Elena Carmichael grew up outside Boston with her parents, older brother, younger sister, and three cats, all of whom were subjected to years of her homemade picture books. She went on to study animal behavior at Rice University, where she earned a BS in Biology and continued making art in between training parrots, analyzing dog behavior, and staring at fruit flies for longer than anyone should have to stare at fruit flies.
Now based in Brooklyn, Elena still stares at animals all day, only now they’re her illustrations of winged kittens, mischievous dragons, or loyal hippocampi. She loves dreaming up fantastical settings and uses color, light, and shadow to create depth and mystery, tucking in hidden details so there’s always more to see. She blends the organic texture of watercolor with digital techniques and is always exploring new mediums and textures she can bring into her work. When she’s not hunched over her desk, Elena can be found exploring the city, rock climbing, or waiting in rush lines to snag discounted Broadway tickets.
