Ellie Alasantra Goes Where the Spirit Takes Her

New Anderson Artists Guild member Ellie Alasantra learned to draw before she could talk or write, according to her parents. So they weren’t surprised when she announced that she was going to college to study art. However, she said, “they thought I wouldn’t make it beyond a semester.” But she proved them wrong, graduating from the Atlanta College of Art in the heart of Atlanta's culture hub.

After completing her BFA degree, Alasantra worked a series of art-related jobs in Atlanta. First was as a medical illustrator, taking photos and creating illustrations for medical journals. Then she was the head of the art department at a t-shirt company, where her responsibilities included design, screen printing, and color separations. She also worked for a small newspaper publishing company and a couple of graphic design studios.

She later had her own graphic design company, where she sold branding packages to small businesses, everything from logo design to websites to business cards. She also designed vehicle wraps as a method of advertising.

Then she left Atlanta for Portland, Oregon, where she was employed as a graphic web designer for Intel. After a move to Colorado Springs, Colorado, she worked for a marketing and illustration company, where her main accounts were the Ritz Carlton in Sarasota, Florida; Budweiser; and Coca-Cola. After another move—this time to Charleston, South Carolina—she started her current company, VibraSoul Art, which she continues to run after moving to Easley six months ago. “I like to move around and explore,” she said. “I’m a naturally curious soul. I pick up and move when it feels like it’s time.”

These days, she is focused on her mixed media artwork and how she can use it to help others heal. “I started meditating and seeing things, and I painted what I saw,” she said. She uses a variety of materials, from quartz crystals to volcanic sand to roots and bark. “I love texture and love that you can make something that turns into something different,” she said.

Alasantra offers classes that show people how to use her art for healing. “Sometimes people’s chakras are not moving enough,” she said. “I guide them through it. They get the energy flowing in their bodies and feel better about themselves. They heal from the inside out.”

She also offers paint and sip art classes with a twist.

For more information about Alasantra, visit https://www.elliealasantra.com/.