· By Maria Nilsson
Artist Collab: Easty Beasty 'Hood Of Stars' Exhibition
Last Friday night we opened Hood of Stars — the latest art show by our friend (and alter-ego extraordinaire) Easty Beasty — and unveiled our brand-new artist collaboration tee.
Ella (aka Easty Beasty) has been part of the Atmosea family for years. You’ve seen her lovely face in our photoshoots, she’s collaborated with us on a tee before, and she’s always been there to support our events. Having her surreal, playful, and a little-bit-psychedelic artworks keeping us company on the walls of the shop feels like pure magic. And we’re not the only ones feeling it — so many of you have come through already and fallen in love with them too!
This collab is all about creativity, community, and a dash of Easty’s world-building imagination. To celebrate, we sat down with Ella for a little Q&A to dive into her process, her alter-ego, and the realms she’s currently living in.
Hi Ella – or should we say Easty Beasty! Your bio calls Easty an alter-ego hell bent on originality. Why do you choose to create under an alter-ego? Who is Easty, and who is Ella?
Hi!
I started creating as Easty as a way of protecting myself. I was going through a big shift in my life and didn’t feel fully like Ella, but also not fully like Easty yet. The alter-ego gave me a space to play and figure things out without having to justify it as ‘me’. Over time, Easty became this container for all the parts of me that don’t always fit together neatly - the elegant and the messy, the playful and the serious. Ella is still there, but Easty gives me more freedom to lean into those contradictions.
Does having an alter-ego give you more creative freedom or courage to explore themes you might not otherwise?
Totally. It’s like putting on a mask. I can be braver and try things I might not if I was just showing up as Ella. Easty feels like a character I can step into, and once I’m in that headspace, it’s easier to take risks and push boundaries.
How do Easty and Ella inspire or challenge each other?
They challenge each other a lot. I’ve created certain “rules” for what belongs in the Easty world, and sometimes I want to make something outside of that but get stuck. I’m learning to treat those rules more like loose guidelines. The push-and-pull can be frustrating, but it often sparks new ideas too.
You’ve made the transition to full time artist (congrats), what does your day to day look like?
Thanks! Every day looks a bit different, but usually it’s a mix of packing orders, working on commissions, updating my site, and making sure I get out for a surf. Funny enough, the time I spend just making art for myself is actually pretty small, but it’s the part I feel like I can really relax and drop into the flow of creating.
Your art features such a wild mix – 90s cartoons, medieval art, cowboy culture, beasts, and space! What realm are you currently living in?
Right now, I’d say I’m in a phase of refining my work - making sure each piece is as strong as it can be. Lately I’ve been drawn to darker, dreamier vibes, with artists like Rae Klein and Edvard Munch, and even T.S. Eliot’s writing, inspiring me.
What does your process usually look like when you start a new piece, are you more of a sketch-first person or do you dive straight in?
It usually starts with a visual idea, kind of like a ‘that’s cool’ moment. I used to dive straight in when my work came to me in catharsis, but now that I’ve sunk more into the style, I try to refine and be a bit more diligent with planned out sketches.
Which piece in the ‘Hood of Stars’ body of work feels the most you?
The dolphins - Omens in Good Spirit. It feels playful and nostalgic, like those dolphin posters from my childhood, but also very “surf” with the flames. For me, dolphins are like little guardians - whenever they show up in the lineup, I feel safe. That piece was almost like a thank-you to them.
You mentioned imagining mermaids creating weather patterns and spells – what kind of spell do you hope this tee casts for whoever wears it?
I hope it brings good waves, good vibes, and protection from all the greedy, negative stuff out there.
Ella Wears Hood Of Stars Collab Tee.
What do you hope someone feels when they see your art on the store walls or when they put on this tee?
Excitement! I want people to feel like they’re seeing something fresh but also something that connects with them. I’m always trying to create work that feels both new and strangely familiar.
How do you hope collaborations like this shape surf and youth culture in the future?
On a personal level, I’d love for my work to leave a mark on surf and youth culture. But bigger picture, I just hope collaborations like this keep happening. Surf and art have always gone hand in hand, and when they come together it always results in cool stuff.
What does the soundtrack to your creative process sound like? Can you make us a playlist to share with everyone?
Omg I literally have a playlist that I update periodically. Click this link for an eclectic mix of all Easty’s faves.
