Hi! My name is Elaina Katsanos, and I am a local, self-taught artist from the charming streets of Charleston, SC.

My full-time job consists of working on musicals with students ranging from elementary school to high school at the Musical Theatre Center in Mount Pleasant, SC. I am a Director, Stage Manager, Program Manager, Set and Lighting Designer, Muralist, Teacher and more!

Outside of that, I paint murals, create original pieces, work on commissions, make fun random creations and really try to enjoy life.

How did I come up with the name Hand Prints? 

I am a fully self-taught artist, and with that has come learning many new trades along the way by dabbling in a little bit of everything: painting, drawing, decorating cakes, sewing by hand and by machine, sculpting, calligraphy, singing in the car and so much more! I felt as though my creations were my metaphorical handprints. They don't fit a mold. They can be messy, but they also show how much we can grow.

Much like finding a piece of construction paper with a handprint of your 5-year-old self on it—if you put your hand up to it now, it’s so much bigger. We grow, much like our handprints.

Why do I create?

Because sometimes I get an idea and have to start painting, even if it's at 12 am. But in all seriousness, being creative helps me detach from my outside thoughts while also dropping me deeply into my brain at the same time. I also love a challenge—many times the end product is not what I envisioned, but it's usually paired with the thought that “I learned so much” and “I know so much more for next time.”

I was never great at math or science, where there is one correct answer. Art is so subjective; there are so many ways to do it, create it, interpret it and consume it. So it can never be “wrong.”

Thanks for visiting! 

Follow me on Instagram to stay up to date with new releases, painting videos and more!  

I’m excited to share my work and sprinkle a little joy through art. I hope you find as much joy in my creations as I do in making them.