Life & Work with Elly Karipides

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elly Karipides.

Hi Elly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today. 
Growing up in the 80s, I found cartoons and comics to be a big deal. Watching probably way too many movies and shows, animation, and storybook-style art ultimately influenced my passion for whimsical, dream-like, and narrative illustration. I was always drawing and doodling and then studied art and graphic design in college. After many years of procrastinating, I eventually was able to officially call myself an illustrator, drawing cute animals and geeky pop culture. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’m actually late into the art game. After college in the early 2000s, there was a boom in art and design. EVERYONE wanted to get into it, and I soon realized that I was one in hundreds to compete for art related jobs, and I definitely wasn’t one to push or step on heads to climb ladders. Unfortunately, I put art aside at that point and began working in corporate jobs just to earn a steady paycheck. 

After a decade in that world, I had the opportunity to switch career gears and ventured my hand into education, teaching preschool and middle school electives, as well as administration. It was when I started working with kids and teaching them the art process that it started to rekindle my personal aspirations for my own art. After a decade, I left the education world and was finally able to jump into drawing full-time. 

It’s still a slow process, and other than drawing my own work, I wait for random projects to come up now and then. I’ve been working on some illustration work for the sci-fi animated movie Isla Monster by Steven Shea, coming out soon. I also illustrated the children’s book Panda’s Halloween Night by Adam Knight. It’s great finding new opportunities in the art world. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a collector of so many traditional mediums. I love trying new techniques and processes. From screen printing to model casting to watercolor, I love trying it all. However, I’d say that the main artistic medium that I truly enjoy is traditional pen and marker, as well as drawing digitally (Procreate). Animals are a big subject matter of mine, but over the last couple years I’ve been drawing more and more cats. Having two cats of my own, they’ve been incorporated into so many of my pieces that I think I’m now known as the “Cat Artist”, which I’m totally ok with. I’ve incorporated my geeky pop culture love and mashed them with cats. Kitty Avengers is one of my more popular prints. I do a lot of comic conventions and I’ve recently started providing custom kitty sketches done right there at the table. That’s been a big hit! 

What was your favorite childhood memory?
I can remember visiting the Griffith Observatory for the first time when I was about six or so. It was completely eye-opening to see life outside our little planet. That was my first memory of becoming passionate about space, which then eventually got me into watching Star Trek and other sci-fi shows and movies. Being a geek growing up in the 80’s was magical. There were so many great whimsical and fantastical stories being told. I think that’s why I keep so much of that geek culture in my art today. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ellykaripides.com
• Instagram: @ellyskyart