Amateur / Hobby Artist

​1975 - present

 

I was born in Hungary, in a small city. During my elementary school years my passion was dancing. I was a member of a Hungarian folk dance group for eight years.

In 1988 we moved to Budapest with my whole family. Budapest is the capital city of Hungary. I didn't dance anymore when we left my hometown because Budapest was huge, unfamiliar. I was a small pea in the big potato and the only thing what I knew were two bus stops between my new home and my new school.

Artistry runs in my family, my grandmother was an artist, and an art teacher. I have grown up with arts since my childhood. She taught me to paint, draw, doing batic, clay and many creative things. My childhood was so much fun.

My mother told me when she wanted to take a nap, she just gave my paper and watercolor and she could sleep for hours.

Initially I painted glass tealight holders as a Christmas present for my friends and family members. Later my colleagues asked me to paint glass vases, wine bottles, and other glass items.

When I moved to Canada, Kitchener (2013) and I was newcomer, I worked as a volunteer at Queen Street Commons Cafe for two years. I saw how well the marketplace for handmade items worked, which gave me the idea to include my paintings there for sale.

Later I created Elska Facebook page. Why Elska? It is another story. When I worked at the Hungarian Government, I changed my name to Laura Thé Elska...just in case you know :) I was kind of incognito. Elska means "love" in Icelandic language. I was in a love mood in two thousand something....and I googled the world "love" , Hungarian version is "szerelem" and I found Elska. It was love at first sight. So when I was my incognito term I knew I will use this name later in my life but I didn't know when and why. When I started to open to  the world with my creativity, I knew now this is the time to use Elska.

...and the rest is history. I am still a small pea in the big potato but when someone tells me "Oh I know you, You are Elska. I saw your works at the Cafe" I feel I am more than I have ever imagined back in Hungary. 

You change with the life and the life changes you.