Ellie Pritts: AI, Inner Metrics & Infallible Work Ethic
"I create art because it’s the only thing I feel compelled and excited to do every single day. I create art because I believe that it’s my purpose on earth to do so."
Hi! Welcome to another edition of Behind The Keys!
This time is Ellie’s turn. But I wanted to use the occasion to ask:
How are you finding Behind The Keys?
Are you liking it?
What would you change?
I honestly would love to hear your feedback on how to improve the interviews or the format. Any feedback helps.
As always, thank you for reading! Means a lot. Hope you enjoy this one!
Dalos
WhoTF is Ellie Pritts?
Ellie Pritts (she/they) is a renowned transmedia artist whose work explores reinterpreted nostalgia via recursive analog and digital processes.
Ellie is widely recognized in the world of Web3 and AI art, their work in the sector having been featured in Fortune, Decrypt, Smithsonian Magazine and more.
Their exhibitions have been presented by companies like Open.AI, SuperRare, Coinbase and Ledger. They are a visionary creative leader with 10+ years of experience working with some of the biggest clients in the world; brands like Apple, Levi's and Hyatt.
Behind the Keys: Ellie Pritts
What is something you wish someone had told you before becoming an artist?
I wish that someone had simply encouraged me to follow my dream earlier. I knew I was destined to be an artist from a very young age, but was discouraged to pursue it seriously because I was “too young” to know what I wanted, and that I’d be closing doors for myself if I focused on it too much.
What does your creating process look like?
ADD-driven methodical madness, lots of rabbit holes, lots of following whatever my heart wants to do. I approach everything I do from a place of curiosity and experimentation.
I move on quickly and enjoy learning and unlearning things. My process is usually very recursive, with lots of moving between mediums, hardware, and software. Anything unexpected is what I’m searching for.
Who are 2-3 artists you admire or respect that you think deserve (even) more recognition?
If I had to choose three, it would be Edgar Fabián Frías, Estelle Flores, and mostwrongking.
What activity do you fall into when you are trying to enhance your creativity?
Meditation and mind-clearing in general. Just giving myself and my thoughts room to breathe.
What do you benefit the most when working with NFTs and the blockchain?
Community and all the support and opportunities that come with it have been the biggest benefits to me. Having platforms to share and monetize my digital art, countless amazing exhibitions around the world, new art friends, and the opportunity to invest in art myself.
What is one thing you think artists should focus more on, and why?
I think we could all benefit from focusing more on our own art, our own practice, and our own inner guidance. Focus less on what everyone else is doing, focus less on whatever discourse is trending on social media, and try to keep your mind as open and receptive as possible to inspiration. Everything else is just noise.
gateway to cosmic touch by Ellie Pritts
What’s the hardest part of being an artist?
Extended periods of having to believe in yourself and your vision when no one else does, and lack of financial stability have been the hardest things for me personally.
What skill should anyone harvest early in their career that will pay off massively for years?
Patience and determination, self-discipline.
If self-confidence were a skill that would be the most important of all, I think.
Why do you create art?
I create art because it’s the only thing I feel compelled and excited to do every single day. I create art because I believe that it’s my purpose on earth to do so.
What’s a book or an article that has greatly influenced your life?
I’ve greatly enjoyed books but I don’t think any have greatly influenced my life or art. As an artist, I have been most influenced by the films of David Lynch and Alejandro Jodorowsky.
What habit or practice has changed your life the most?
Meditation. I completed a 10-day silent meditation retreat that changed my life. It’s now a (mostly) daily practice for me.
What does success look like to you?
Success to me is complete and total freedom, a world full of open doors and open arms.
⊱✿⊰ infinity fleur ⊱✿⊰ by Ellie Pritts
What are you willing to struggle for?
I’m willing to struggle to see my dreams come true, and I often do.
If you could ask yourself one question every day to set yourself up for success, which one would it be?
“What would you rather be doing?”
The projects that are born out of me avoiding some other obligation, perceived or actual, are usually the most successful and fulfilling for me in the end.
What is one strong opinion you have?
I strongly believe that everyone benefits from art and creation being as accessible as possible.
Which of your past experiences/learnings have set you up for success in the present?
I think I’ve been fortified by the extreme challenges I faced in early adulthood, including being homeless.
I was really on my own, I saw some hard times and got to a bottom that no one except myself was going to get me out of. I learned how to rely on myself, I learned how to hustle like crazy because my life depended on it.
Now I have infallible work ethic and unrelenting dedication to see my dreams through.
What would you say to your 25-year-old self?
I’d give 25-year-old me a huge high five and tell them all the hard work is going to pay off soon. I’d tell them to buckle in and enjoy the ride!
Learn more from Ellie
Something to read: Ellie Pritts Is Covering the NFT Art World With Color
Get in Touch with Ellie
The best way to get in touch with Ellie is via Twitter or her website.