Meet Pepa Ivanoff | Analog + Digital Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pepa Ivanoff and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pepa, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I chose a life less ordinary in pursuit of my creative passion, because it is the most authentic expression of who I am, and the lifestyle I want to live.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My name is Pepa, and I am an Australian Artist, Surfer, and Traveler (25 countries and counting!) I have over 20 years of international experience creating digital and analog art, and have painted 309 murals in 8 countries.

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

Painting 309 Murals was a personal milestone for me, and I recently painted Mural #300 whilst on location in Bocas del Toro, Panama, I am excited to continue this journey of traveling, surfing and painting around the world. My next destination is the Azores, Portugal, which has been at the top of my destinations list for some time.

Professionaly, I wasn’t always working a as nomadic artist. After graduating from the Queensland Institute of Graphic Art in Australia in 1999, I spent many years working in very ‘traditional’ and ‘corporate’ office settings. I cannot imagine going back to that lifestyle now, but at the time those were very formative years of my life and career. These experiences and my formal training in Graphic Design influenced my art, and blending traditional analog artistic techniques with computer-based digital design has been instrumental in developing my unique style.

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 places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Leucadia has been a home base of mine since I moved there from Australia in 2004, so I always tell friends who visit San Diego to spend time there (and North County in general)

I suggest riding a bike along Neptune (you can see the surf at Grandview and Beacons) and along the 101. It’s a great way to see all the funkiness that Leucadia has to offer and there’s a lot of great local businesses to stop at along the way.

For food, there’s so many good options, but some of my favs include:
-donuts at Tom’s (Leucadia)
-poke bowl at Fish 101 (Leucadia)
-burrito at Juanitas (Encinitas)
-anything from Cardiff Market (Cardiff)
-sandwiches from Board + Brew (OSide)

I also love the relaxing vibe and enjoying the views at the Self Realization Fellowship. For surf checks Swami’s and the ride from there to Cardiff is pretty epic. If you like live music see what’s happening at the Belly Up (Solana Beach)

In Encinitas you can see my murals at Station Salon, Surfhouse Boutique Hotel (Leucadia) and Ashland Hard Seltzer (Cardiff)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This book: 365 Tao, written by Deng Ming Dao

I read a page from this book every morning as part of my routine, and it provides a daily mediation based on the Tao Te Ching by Lau Tau. This little book has accompanied me on all of my travels for the past 10+ years and as someone who is not religious, but still believes in the importance of a spiritual practice, Taosim is the philosophy that most resonates with me.

I am grateful to Dr. Wayne Dyer for introducing me to the Tao by way of his book, Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life.

I am also grateful to everyone – my friends, chosen family, colleagues, clients – that has supported me and my creativity over the years. I would not be who or where I am today without your belief in me.

Website: www.pepallama.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/pepallama

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/pepallama

Twitter: www.twitter.com/iampepallama

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/pepallama/

Image Credits
Please let me know which photos you use and I will tell you the photographer!