Growing up, Northern Virginia–based artist Elizabeth Bloom cherished the afternoons she’d spend at the local library with her mother and four siblings. She’d pick up a Winnie the Pooh book and spend hours tracing over the illustrations.
“There was something about the looseness of those sketches — the freedom in the lines — that completely captivated me,” recalls Bloom. “That’s where my love of illustration began. Not with a formal lesson, but through the joy of observing and trying to replicate the whimsy of something already beloved.”
A Creative Evolution
Bloom studied graphic design in college, and through her studies, a seed was planted. She began thinking about how art could apply to the items people wear and use on a daily basis.
That interest grew when she joined the team at DC-based retailer Tuckernuck. Bloom worked as the sole graphic designer while the brand was in its infancy, and she had the opportunity to weigh in on larger creative campaigns. Her knack for illustrations caught the attention of the founders, and soon her art was dancing across cocktail napkins, tumblers, and clothing.
“That spark really lit the path forward. While I was still managing all things graphic design — web, emails, social, branding — these illustrated products were the part of the job that felt most ‘me,’” says Bloom.
Going out on her own in 2023 gave her the opportunity to explore her creativity and evolve her illustrations beyond the computer screen and into the tactile side of design. She has collaborated with Liza Pruitt on wallpaper and with Miss Mahjong, which specializes in tile sets that bring quirky personality to the retro tabletop game. With two new tile design releases on the horizon, Bloom says, “It’s been such a fun and playful extension of my illustration style.”
But these ventures also come with a different rhythm than designing for illustration. It’s not just about visual storytelling or form; there’s an incredible level of precision necessary to turn art into functional objects for the home.
“Every corner has to align perfectly. Colors have to be matched exactly, using Pantone chips. You go through multiple rounds of proofs. And it’s not just about how something looks on a screen, but how it translates into the physical world — on fabric, on textured paper, on glossy or matte surfaces,” Bloom says.
This is where her love of art for art’s sake and her background in graphic design meet. She knows that a beautiful image is just that — a beautiful image. Applying that to anything beyond the paper or canvas means thinking about it from a production standpoint.
Inspiration Rooted in Daily Life
Whether Bloom’s images are for prints or wallpaper, each one is inspired not by extravagant travels or grand experiences, but by the beauty in the quiet, in-between moments.
“I pull from things that feel familiar, nostalgic, or just beautifully ordinary,” says Bloom, who’s currently working on a collection of watercolor originals and prints focused on summer imagery. “It’s all about the soft moments of summer: reading by the lake, sipping a Coca-Cola on a boat, and cartwheeling in a wide-open field,” she says. “I love those scenes — not because they’re grand, but because they’re grounding.”
Outside the Lines
As Bloom looks ahead to finishing out the year and forging ahead in 2026, she has her sights set on more deep, creative work that will allow her to bring the quiet beauty of everyday moments to life and share it with others through e-commerce offerings on her website,
studioebloom.com.
“I’m launching more original watercolors and fine art prints — pieces designed to live with you and bring a little calm or joy into your home,” says Bloom, who is always exploring how her work can live across home and lifestyle products.
“This is a season of more personal work — and more ways to bring it into your home.”
Feature image courtesy Elizabeth Bloom
This story originally ran in our September issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
