Today we’d like to introduce you to Agnieszka Elliott.

Hi Agnieszka, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
One of my greatest passions in life is wildlife and nature preservation. I was born in Krakow, Poland, where I worked for my father as a graphic designer. Although I did some sketching, it wasn’t very significant at the time. Later, I moved to the US and spent nearly a decade working as a Marketing Coordinator. During that period, I discovered some enjoyable art classes and learned watercolor painting. This sparked a long journey that has led me to where I am today. I consider myself to be a self-taught wildlife artist. I used YouTube to learn various techniques, immersed myself in art books, attended a few workshops, sought feedback from artists I admired, and learned much through trial and error.

Initially, I painted for enjoyment, creating small pieces and giving them to friends. A pivotal moment for me was when I created ‘Advocate for Equilibrium,’ a painting based on the story of Yellowstone Wolf 8, with the purpose of raising funds for the reintroduction of wolves to Colorado. After donating all proceeds from the painting’s sale, I realized that art has the power to provide a platform for inspiring, educating, and supporting nature.

In my work, I strive to cultivate a connection between the viewer and nature while also raising awareness about the environmental issues that we all face.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As artists, we face numerous struggles daily. I work from home and sometimes struggle to balance work and family. One of the biggest challenges for me has been dealing with imposter syndrome. I have found myself constantly experiencing self-doubt, worrying about what people will think of my work, and comparing my work to others, believing that it will never be good enough. This is followed by unrealistic expectations and the constant pursuit of perfection, resulting in burnout.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work as a wildlife artist centers on portraying animals in their natural habitat or creating portraits of specific animals with a story behind them. I also give back by donating to conservation organizations. Last year, as a Signature Member of Artists for Conservation, I supported the Herder Snow Leopard Coexistence Project in Nepal through the sale of one of my paintings.

I am proud of never giving up, creating paintings that raised money for many conservation causes, and being part of a live exhibit in Vancouver, BC for the third year in a row.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I believe that taking positive risks can help in building confidence, developing new skills, learning from mistakes, and seizing missed opportunities.

Creativity thrives on originality and innovation, which involve stepping beyond comfort zones. Both personally and professionally, taking creative risks drives progress and can lead to significant breakthroughs. Risk-taking enables growth, promotes creativity, and opens up new opportunities. It requires shifting motivation from avoiding failure to achieving goals. Failure doesn’t define you and is part of the path to success. Without taking risks and pushing boundaries, art would remain stagnant, and the creative spirit would be wasted on our own fears.

Pricing:

• $200 – $5000

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.papillonfineart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papillonfineart/

Image Credits
Edwin Butter (for Jambo, the gorilla) Scott Grasso Photography (for walking wolf) Wendy Hodgkins Corniquet (for lion head) Tom McPherson with Sea for the Expeditions (for wolf on the beach) Cheryl Alexander (for the wolf portrait)