Today we’d like to introduce you to Aly Isaeff.
Hi Aly, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I want to say that I’ve always been an artist, but I wasn’t born holding an Apple Pencil or knowing how to use Photoshop. However, I do know I’ve always had a desire to create, even at a young age – from crayon doodles to paper mâché sculptures to putting glitter glue in my dad’s goatee while he was napping, I’ve dabbled in all sorts of art forms, both casually and seriously. I even went to college and got a BFA in acting, though I’m sure you can see that I didn’t get very far in pursuing that passion.
To be honest, if I hadn’t gone down that road, I don’t think I’d be where I am now in my graphic design and digital illustration career. I started at The Groundlings Theatre & School on Melrose in Los Angeles as an intern, fully intending to attend auditions and take advantage of the free classes I earned through the internship. However, I found myself falling in love with the administrative side of the theatre. I eventually was hired part-time as a Box Office Associate, then moved on to being a full-time Assistant Box Office & Marketing Manager, and finally, Box Office Manager. This is where I started learning how to draw digitally using Photoshop and Procreate and eventually started making posters for shows at The Groundlings, such as Cooking with Gas, The Completely Different Late Show, as well as The Trash Show.
The Groundlings were extremely supportive of me, and I’m so thankful that they were it’s opened countless opportunities for me and allowed me to work with some amazing people, including one of my current clients, Nicole Travolta, who is performing her one-woman show, Nicole Travolta is Doing Alright (directed by Lauren Burns, a current Groundling), in LA, Las Vegas, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. I also continue to do the occasional poster for The Groundlings, as well as Sunday Company (the highest level of the school) shows.
I also run my website and Etsy storefront where I sell pins, stickers, & keychains of my original designs, some of which are inspired by my 20 years with type 1 diabetes. It’s beyond cool to connect with fellow type 1’s who relate to my work and want to represent the community with my art!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t believe there is a such thing as a smooth road – they’re all rocky (someone probably needs to repave those metaphorical roads)! But in all seriousness, definitely not smooth.
I mentioned being a type 1 diabetic- that adds a layer of difficulty, however, I also have Major Depressive Disorder (I was diagnosed shortly after T1D), as well as Anxiety and OCD. I know some people might be uncomfortable talking about something so personal so publicly, but I’ve been trying to be more open about it over the years as it’s such a big part of me – a part of me that I can’t ignore or shun. It’s something that takes over my life 6 months out of every year, thereby killing my creativity and ability to work or function. It’s like I’m trapped in the fog and can’t see anything no matter which direction I’m looking- feeling scared, alone, and trapped. It’s like my ability to function as a human ceases and I go into survival mode.
Thankfully, I have a wonderful support system in my friends and family, as well as access to treatment, which not everyone can have, unfortunately. I believe that needs to change because depression is something so many people silently suffer from. I also feel like people in creative fields tend to struggle with it – maybe because our creativity stems from the human experience as well as challenges, and that’s what inspires us to keep creating and keep going.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I do a lot of things, though I’d narrow it down to graphic design and digital illustration. I have my own LLC, Aly Isaeff Art & Design, where I not only take on client work, but also sell my designs in the form of pins, keychains, and stickers! A lot of my designs, as I mentioned before, are inspired by my life with type 1 diabetes, which I’ve had for nearly 20 years. My designs around T1D are subtle, but would easily be recognized by anyone with diabetes. I’ve had a lot of fellow T1Ds, as well as T1D parents, reach out with nothing but kind things to say about my work.
Specifically, I remember I had one parent who reached out to me wanting to buy a pin for their T1D child who was going to diabetes camp but wanted to be able to get it before they left so they could wear it. I was so touched. And of course, I also sell non-diabetes-related pins and stickers that reflect my niche likes and interests.
Also as I mentioned before, I work with an array of clients on various graphic design and digital illustration projects- mainly from Los Angeles due to my connection to The Groundlings Theatre. I’m lucky to be able to continue working with them, as well as other talented performers associated with the theatre! I’ve had the honor of working with some amazing people on some pretty cool projects. I’m especially proud of the work I’ve been able to do lately with Nicole Travolta on her one-woman show, Nicole Travolta is Doing Alright. She’s such a delight to collaborate with, and she’s got some big shows coming up in LA, Vegas, and Scotland at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival that I’ve been designing posters for! I love the process of collaborating with others to bring something to life.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I have an entire bookshelf dedicated to nothing but books on illustration and design- and I can attest to how much it sucks to move with them. Books are very heavy! My favorite books tend to come from 21 Draw- they collect helpful information and tips from some pretty amazing artists and put it all into various books and lessons. I’ve learned a lot from their website and books! 3Dtotal Publishing always has good books and resources as well!
I also consume so many podcasts, movies, TV shows, and Youtube videos while I work- that’s the benefit of working from home! Some days I go through 5 movies to get a project done. But there’s nothing like zoning in on work with Bob’s Burgers playing in the background. When it comes to podcasts, I always lean toward true crime- RedHanded and Partners in Crime (with Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling) are my two favorites at the moment. They’re both respectful of the cases they talk about while lightening it up with some playful banter.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://alyisaeff.art/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyisaeff.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aly.isaeff.art.and.design
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AlyIsaeffArt
Image Credits
Aly Isaeff, Nicole Travolta, and Nick Rasmussen
