Elsa Basil

2 September 2009

By Cristiana Berrios, Photography by Ernesto Hellmund
Warm guitar chords, introspective lyrics and vibrant brushstrokes make Elsa Basil the artist she is, genuine, real and able to connect with her audience. Born into an artistic family, she learned to express herself at an early age and has used the years to develop her distinct style that is so evident today.

“My father was a painter, he studied in Bellas Artes in Argentina so I grew up immersed in art, theater, poetry and music,” she says. “(I’m) really dedicated to this.”

Elsa’s first album, Crónica, was released in 2006. Each of the twelve songs it contains are written with the honesty, spontaneity and charisma that distinguish her. Filled with real stories and laden with feelings, the album was a success. ?Staying true to her roots has paid off for Elsa, not only here in Nicaragua but she is popular in Costa Rica as well.

With the success of Crónica behind her, Elsa is preparing a new album to be released during 2009. It is currently being arranged in Costa Rica, and songs from the album, such as ‘Rosa Dolores’ can already be heard at her concerts. In addition to being one of the country’s favorite singer-songwriters, Elsa discovered in 2005 that she also had quite a skill for painting.

“When my father passed away I felt the necessity to remember him through painting. I stood in front of the canvas and made something really abstract,” she recalls.

Realizing after that initial experience that she had something, Elsa started reading about and discovering different painting techniques. She remembers clearly her beginnings when she painted fruits, flowers and basically any object she had in front of her. Eventually she found techniques that worked for her and developed her own style, but still she enjoys experimenting with a variety of materials. Acrylic is a favorite medium for Elsa, mainly because of the vivacity and contrast of the colors.

The walls of her house are filled with many of her father’s paintings, but just a few of her own. Some of her early ones have been sold or gifted, but she continues working to bring the level of her painting up to that of her music, perhaps then more of her works will take their rightful place next to those of her father.