Meet Eli Orth | Art Director & Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eli Orth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eli, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I spent most of my childhood in the remote wilderness of Somerset County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland where my parents had purchased an abandoned 18th-century ship captain’s house on the shores of the Manokin river. Over time, they’ve fixed up the property and made it a wonderful place to live and visit, but during my childhood, the seclusion of our home meant that my only interactions with kids my age were at school. While at home on the weekends and during the summer breaks I found solace in video games, books, and especially animation. Through these mediums, I discovered a profound joy of storytelling that had me creating worlds and storylines with anything I could get my hands on- Lego, stuffed animals, and art supplies. At an early age, I began drawing comics and illustrations of my worlds and ideas, all the while seeking out new resources for learning and techniques to bring my ideas to life. To this day, I still maintain this love of learning new ways to hone and express my craft. My parents are some of the most inspiring and creative people I know. They’ve been fine artists their entire lives, and through every bump that life has thrown them, they’ve managed to spin their skills and find ways to use their craft in new ways. I think this is maybe the most important skill that they imparted to me: that no matter what life throws my way, I know I can adapt and land on my feet. Making a living in creative fields is not easy, and it’s certainly not for everyone. It requires dedication, a hunger for improvement, and above all, resourcefulness. I certainly wouldn’t be the person I am today without my parents and the wonderfully unique upbringing I’ve had.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art has always been purpose-driven and created with intention. As a designer by trade, I often see the world through a lens colored by the question, “Why was this decision made?” Everything in the world is purpose-driven, from the marketing and designs that surround our daily life to the blades of grass underfoot seeking out the best soil and nutrients. Everything is done for a reason. The last few years have been difficult in the entertainment industry, with the artists doing the work being the ones hit the hardest. My partner and I decided we wanted to be the change we want to see in the world, and this year we founded an animation studio called Linefolk with the purpose of creating a sustainable and safe place for artists to grow their craft. We’re a small team telling big stories, but our focus is always treating our artists fairly. I’ve been able to take this step professionally largely thanks to my varied skillset and my experience working with many different professionals. I love learning new techniques and workflows that I can use in my professional and personal work which has resulted in me being a generalist designer that can do everything from illustration and branding to 3D animation and simulations. I think when you’re an artist you always have to be looking for the proverbial bullet headed in your direction- because there always is one. Creative industries are always changing shape and you need to be aware of what kind of skills are in demand in your current market. I found a lot of success being a generalist over my career because it’s allowed me to work in everything from branding traditional cable television to working on productions in television and film. Most importantly, being kind to others and pleasant to work with goes a long way in our small industry.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d start the day by going to lunch at Scout in Oakhurst, which has some of the best brunch in the city. Oakhurst in general is a great place to walk around since it has a cozy small-town feel to it. Sceptre brewing and Mezcalito’s are my favorite highlights and great places to grab a drink. Exploring some more, we could head over to the Fernbank Museum for some quiet educational entertainment and afterwards just down the street we could stop in at Decatur Makers; a fantastic makerspace where I’ve spent a lot of my time learning new hobbies and meeting incredibly talented crafters. I would suggest exploring some of the restaurants on Buford highway for a late lunch, stopping in at La Mei Zi for some incredible Taiwanese food or if we’re in the mood for a delicious Bahn Mi, going to Lee’s Bakery. For dinner I’d suggest Nuevo Laredo Cantina for some delicious Mexican food on the west side of Atlanta, and just down the street is Atlanta Historical Fencing Academy which offers sword training classes that are fun and great exercise. No matter where you are in Atlanta there’s always great food and fun activities just around the corner.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely- no man is an island and I am no exception. To start, I would shout out my partner in life and business, Anna Malatinszky. She is incredibly talented at everything she sets out to do and inspires me to be my best self every day. My family has always had my back- growing up with my parents, Dana and John, and my sister, Ruby, I always felt loved and creatively empowered. Without them I certainly would not be where I am today. I’d also like to highlight the creative team at Cartoon Network, where I got my first job out of college; working with them was incredibly formative to my skills, industry contacts, and personal connections. Specifically from that team, Brian Smith continues to be an incredible mentor and friend who I’ve relied on for technical and professional advice. I’d also like to shout out the local animation communities of Atlantimation and Ease, both reservoirs for incredibly talented and intelligent animators and designers.

Website: https://www.linefolk.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elimovesgood/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eli-orth-16401892/

Other: Personal work website: https://www.eliorthdesign.com/