Elleigh Culver is a 2nd year illustration student, who loves fantastical worlds and makes feel good art! This Q&A reveals more: about Elleigh’s work in the children’s book industry, inspirations she has for her art, and insight on her creative process! After reading the interview, check out her pieces “The End of the Map” and “Femina” In Issue 23 of Botticelli, and see more of her work on her social media!
Please introduce yourself and the artwork you like to create.
Hi my name is Elleigh! I’m 19 years old and am currently an illustration student here at CCAD. I mostly love to create fantastical environments and characters for others to enjoy. I also am currently designing children’s books!
What major are you pursuing and what drew you to that selection?
I’m currently pursuing illustration for my major. I have always loved the combination of art and storytelling. This was partly due to my parents raising me on illustrated books and graphic novels. The idea that we can bring people happiness through our illustrations is so powerful to me.
Can you introduce your Botticelli Piece for the 2025 issue?
My first piece titled “femina” depicts 3 women standing together, grasping each other’s hands. It takes a lot of inspo from Greek and Roman iconography.
My second piece titled “The end of the map” depicts an environment in a story I’ve been developing for a while now. I wanted to show my character’s final destination and what it was he’d been fighting so hard to find.
Can you describe what inspired this particular piece?
My first piece is inspired by my almost 5 years of learning the latin language, and my love for greek/ roman stories and imagery. The title is the Latin word for woman, and I think that fits perfectly with the piece as a whole.
The second piece was inspired by my want to create and depict an epic temple in the sky. The perfect location and visual at the end of a great hero’s journey. One of my favorite story tropes is watching a character try to arrive somewhere they’ve been longing to find or get back to.
What kind of inspirations fueled your creative process?
I want my art to make people feel safe, and happy. I think I want to create something positive to put out into the world in hopes that it will do something as small as brighten someone’s day, or even lift their mood just slightly. I think one of my main goals as an artist is to always strive to invoke a positive feeling in the viewer.
What goals do you have for your creative career?
I would love to continue to work in the children’s book industry. I believe now more than ever we need artists who care deeply about how important children’s literature is to our world and society.
What are some of your current projects you are currently working on that we should look forward to seeing?
I’m currently working on an illustrated children’s book, collaborating with an author and helping them bring their vision to life! It’s an awesome career opportunity and I would encourage any artist to experience it at least once in their careers.
Shout yourself out! Where can we continue to keep up with your work as a creative?
I’m on Insta, Tik Tok, X, and Blue Sky if you’d like to support me! My name is always grace_sunny 13 or something to that effect. I also sell a lot of merch that I make, like key chains, bags, stickers, and prints!
Instagram: grace_sunny13
TikTok: grace_sunny13
BlueSky: gracesunny13.bsky.social
What does your creative practice look like? What mediums do you prefer and how did you discover them?
I’m almost always a digital artist, but you can find me working with inks, gouache and watercolor from time to time! However I’ve always been a digital artist at heart. There’s something about having access to whatever color you want whenever you want that’s so appealing to me.
Where do you see yourself going with your artistic practice beyond CCAD?
I would love to be either working in the children’s entertainment industry, or working as an illustrator for a book publishing company!
