Illustrator & Printmaker

Rachel Elia is an illustrator and printmaker based in Raleigh, North Carolina. She graduated from East Carolina University with a BFA concentrating in both Illustration and Printmaking. Presented is the work that she has completed over the years; including work completed while at ECU, commissioned work, and personal projects.

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.