Life & Work with Elena of Los Angeles / OC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena.

Hi Elena, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started making dolls out of textiles when I was a child and now I still do, but they are much bigger and more intricate and we call them soft sculpture. There have been many scrappy adventures and relationships with incredible humans along the way that have shaped my path and led to opportunities a farm kid would never imagine possible.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t describe it as smooth… but the obstacles and restrictions along the way are what have made me resourceful and more creative and refined in my craft. A lack of financial resources pushed me to find playful ways to make money- whether it was by selling small pieces at a craft fair or online or creating interactive events i could hold out of my home… after lots of work, dedication and connecting to supportive and like minded people, led to showing in galleries, museums and other venues and collaborating with artists, brands and venues I admire. . I found ways of using inexpensive supplies and creating value through my time and the energy and intention of hand making my art. The restriction of not having much space to work led to me working with materials that I could fit into small spaces while I was working and then expand them by stuffing them and was also helpful when traveling. Then of course, there are the self induced struggles of believing in yourself enough to continue along a path that seems to be sometimes like a fever dream of absurdity. The continuous existential questioning of an artist is not for the faint of heart, but is also extremely rewarding when a breakthrough comes in surprising forms. For me, its helpful to think of myself more as a vessel for creative energy than to take full responsibility for what comes out- this helps getting out of the way and becoming too heady or comparative, which can be a real creativity killer. I have learned over the years to remember things are very cyclical… sometimes there are many opportunities and movement and its time to hustle and sometimes it feels like nothing will ever happen again… and this is a good time to rest and tend other areas of your life.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have a multi-armed art and design practice. I am primarily known for my work with textiles in the form of soft sculpture and installation, My work comes in a variet of scales but all requires lots of intricate hand embellishment- beading and embroidery. I create lush worlds of large soft flowers and figures.. some human and some more mythical, bridging the earth and celestial, physical and esoteric. I have an ongoing event called Artist as Muse which is a surrealist life drawing sessions where painted models are intermixed with my sculptural vignettes and accompanied by soundscape or live music, I also depict these worlds in the 2D through painting, drawing and stop motion animation. I am interested in creating moments of bringing magic into the everyday world, and am currently working towards releasing a line of artisan made homewares and furniture.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
For me, finding people and things that I naturally gravitate to has guided me to the people that I genuinely resonate with. Show up for in person gatherings or shows of things that speak to you our excite you. It’s good to stay open to things you might not generally like, but if I don’t feel something or someone I don’t try to force it because I feel like I “should.” Be aware of the feeling of not connecting vs fear of rejection though.. sometimes it’s good to push yourself to connect if you want to instead of shying away because you’re nervous. I can be very shy sometimes which has prevented me from approaching people. One of the remaining beauties of online life is that you can reach out so easily to people you admire and give them a compliment or respectfully ask them a question (without expecting something from them- you never know where people are really at in their lives)- but there’s always a chance for connection…. sometimes it’s nice to have this buffer sometimes. Stay curious, stay open, listen to people and ask questions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.elenastonaker.com
• Instagram: @elenastonaker

Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Mara Hoffman, Jesse Hunniford (MONA), Printemps NYC, Margo Ducharme