From a young age, Elena Evanoff had a passion for track and field, and she dedicated herself to athletics. <\/p>\n
But when she started taking art courses at the University of Calgary, Evanoff discovered her love for painting.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After 30 years of owning a gift shop, a path she chose to sustain her artistic pursuits, Evanoff finally decided to sell her business to give herself fully to her art.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Early success as an athlete <\/p>\n
Evanoff grew up in Calgary, where she started swimming lessons at about 10. <\/p>\n
This marked the beginning of her athletic career. <\/p>\n
Joining a swimming club exposed her to coaches for various sports clubs.<\/p>\n
Evanoff later found success in track and field. <\/p>\n
Her skill drew in John Cannon, the founder of the Calgary Spartans Track and Field Club, whose training propelled her into becoming Alberta\u2019s top young track athlete.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI look back at those years. They were so much fun. They were hard, doing mile repeats in the pouring rain \u2014it really builds a lot of discipline,\u201d said Evanoff. \u201cCannon loved bringing anybody up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the demanding training and competition schedule, Evanoff\u2019s family grounded her through everyday routines.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just had a lot of safety in my family,\u201d said Evanoff. \u201cKnowing there was food on the table, coming home from practice and having dinner. That constant is so important.\u201d<\/p>\n
University years <\/p>\n
As she got older, Evanoff began exploring university options, taking courses such as crime and psychology. She found she excelled most in the art option.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was getting A\u2019s in that class. I was in my early 20s, but I didn\u2019t know what I wanted to do. So then I just jumped into painting,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While studying at the University of Calgary, Evanoff was still not set on pursuing art full-time. She wished to continue competing in track and field. However, for her health, she had to end her athletic career.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPhysically, I just couldn\u2019t do the running. I could just tell it was killing me. I thought that if I truly wanted to heal, I had to get out of the sport,\u201d said Evanoff.<\/p>\n
Following her interest in painting, Evanoff graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary in 1992.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like art came in at the right moment to take over. I was such a physical painter in the early days, just hours of wiping and wrecking. I feel like it really was the transition from track to art,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Need for a stable income <\/p>\n
In the same year, Evanoff and her friend, Doug Taplin, realized they needed a stable income to build their careers as artists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They began selling handmade stationery products, which led to the opening of \u201cPaper Root Studios,\u201d a shop at the Eau Claire Market in 1992.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As the business grew, Taplin and Evanoff discovered that their artistic and professional qualities worked well together.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really had the same vision and we complemented each other\u2019s skills,\u201d said Taplin.\u201cWe were comfortable enough to question any decision either of us made.\u201d<\/p>\n
After years of navigating the shop with Taplin, Evanoff bought full ownership in 2003. <\/p>\n
During their partnership, Paper Root Studios expanded to five locations before settling into Market Mall.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she became more comfortable running the business on her own, Evanoff continued to pursue her career as an artist, primarily through painting the human body.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe human form shows expression. It\u2019s hard not to feel humanity when you\u2019re using it,\u201d she said. \u201cI haven\u2019t done the one I want yet. That\u2019s why I keep doing it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Difficulty balancing business and art <\/p>\n
Participating in many self-directed art galleries, Evanoff found it difficult to balance being both an artist and a business owner.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced many shop owners to close their doors, the stress of maintaining a business became all too clear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sue Chiswell, a manager at Paper Root Studios for the past 17 years, felt that despite the challenges the pandemic brought upon the store, the community is what allowed her and Evanoff to push forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had regular customers that are like family,\u201d said Chiswell. \u201cEmployees that have left the shop still keep in contact and go for lunches on their birthdays. It\u2019s like a big extended family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although business steadied out, Evanoff still dealt with the pressure of maintaining two careers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After years of deliberating, she finally sold Paper Root Studios to another party in December\u00a0 2025.<\/p>\n
With the weight lifted, Evanoff now plans to explore her newfound independence as an artist.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited to discover what I\u2019ll do being free with art,\u201d said Evanoff. \u201cI don\u2019t even know where I\u2019m going, but I\u2019m grateful to be free.\u201d<\/p>\n
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