We were lucky to catch up with Pepa Ivanoff recently and have shared our conversation below.

Pepa, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I think you need to understand what success truly looks and feels like for you, and then create a life that Is the most authentic expression of it. Curating a Life that is a Work of Art.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Pepa (@pepallama) and I am an Australian Artist.

I have been working professionally as a Digital and Analog Artist for 20 years, and I have painted 309 Murals in 8 countries. My work is on display in residential, commercial, and retail settings in: USA, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Aruba, Panama, and Peru.

I have chosen a life less ordinary in pursuit of my creative passion, and my artwork is both inspired by and a result of my nomadic surfer lifestyle. My art and my life is a constant and evolving exploration of travel, culture, nature, design, surfing, photography, tarot, color, textures, textiles, Taoism, and all things tropical.

My formal training in Graphic Design (specializing in Textile Prints) has influenced my art, and blending the traditional analog artistic techniques with computer-based digital design has been instrumental in developing my unique style.

I believe that artwork can completely transform a space, and I love creating pieces that compliment and uplift the environment they will be displayed in. My creative process includes careful consideration of factors such as architecture, light, colour, interior design, furniture/finishings and geographic location, to visually tell the story of my clients’ vision.

I would like to inspire others to follow their creative passion and curate a life that is a work of art. A life that is inspired, authentic and fulfilling. I believe that your creativity is the truest expression of who you are. And the more you know who you truly are, the more your life and your creativity will flow.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I created an Instagram account in 2013, and at the time the platform. was all about photos. As a visual artist who loves and respects photography, I wanted to look at, share and be inspired by, beautiful images from around the world. And although the platform has changed significantly in 10 years, my philosophy towards using it hasn’t. I still love photography, and I still want to look at, share and be inspired by beautiful images!

I am no social media expert, but I do create all my own content, and it has been my experience that patience, authenticity and consistency are key to growing any audience. My page has been a consistent stream of my authentic life experiences in art, traveling and surfing for the past 10 years. I have a small but engaged audience who are genuinely interested in me, my art and my lifestyle, and as such, Instagram has been instrumental in building my brand. A large percentage of my clients contact me through the platform.

I have also connected with so many talented creatives worldwide via Instagram. I have many Artist ‘friends’ all over the world on the platform who I have never met in real life, but feel like I know personally through our online messaging, sharing and supporting.

Despite the negativity that often surrounds it, I believe that social media can be a positive experience personally and professionally. It’s like everything else in life: you have the choice how you curate it. So if you choose curate a positive feed that is authentic and consistent, likeminded people will choose to connect with you. Your vibe attracts your tribe, as they say :)

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

365 Tao, written by Deng Ming Dao

It’s a book of daily meditations (one page for each day of the year) based on the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu

As somebody who is not religious but still believes in a spiritual practise, Taoism is a philosophy that most resonates with me. Taoism is a philosophical and spiritual tradition that originated in ancient China. It emphasizes living in harmony with the natural world and cultivating inner balance and peace. Taoism also emphasizes the importance of simplicity, humility, and detachment from material possessions and expectations. By letting go of attachments and expectations, one can cultivate a sense of inner peace and freedom.

I read a page from this little book every morning. It is a much loved part of my daily routine, and my personal copy has accompanied me on all my travels over the past 10+ years.

I was introduced to Taosim many years ago by way of the amazing @drwaynedyer and his book Change Your Thoughts, Change your Life. I highly recommend this book, and anything from Dr Dyers extensive collection of wisdom,

I have always been a nerd and I love to learn and to read, and if you’re interested in learning more about the Tao, I highly recommend these books from my personal library:

•365 Tao – Deng Ming Dao
•Tao Te Ching – Lao Tsu
•Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life – Dr Wayne Dyer
•The Tao of Health, S*x and Longevity – Daniel Reid
•The Tao of Pooh – Benjamin Hoff

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pepallama.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pepallama/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pepallama/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/iampepallama
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pepallama/

Image Credits
Elena de Luca @elenadelucastudio