CREATED BY JULIA GOMELSKY

Julia Gomelsky is a designer, art director, photographer, and illustrator based in Los Angeles, California.

Born in St. Petersburg, Russia (back when it was still called Leningrad), Julia emigrated to the United States in 1978 with her parents and twin sister, Victoria. She discovered her interest in photography and visual arts in high school and later attended San Francisco State University, graduating in 2000 with a degree in Industrial Design with an emphasis in graphic design.

After graduation, Julia worked as a web designer and art director for internet and entertainment companies in San Francisco and Los Angeles. In 2013, she took a leap of faith and left the traditional 9-to-5 schedule to pursue a freelance lifestyle, allowing her to work on a wide range of design projects while dedicating more time to personal creative work.

Julia’s passion is creating in many forms. In 2009, she launched Vijous (vee-zhoo) to showcase her artwork. The name is derived from a combination of Julia and Victoria’s first names. Part online gallery and part creative playground, the site featured a series of quirky photographs centered around two dolls named Paige and Ginger.

The idea for Paige and Ginger had been in Julia’s mind for years, but it took time to find the perfect pair. Once they appeared, the stories began naturally.

Paige and Ginger are almost always photographed nude — partly because it’s funny, but also because it strips them down to their most essential form. Without clothes or defined identities, they can become anyone and go anywhere. Adventurers, rebels, explorers, dreamers.

Through photography and digital collage, the girls wander through playful, strange, and sometimes absurd situations, always curious and always ready for their next adventure.

By 2017, it became clear that Paige and Ginger deserved a home of their own, and PaigeandGinger.com, along with a complete rebrand, was born.

In the summer of 2013, Julia created Drawn for You, a custom illustration service. Her illustrations are frequently featured on the Howard Stern Show social media channels and are very popular with the staff, fans and wack pack. Drawn for You also features Julia’s popular “My Pet Croc” illustrations.

Julia’s latest project, The bird and the butterfly, was inspired by a weekend visit to Ojai, Calif., in 2016. A showcase of her custom, handmade wall hangings with gemstones sourced from Tucson, the site also features Julia’s mixed media pieces (mostly custom mâché on canvas) and other one-of-a-kind artwork.

Social handles: @paigeandginger, @drawnforyou, @thebirdandthebutterfly, @storiesxthebird, @hilittlewitchy, @phishingstories