! I can’t express my awe and gratitude enough. I will be staring at these for hours and days and years to come.
Thank you thank you thank you and all the love,
Annie

2nd of September 2018, Dallas, ANNIE SPRADLEY

Elke, After having the painting for the weekend I can't seem to part with it. Please email me the invoice... 

Thank you, Effy

10th of December 2018, NYC, EFFY BARMOSHE

WHAT IS A GOOD PORTRAIT?

One could say,

it is the ability to bring out the beauty of a beloved person in such a way, that it immediately evokes feelings of familiarity, warmth and belonging. It is interesting and alive and brings forth a sense of the personality and uniqueness of a person.

Furthermore, it is personalised. A skillfully created portrait allows for experiencing the presence of a beloved person and art at the same time.

Creating a successful portrait, for - and together with - a client, is challenging. It requires a thoughtful, attentive concentration and takes into account the clients' life experience, aesthetical and intellectual needs and sense of beauty. For this reason, it is vital to meet. A personal experience and authentic impression is essential for creating a meaningful portrait, that can be treasured for generations.

In the portrait, I strive to reveal a precious moment of stillness, depicting a person attentive, yet resting in itself. It is related to my love for Gothic sculpture and its mindful, inward-looking gaze. I am drawn to the idea that the moment, in which my model is meeting me in this state of balance between attention and inner calm, allows me to receive and portray something that will remain. Something alive, a uniqueness, and a glimpse of the eternal core.

EM, NOV 2020

ABOUT ME

I always had two dreams in my life: Creating with my hands and working in nature with horses.

My journey started with being a passionated cabinetmaker. I learned my crafts from the ground, building unique furniture from massive wood
by using traditional craftsmanship techniques, that are on the brink of extinction today.

Then I fell in love with the tremendous skills of cabinetmakers of former centuries. I started restoring antique furniture which led to a second career at University with MA's in wood conservation and art history. I got hired by large German Auction houses, to evaluate and acquire Medieval and Antique furniture. And, following a call of the German Department for Cultural Heritage, examined and documented hundreds of Gothic Choir Stalls in innumerable German cathedrals, churches and chapels.

2012 brought a change. The “Camino de Santiago”
cast a spell on me and I went. Not knowing the Spanish language or what I was looking for on this way I walked the whole 790 km pilgrimage and ended up as another person. Still in Spain, and, out of the blue, I received a job offer from an exquisite Art and Antique Gallery in Granada – and stayed. A few weeks later I got asked by a nearby professional distance horseback rider to help her train
her horses and now had both of my passions combined. I stayed for several years. The Spanish culture, so different from the German, made a lasting impression on me and changed me from within. A deep longing emerged to express myself differently. It no longer seemed enough to solely work with my hands – I wanted to create. Artistically. And I took it seriously. From the beginning my interest was in the portrait. I learned about it from other artists, art books, by devotedly copying the Old Masters in situ and finally fulfilled myself another life dream in participating in the world renowned classical training at the Florence Academy of Art for several months in 2016 and 2017. I began creating my own portraits and sculptures and, still not knowing that my art could be relevant to others, I received my first portrait commission in NYC, while copying Diego Velázquez' “Juan de Pareja” in the MET. From there the next journey started.

Today I am living in a little village in the South of Germany, near the Black Forest where I am working on portrait commissions on a daily basis.

I am still blown away by the fact that my art is now continuously being sold to customers in the USA and all over Europe. So far, my life has been enriched enormously by the travels and personal encounters I have been blessed with, and it feels, as if this is just the beginning.

EM FEB 2021