How Artist Karina Daniel Parris Captures the Beauty, Diversity and Energy of Earth
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below."
Shop Small is a bi-weekly series highlighting small business owners from diverse backgrounds. This series aims to go deeper than your typical product roundup, diving into the inspirational stories behind some of our favorite brands. By taking a behind-the-scenes look at how their shops came to be and highlighting the products they (and their shoppers!) love, we hope to put a deserving spotlight on these marginalized business owners.
Depicting everything from confident women with edgy hairstyles, happy animals with playful details and colorful landscapes with cheerful caricatures, Karina Daniel Parris does more than draw what she loves — she finds new ways to represent earth's beauty.
"I draw for everyone: plant moms, animal lovers, foodies, travelers, fashionistas, minimalist people," says Parris, who likes to create art that feels light, cheerful and colorful. "I want my art to brighten people’s day," says Parris, who hopes that just looking at her art brings people joy — and a big part of that is knowing people see themselves in her art.
Born in 2012, Lovely Earthlings "are fun, playful and whimsical caricatures that I see all around me, all the time," according to Parris, now a star seller on Etsy. "I went back and forth a lot about the name. I always thought 'earthling' was maybe too much of a word. But it was the only thing that pretty much put all of the beings — all that is inside of earth — together in one word."
How It Started
About a decade ago, Parris was living in New York City and drawing as a hobby. At the time, she thought: "I would love to be one of those people who do what they love, and I’m still going to be happy if I make not one dollar."
For the first six years, Parris worked craft fairs. "That's when I started to get encouragement from people I didn't know, because that was the real test," she says. The young entrepreneur started mostly with greeting cards, drawing small caricatures and little by little gained the confidence to draw entire illustrations.
It wasn’t until she relocated to Louisville in 2019 and found a great deal on a storefront that she was able to turn her art into a full-time career. Today, locals can shop at her storefront for canvases, notebooks, tote bags and framed artwork. One key piece of advice for upcoming artists: "live somewhere you can afford to be an artist."
What Inspires Her
Parris was born in the Republic of Panama and lived there until she was seven years old before spending the rest of her childhood in Atlanta, Georgia. As an adult, she’s settled in Miami, New York City and most recently, Louisville, Kentucky. "I guess I can blend in anywhere," jokes Parris, who knowingly draws inspiration from every city that she’s called home.
Panama and Miami inspired her love for the tropics, from palms, flowers and cacti to tropical colors like pinks, yellows and greens. Meanwhile, she says Atlanta, New York and Miami all influenced her edgy pieces like her drawings of women rocking fashionable outfits and playful hairstyles. Now, Louisville has ignited her love for nature and animals — which are currently two of her favorite things to draw.
The quiet, friendly and artistic small city of Louisville has been a source of inspiration for Parris in more ways than one. She often finds ideas from people watching and observing the local art, including that of tattoo artists and muralists.
Her family also has a big impact on her work. Parris tells stories of her mother and aunt calling her out when they discover new ways to be inclusive, like depicting women with short hair or even a person wearing an eye patch. "I never run out of inspiration," says Parris, who finds that an emphasis on inclusivity helps her draw forever.
What’s Next
Not only does Parris intend to create new art for her shop, she's currently working on surface design and turning her art into patterns, so that it can be printed on any product. Parris, who works with small businesses to create custom art, hopes to collaborate with more brands in the coming year.
Also this year, she started her first mural. "I've always wanted to do it, but I needed to learn how," says Parris, who’s currently working with another artist to draw and paint a mural located a few blocks from her home in Louisville. "Now that I know how, I can’t wait to do more." As someone who draws inspiration from murals herself, Parris loves the fact that her completed mural will bring joy to her community.
You Might Also Like
