MakeHers: Ellen Stryker Bischoff of Ellen Stryker Art
Friends,
Welcome to the very first feature of MakeHers & Muses!
This blog has been on the back burner for years, mentally tapping on my shoulder every time I see a friend I admire share their art. An outlet to celebrate female entrepreneurship from the grassroots level and connect with friends and loved ones from my life. I deeply believe we make our own luck, bring light and warmth to each others’ paths or help one another find the trail head; and so, I decided to follow my gut and just go for it. After sending a list of questions to some of my favorite women I have the honor of knowing or admiring, I was stoked on life to read the interview below and decided that it was time. It was time to kick off this anthology with one of the sweetest souls and what better day than the Winter Solstice. The shortest day of the year, nestled in the depths of winter, in need of some extra light.
I am absolutely elated to share with you the work of Ellen Stryker Bischoff of Ellen Stryker Art. Several years ago, we sat next to each other in a Buddhist Ritual Art History Class at St. Lawrence University. For those who are not familiar with the school, it is a tiny, but mighty liberal arts school less than twenty miles from the Canadian border and within reach of the Adirondack Mountains. We were a couple of a small selection of Fine Arts majors and connected over our abundance of brothers, roller blades and boogying at Java- our student run music venue. I have been so very lucky to call her a friend and can’t wait to share her work. From the first moment I met her, it has been evident that she has a kind soul and a lot of light to give to the world. It has been a joy to work with her on a photography project back in the day and it has been even more inspiring to catch up with her in her new hometown Jackson Hole this past summer.
I am the proud owner of two of her pieces, one from a collaboration she had this summer with Skida (pictured below) and another she made for me before our date at Jackson’s Persephone this past September.
Me cheesin’ wearing my Ellen Stryker x Skida lift shirt on a hiking trip in Alberta in July
How long you have been developing Ellen Stryker: 12 years
Your mission: I would love for my work to inspire others to engage their creative side. Everyone has one, whether it’s artistically, musically, or even just a funky personality. If I can do that with my clothing line, Stryker, or my simply through my photographs, I am stoked!
What are seven things that make your life as an entrepreneur shine?
My lifestyle: work/play balance is crucial
Inspiration from other artists, companies, and just plain people
Recognition, it feels great seeing others wearing my designs on the street
Motivation: constantly finding new ideas excites me
Innovation: keeping things fresh keeps my brand growing
Zzzzen. My personal balance is really important to me.
Passion: I don’t want my art to ever feel like a meticulous job
Do you have a signature color? If so what is it and how do you incorporate it into your life?
Yes! The 2020 Pantone color of the year is Classic Blue, which also happens to be a very rich indigo. Indigo is the base of my entire line right now.
From what have you grown the most as an artist?
I have grown the most in my networking capabilities. I have always been an outgoing person, but I think that over the past few years, the majority of my success has to do with making friends in the right places. Friends support friends, and from there, you can start to grow your own webbing of business and marketing.
Who is your dream client? Dream project? My dream client is honestly just the cute skier girl, which I have on lockdown here in Jackson. My friends are all so cute and I love that they wear my brand, because they all rep it so well!
I would love to do a fun line with a snow or skate company. I love their style of streetwear. They inspire me for trends!
What is your favorite piece to date? I think that my favorite piece, right now, is the indigo Sweaty. These have done very well for me, and I wear mine every day. They are super soft, and you can sleep in them, or play, so they’re a pretty ideal piece of clothing.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned in running a business? What is the most challenging thing about running a business? The biggest lesson in running a business is that you have to keep moving forward and keep your mind open to new possibilities. The moment you get stagnant, you lose your base. Keep the iron hot by reinventing your brand and remaining exciting to your clientele. Otherwise, they’ll get bored and move on to the next best thing.
The most challenging thing for me has been finance. I am still such a small brand, and am just breaching the base to start profiting, but have been in debt for quite some time.
How does your craft soothe you? How does it fire you up?
Anyone that knows me well knows that I have a very particular, funky style that is completely my own. It involves a lot of stripes, the color navy, layers, colorful socks, bucket hats, Vans, rolled up pants. I basically match Stryker designs with my own personal style. If I’m selling it, I’d wear it, and I usually am wearing one piece that I have made.
How do you seek inspiration?
Instagram has been a great platform to keep me finding fresh, new ideas. I love Mother Denim’s vibe these days. Psychedelic, funky patterns paired with retro high waisted denim to keep you grooving all day and night long. I also find daily inspiration in my surroundings. Whether it’s a pattern I see in nature, or just a cool hat someone’s wearing at aprés, I love finding new trends.
What is your creative process? Is there anything in particular you would like your audience to know?
My creative process is fluid; it never really stops. I am constantly thinking of how to keep my brand moving forward and how to keep my people engaged. A lot of this comes to fruition in my own daily style. “Oh, these polka dot socks pair well with my blue camo pants, let’s take this style into my own designs.” It’s important to always be thinking of these things in the back of your head, so that when an opportunity for innovation arises, you’re ready!
What makes your world go round?
Staying balanced makes my world go round. Work/play should be around 50/50.
How do you stay grounded?
I listen to a lot of music. It helps to control my moods and can inspire me in almost anything, given the genre! If I want to chill, I listen to a lot of Justice Der and Melanie Faye on bass. If I am feeling sendy, rap beats for the skis and bike. If I want to dance, the Dead or some bluegrass keeps me jigging!
Who do you admire and why?
I admire my family and friends, because they are always there for me and support my business!
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’m not sure if I will ever know the answer to this question. I have always been one to achieve dreams, though. Manifesting things has worked out well for me, and I know that I’m on the right path.
What were you doing before following this path?
I have always been on this path. Art has been something that I have followed since I was a little girl. I didn’t do it too much in high school, but when I got to college I decided to major in it, and am very happy with that decision! Textiles have always been something I have been interested in. Now they are just more prevalent in my life. <3
Where do you turn for support?
My mom has always been my biggest supporter! She’s there to chat the good and the bad, and I love her for that, along with many other things. She is amazing.
What messages do you hope to evoke to your audience?
Be yourself. Always. Kacey Musgraves “Follow Your Arrow” holds a lot of meaning to me. People are gonna judge you no matter what you do, so might as well just trust your gut and go for it; it will most likely work out in your favor.
What does success look like to you?
If you are able to balance your work/play, that is huge. To me, that’s how I keep myself happy and moving forward. In work, I get motivation. In play, I keep sanity and childhood. When these are unbalanced, I get anxious.
What sacrifices have you had to make your dreams come true?
My family is one of the most important factors of my life. We are lucky enough to have such a tight knit, positive support system. Moving 2000 miles away from them was a huge sacrifice, but I love Wyoming so much. I am constantly going up and down with this, but in the end, I’m happy and I am still so young.
How do you get yourself in the groove?
Music! Always.
This beautiful building is part of The University of Georgia’s Lamar Dodd School in Cortona, Italy. Ellen studied there a semester after I did and it is so fun to have shared such an ethereal experience with her. Cortona is a real-life cosmic dreamscape in Tuscany and if you ever have the chance to go, I highly recommend it! Or to watch Under The Tuscan Sun with Diane Lane to get you fired up to go. We both deeply miss metal working and it was such a gorgeous place to be immersed in art making and grow as an artist.
What is your favorite type of cuisine and why?
There is a thai/indian fusion restaurant here in Jackson called Teton Tiger. I love naan and paratha, but also love spicey curries thai style. Combine the two, and, daaayum!!
Where are you dreaming of traveling to next?
I want to go to India to study their textiles and photograph the culture.
Is there any one place (or few) that inspire you most?
The ocean and the mountains are my biggest inspirations. The ocean, with its fluidity and wonder. The mountains, with their rigidity and opportunity for adventure.
Where would your dream studio be?
In a big red barn in my backyard. It would obviously have a huge dance floor, speaker system, and bar for those celebrations. There would be wide-paneled reclaimed barnwood floors, white shiplap walls, and a few horsies, dogs, pigs, goats, and chickens running around.
What are your thoughts regarding luck?
I think you create your own reality, and manifesting things is related to your luck. If you set your heart to something, you can make it come true. It’s just the way the law of universal attraction works.
Favorite vice?
Winter: skiing, summer: mountain biking… and beers ☺
What brings the most light to your life?
Balance!
If you had to wear two colors for the rest of your life, what would they be?
Navy and black.
Are you a night owl or an early bird?
Night owl, hoooo!
When is your witching hour?
I swear I will be so tired and ready for bed, and 10:30 comes around and I get the sillies.
Ellen Stryker Art
Rockin’ my Indigo Sweaty in Ketchum, ID.
I swear, I rarely took this ish off
