Meet Eli Ozaki | The Pour Hippy | Fluid Artist, Laser Machinist, Designer, & More

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eli Ozaki, also known as The Pour Hippy, and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eli, why did you pursue a creative career?
Short answer? I saw no other choice (that sounds dramatic but I mean it in the best way). It’s been quite a journey that brought me to where I am today. I graduated high school with no idea what I wanted to do for a career; I did well in STEM subjects and wanted to help people, but that was all I knew. At ASU, I started in biomedical engineering, switched to environmental engineering, and graduated in biochemistry. The whole time, I felt like I was forcing myself through something I didn’t like doing, but I was good at it and that’s how jobs are sometimes. Once I graduated, I felt aimless, knowing I was expected to get a job with my degree, but dreading the idea of doing the same thing for the rest of my life.

Along the way, I found fluid art. I never thought I was any good at art; I always say I can’t draw a straight line to save my life. But I was bored winter break of junior year, I had seen videos of acrylic pour painting on social media, so I got the materials and tried it out. I did a double flip cup with fire and ice themed colors. It was far from perfect and I made a huge mess, but I was so excited and surprised when I saw the end result. I knew I had a new hobby I absolutely loved. I really never expected it to be more than a hobby. It took a little bit for me to start sharing my creations, but I very quickly started hearing “you should sell these!”

When I started hearing that, I made a website, brand, logo, etc. I thought it could be a good side-hustle, but the typical idea of the odds of succeeding as an artist kept me from committing; I thought I could never live comfortably just as an artist. My plan was to get a job with my degree and continue my art as much as I could, but mostly for fun. Although, even as I was saying this, it was obvious that I was putting far more time, effort, and finances into my “hobby” than one usually does. It wasn’t a hobby, it’s a passion that I never knew before. When I finally said “I’m gonna be a professional artist,” literally everyone in my life was like “ya, we saw that coming.”

But what finally gave me the push I needed to consciously pursue art? Hands down, when Ave Marcello of The Sintrics wore a one-of-a-kind handmade full length blacklight fluorescent bodysuit that I designed from an original painting of mine. Less than three years after my first painting, I designed an outfit worn on stage at Alice Cooper’s 19th Annual Christmas Pudding Fundraiser, worn to open for Alice Cooper, Ace Frehley of KISS, Ed Roland of Collective Soul, and Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals. I can never thank my friend Ave enough for giving me that opportunity, and with it, the confidence that I would beat the odds and explore my passion for the rest of my life. I cried through the show, and I still tear up thinking about that night.

The feeling I get when I make a new piece that takes my breath away, and even more, the feeling I get seeing how my work uplifts and excites those who see it, is absolutely indescribable. I think a lot of people work a job they dislike to be able to do things they like in their free time, and that is what I was dreading about using my degree. But that night made me realize that life doesn’t need to be that way. I could live my whole life in my passion, putting smiles on peoples faces and inspiring others.
So when I say I saw no other choice, I mean it. There was no way I could ghost through life working for the weekend when there’s even a chance that I can continue to share my passion with the world. So, proudly, I’ll be The Pour Hippy till the day I die.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
A big part of what sets me apart is the variety in my creations. I’m a jack of all trades and certainly don’t stick to one medium. It started out just pouring acrylic, but to fully realize all the ideas in my head, I incorporate alot of other tools and practices in my art. I use a laser cutter to program and cut custom shapes that I pour acrylic on, I incorporate woodworking and epoxy resin to make serving trays and I’ve even started working on full size resin river tables. I recently started making moving song visuals out of my paintings for local musicians and DJs, and I reprint my original paintings into clothing, both for general sale and for unique custom performance outfits. I’ve spoken to a lot of people who haven’t heard of acrylic pour painting, so I absolutely love finding all the different ways I can to display art. Like all hippies, I love tie-dye, and I feel like putting fluid art on clothing is a more digital image modern version. I hope to help bring fluid art fashion the same love and lasting impact that tie-dye has had since the 70’s.

One of my favorite things about being an artist is having the opportunity to have a new thing I am most proud of every few months. Last year, I made a double sided five foot longboard that glows in the dark with matching anodized board parts. And then I did the bodysuit for Ave Marcello. Most recently, I made an end table with colorshifting legs, real sand background, and a fluorescent acrylic poured sea turtle outlined in gold, with realistic resin wave effects and authentic Madagascar quartz clusters I picked at the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show (this is the first of three in a living room table set I am working on that will be available for purchase). Every one of these creations took a lot of time & effort, but once complete, my mind was just absolutely blown that I created something like that.

I got to where I am today through the support of my friends and community. When I started, I never thought painting would be more than a hobby. Three and a half years later, I’ve been commissioned for large centerpieces, there’s Pour Hippy Drip in other states, I’ve had my work in fashion shows, made stage wear worn alongside four Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, and I know there is so much more to come. I never would have had these opportunities without the people who support and appreciate my work, and I am forever grateful for every person who walks up to my booth with a huge smile on their face.

It definitely hasn’t been easy, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I think one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is just to keep a positive outlook. When I switched from having a day job to pay the bills to just doing art, after months of doing great at events consistently, I had four events in a row go awful, ending with a dust storm knocking a display on top of half a dozen paintings. But I actually recently heard a quote by Jay-Z that I really appreciate and I think sums up this lesson perfectly.
“There’s a knowing in being an artist… You have to have this knowing that, ok, it may not work today it may not work tomorrow but this is the right thing, and this is what I’m doing, and this is what’s feeding me.”
That knowing is passion. So when I had that rough series of events at an inopportune time, the thought of giving up never entered my mind. I just thought, ok, regroup, make a new plan, find how to make it work tomorrow.

There are two things I want the world to know about me and my story. First; I graduated in Biochemistry, and never thought I had an artistic bone in my body until after 21 years of age. Now here I am, doing nothing but art, just a few years later. Everyone is on a different path, at different paces, but it’s never too late to do what you love. It was 21 years before I found it, but if you ever experience that knowing, that passion; follow it. Chase it until you’re lost and there’s nowhere to go except blindly following that passion. Elyse Myers put it best: “Do things that light your soul on fire and that help you fall in love with your life every single day.” The second thing I want the world to know; I love challenging my artistic capabilities, and my commissions are open! If anybody wants any idea made with trippy acrylic pour art or color-shifting resin, I would love to bring that to life!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, Phoenix is such a fantastic place, there really is so much to do here! I’m a big nature person, so swimming at Needle Rock beach on the Rio Verde river, tubing the Salt River, or cliff jumping at Fossil Creek would all be great options to beat the heat during the day.

I’m a huge fan of supporting our community and the arts within, and I have so many talented musician friends. It would depend on the night, but we would probably go see a show by Abby Walker, DBL VZN, or The Sintrics to end most nights.

Joining the Sun Sesh crew for longboarding/skating around Tempe Town Lake would definitely be on the list! I love longboard dancing and there’s a great community out here for that.

First Friday’s downtown are an absolute must. I love art shows, plus I have some friends in the music scene that play at Bud’s Glass Joint, so First Friday’s are always an amazing time.

Last but certainly not least, Walter Where?House and Full Moon Festival both throw regular events that are just out of this world, featuring incredible art installations and fantastic music, so I’m sure we’d squeeze one of those in if an event is happening that week!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh man, there are definitely too many to list. But there are a few groups that really deserve recognition, not just for how they have helped and motivated me, but for all they do for the community.

Art Night hosts a number of regular events for artists to create, vend, and show their work, and this was the first in-person art event I attended as a vendor. My face hurt from smiling so much when I got home; I had posted online and sold art before, but spending all night talking to customers about my process and seeing my art affect them was absolutely surreal.

The Festival Farmer’s Market, organized by Bodyzone Apparel & The Yin Yang Gang, is an incredible community centered event and food drive bringing together visual artists, musicians, designers and more. This was my second event ever, and later became the first place I saw my artwork strutting a runway!

And finally, The Sintrics, a Phoenix-based rock band that I am lucky to call my friends. The lead singer, Ave Marcello, was not only the first musician to wear my artwork on stage, but commissioned a one-of-a-kind full length bodysuit that was performed in at Alice Cooper’s 19th Annual Christmas Pudding Fundraiser. I was finally given the confidence to fully pursue a creative career when, less than three years after my first painting, my artwork was worn on stage opening for Alice Cooper, Ace Frehley of KISS, Ed Roland of Collective Soul, and Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals.

Website: https://www.pourhippyart.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepourhippy

Other: email: thepourhippy@gmail.com

Image Credits
Glen LaFerman, Daniel Knighton