Meet artist & traveler Pepä Ivanoff

Tell us about yourself

I’m an Australian Artist, Surfer, and Traveler based in Central America. I have chosen a life less ordinary in pursuit of my creative passion. My Art and my Life is a constant and evolving exploration of travel, culture, nature, design, surfing, horses, photography, tarot, color, textures, textiles, Taoism, and all things tropical. To date, I have painted over 200 Murals and countless pieces of custom artwork that are on display in residential, commercial and retail settings in: California, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Peru.

her waves surf artist interview

What inspires the art that you create?

My artwork is both inspired by, and a result of, my nomadic surfer lifestyle. I’m inspired by my travels, tropical vibes (especially plants!), colours, patterns and geometric shapes. I also love fonts and typography. I’m formally trained as a Graphic Designer, and my specialty was textile/print design, and I think my art reflects this, and vice-versa.

surf artists pepallama her waves interview

What advice do you have for other artists looking 

Be authentic! Develop your own style and don’t be afraid to take risks and experiment with new ideas, mediums and materials. Life and Art is a constant process of change and evolution! 

surf artists pepallama her waves interview

When did you start surfing?

I started late! I was 19

surfer girl photo her waves

Longboard or shortboard? 

Both! And everything in between! I longboard 99% of the time but I still love to ride my shortboards/fishes every once in a while. I encourage everyone to have an open mind when it comes to boards. 

Dawn patrol or sunset surf?

Dawn Patrol! I am a morning person and I love to start my day in the ocean. I also have a pretty bad pterigyum in my right eye, so I try to avoid the sun after midday. Sunset sessions can be magical, but my eyes do not approve!

Where is your favorite surf break (could be somewhere local to you or somewhere you surfed during a trip)? 

At home in Playa Negra

surfer girl photo her waves

Your favorite quote to live by?

You can’t always get what you want

Current obsession?

Bitchin’ Chipotle Sauce! OMG I put it on everything!

Guilty pleasure?

Pedicures with the massage chair and glossy neon pink polish!

Follow Pepä Ivanoffhttps://www.instagram.com/pepallama/

her waves interview surf artists

 

Pepä Ivanoff black lives matter art

I’m inspired by the water, the sun, the moon, and the stars. My countless wipeouts, my dreams of noseriding, and the feeling I get when sliding across the face of a wave.

Meg Jacovino