WELCOME TO ILJA 'S PASSION FOR ART
OPEN BY APPOINTMENT
THE ADVENTURE SO FAR...
Elias "Ilja" Erävalo
It was nearly Christmas eve when I was born in Pune, India.
I returned to Finland at the early age of 3, but still, find myself moving and traveling from country to country rather easily.
The art studies started at a young age with both oil painting and piano lessons. Especially the croque drawing challenges, that I remember
helped me develop a fast way to sketch my ideas. I switched piano to drums and later on to violin. Drawing, painting, and sketching changed styles and methods over time. I leaned more towards videogame and computer arts and graffities. My main passion became my profession; tattooing.
TATTOO ART
This story goes from October 2011 to this date.
It started with practicing everything in tattoos. I developed my own comic style and would like to thank Kruhm-Verlag (Tattoo Scout & Tattoo Spirit magazines) for publishing my first sketchbook.
Later with more ambition towards technical realistic tattooing, I shifted towards b&w and color realism, surrealism, and grinding my comic style to a more 3D look.
At 2021 I figured out my own unique way to create pop art by combining my love for street art and watercolor painting.
I have ~20 internationally won trophies from various conventions. Including Best of Show, Best of Day, and Best of Color.
Elias Erävalo Sketchbook - Volume 1
ILLUSTRATIONS
Nearly all of my tattoos are from my own drawings. Excluding the rasterized portraits in the pop art style. I would like to thank Tattoo Messe organization from Germany for year after year asking me to design and draw different tattoo convention posters and being so patient with my "I'll draw close to deadline" approach. Much Love ❤️
VIDEO GAME ART
Back in 1999-2001, when living few years in Lohja, Finland, I made a game with a good friend of mine. It was an adventure game with 'Escape from mental hospital' theme. My role was being the main (and only) artist for the game.
In 2017 I studied to be a video game artist at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. I have had the honors of being mentored by insanely skilled artists on the field and still hope, that in my future there will be time and possibilities to work on a game project. I do like to jam with friends too and try to be active on that side
GALLERY
