Welcome to my happy place. Immerse yourself in the world I created of color and beauty. My art studio is a place always alive with creative inspiration and new projects. You will find pieces that touch your heart and add some whimsy and softness to your space.

I’m a Canadian oil and mixed media fine artist, based in Ottawa, Ontario. My work explores delicate feminine beauty, restfulness, romance and intimacy with nature.

I have been in love with everything creative since I was very young. My parents always encouraged artistic creative projects. My favorite memories growing up were all filled with art and playfulness. I used to paint on glass, sketch and design dresses, burn designs on wood panels, play with charcoal, gauche and cut stencils. In high school and university years, I lost touch with this part of myself and was always studying, all work, no play. This affected me deeply. But a few years after I started a family, art found its way back into my life and I am so grateful.

In 2014, I started designing silver and gemstone jewelry. I was fascinated by all the colors and patterns in natural rocks and all the possibilities in design. This experience taught me so much about myself and I loved working with my hands. But in 2018, I started painting again and it filled my life with so much joy. I felt like I finally found myself again. I studied and experimented with various fun mixed media techniques. Then, I started oil painting when I joined Milan Art Institute and studied the amazing Mastery Program for professional artists.

Hi, I’m Elaf Selim!

Elaf Selim, fine artist and painter of figurative romantic oil paintings. Next to her, a colorful painting of a woman with closed eyes, surrounded by butterflies and flowers.

Through oil paint and mixed media, I create romantic and whimsical compositions that focus on serenity and oneness. My art celebrates feminine elegance intertwined with flowers, birds, cats, insects in abstracted natural settings. Every brushstroke aims to capture a sense of peace and intimacy, exploring themes of beauty, softness, harmony and savoring life's gentle moments. In my expressive designs, I love using rich colors and varying textures, fluid mediums and organic botanical patterns.

I hope you find in my art studio some pieces that touch your heart and bring you joy; precious paintings that you can add to your art collection to enjoy seeing them and touching them everyday. There is something magical about owning paintings that resonate with you on a deeper level.

My art studio offers original oil and mixed media paintings, custom commissions, as well as fine art print releases and gifts. This website is always evolving and I frequently publish new artwork.

If you would like to follow my art journey and get early access to my new originals, sign up for the studio email list. I don’t send many emails but I love to favor my subscribers with some sneak peaks, background stories and studio updates every now and then. Also follow me on Instagram and drop me a note to say hi :)

Love,

Elaf Selim artist signature in an elegant purple color.

Modern interior living room with a gray textured wall, wooden door, and a black sideboard with potted plants, books, and decorative objects, above which hangs a colorful watercolor painting of a woman with butterflies.

A stack of watercolor portraits of a woman with dark, wavy hair, wearing earrings and layered necklaces, featuring vibrant background colors.

About Elaf Selim

Hi, I’m Elaf Selim!