Meet Eleftheria Stavridis | 2D Animator/Illustrator

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

Hi Eleftheria, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
I don’t agree with the idea that you have to pursue a degree in the arts to be a successful creative. There’s a lot of people who are incapable of pursuing a higher education, and usually it’s due to the lack of money to attend. Unlike a lawyer or doctor, who requires a degree to pursue their careers, the arts is something you can learn and develop in your own time. This is especially true since there are a plethora of resources that people can access online for free to build their skills.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Since I was young I’ve always loved working with my hands so as a result I picked up many different crafts such as painting, knitting, carving, crocheting, wood burning, etc.– you name it, I’ve done it! I have always felt this need to create, it didn’t matter which form it took. I dedicated a lot of time to learning the arts on my own and what makes me proud is my perseverance to push through even if things are hard. If something doesn’t work out, I will always find another way.

Getting here was not easy at all. When I left to pursue higher education in animation, it was wonderful at first to be surrounded by others who shared this love for drawing! By second year however, I felt myself being unhappy with the teachers and classes I was taking. As a commuter it felt like a waste of time and money so I decided to leave and continue what I’ve always done- learn art on my own.

I wanted to be a convention artist but not long after dropping out of college, Covid-19 had hit and we were locked indoors. I had to pivot so instead, I decided to make a short film as a way to get big and land work in animation, something that many people on social media had been doing. I laboriously worked on it, from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed for two years. I lived and breathed it as if I needed it to survive. When it came time to release my film, it did not do as well as I had hoped- not anywhere close. To say I was devastated is an understatement. I had quit animation entirely.

At the end of that same year, I had contracted Covid and was dealing with the loss of my family. After my “recovery” I noticed I couldn’t do daily tasks anymore. I couldn’t cook or clean, I couldn’t bare to be in contact with sunlight, my head throbbed and I was extremely dizzy which naturally, affected my ability to work. I was bed bound. A couple of months later, I was diagnosed with Long Covid. Not only was I confused and angry, but I was also grieving the loss of my former self. I was lost. This body of mine no longer worked as it used to, and I had to learn to live with it.

Among the chaos of learning how to live again and looking for work, I remembered my father who always told me “Don’t let yourself decide whether or not you’re qualified for a job. Let the employer decide that for you.” This meant, don’t stop yourself from applying to work just because you think you’re incapable of it. At the time that I applied to a studio as a cinematic animator, I didn’t have much to show in my demo reel since I had quit animating. I decided to shoot my shot anyway. What could I have to lose? To my surprise, I was given an animation test and a month later was accepted into the position. The advice my father had given me landed me my current job at D-CELL GAMES.

Throughout all of the hardships I’ve learned many valuable lessons, mainly taking calculated risks and building a healthy work-life balance. There were many days where depression got the best of me but in the days where the sun beamed a little brighter, I tried to make the most of it. I started animating again, drawing things that I loved, picked up reading, and started experimenting with opening an online shop and merch production. There’s so many wonderful things I’ve found joy in and it wouldn’t have happened if I haven’t continued pushing through.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I just moved to the area this earlier this year so I don’t have too much to share in this regard! I’m a big fan of Blendin Coffee Club for their coffee and atmosphere. It’s perfect for reading dates and hangouts. One of my recent discoveries and favorite dessert place so far is BAMBU Desserts & Drinks for their Chè Thái! It’s super refreshing especially in the Texas heat.

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?
I dedicate this shoutout to my wonderful fiancé, Andi, who is not only the light of my life but my anchor in a sea of chaos. My life so far has been filled with many unexpected twists and turns but at every corner Andi was always there. My gratitude for him is so immense that even with the amount of words this language has, it will never be enough to express my feelings for it.

Website: https://www.eleftheriastavridis.com/

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