“THE WORLD ALWAYS SEEMS BRIGHTER WHEN YOU’VE JUST MADE SOMETHING THAT WASN’T THERE BEFORE.”
Neil Gaiman
Rachel Elia
Illustrator & Printmaker
Rachel Elia is an accomplished Illustrator and Printmaker based in Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated from East Carolina University with a BFA, specializing in both Illustration and Printmaking. Her portfolio showcases a diverse range of work, including pieces created during her time at ECU, commissioned projects, and personal projects.
Learn about the artist
My style of work began through the influence of the art nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha. Specifically, his ability to combine natural imagery and geometric elements to create intriguing compositions full of movement and life that exudes a fantastical energy.
Stories about fantasy, love, and adventure have shaped my way of thinking and how I view the world through my emotions. Many of these fairytales have dark undertones and mysterious descriptive imagery. My artistic style involves the merging of symbols and shapes to produce unique imagery reminiscent of these fairytales; often times unsettling, but full of intrigue.
I’m drawn to using animals in a majority of my art because they are perceived differently from humans. Animals can be viewed without bias as they are not male or female, young or old, and can’t be attached to a specific person/personality. I utilize animals in my art to represent an emotion or a trait, making the animal a symbolic representation of human life and qualities as opposed to an exact depiction.
My intention for most of my work is to combine symbols to produce a visual puzzle that becomes clearer the more the viewer studies the imagery.I concentrate on creating natural imagery with geometric elements to create an intriguing composition full of movement and energy. I enjoy utilizing different artistic mediums and often combine multiple mediums into a piece to create a variety of textures.
Portfolio
Explore my Printmaking, Illustration, & Commission work below.
If you’re on mobile, swipe left and right to view gallery images.
printmaking
Paradox. 2019. Etching. 12”x12”
Paradox involves the greek mythological story of Laelaps, the dog who always caught what it was hunting, and the Teumessian fox, the fox that could never be caught, thus creating a paradox. In order to break the paradox Zeus casts both animals into the stars creating the constellations known as Canis Major and Canis Minor. In this piece I experimented with marbling on different plate layers to create a mystical effect.
illustration
Lord of the Flies. 2019. Wrap Around Book Sleeve. Scratchboard; Microns; Digital. 18”x7”
This project was an original take on the classic book Lord of the Flies. The illusion of a swarm of flies taking over the surface of the book is meant to hint at the impending death that lingers throughout the story.
Commissions
Portrait of Cerce. 2023. Digital painting. 12”x18”
Below is a Collection of Personal Projects
Many of these projects are being made into products that can be purchased on my Etsy page: LilArtsyRAE
Personal Projects
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Contact
Follow me on Instagram & Etsy!
Social
art.elia630@gmail.com @lilartsyracho LilArtsyRAE
Copyright © 2024 Rachel Elia - All Rights Reserved.
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