From a young age, Elena Evanoff had a passion for track and field, and she dedicated herself to athletics.
But when she started taking art courses at the University of Calgary, Evanoff discovered her love for painting.
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.
Early success as an athlete
Evanoff grew up in Calgary, where she started swimming lessons at about 10.
This marked the beginning of her athletic career.
Joining a swimming club exposed her to coaches for various sports clubs.
Evanoff later found success in track and field.
Her skill drew in John Cannon, the founder of the Calgary Spartans Track and Field Club, whose training propelled her into becoming Alberta’s top young track athlete.
“I look back at those years. They were so much fun. They were hard, doing mile repeats in the pouring rain —it really builds a lot of discipline,” said Evanoff. “Cannon loved bringing anybody up.”
Despite the demanding training and competition schedule, Evanoff’s family grounded her through everyday routines.
“We just had a lot of safety in my family,” said Evanoff. “Knowing there was food on the table, coming home from practice and having dinner. That constant is so important.”
University years
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.
“I was getting A’s in that class. I was in my early 20s, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do. So then I just jumped into painting,” she said.
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.
“Physically, I just couldn’t 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,” said Evanoff.
Following her interest in painting, Evanoff graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary in 1992.
“I 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,” she said.
Need for a stable income
In the same year, Evanoff and her friend, Doug Taplin, realized they needed a stable income to build their careers as artists.
They began selling handmade stationery products, which led to the opening of “Paper Root Studios,” a shop at the Eau Claire Market in 1992.
As the business grew, Taplin and Evanoff discovered that their artistic and professional qualities worked well together.
“We really had the same vision and we complemented each other’s skills,” said Taplin.“We were comfortable enough to question any decision either of us made.”
After years of navigating the shop with Taplin, Evanoff bought full ownership in 2003.
During their partnership, Paper Root Studios expanded to five locations before settling into Market Mall.
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.
“The human form shows expression. It’s hard not to feel humanity when you’re using it,” she said. “I haven’t done the one I want yet. That’s why I keep doing it.”
Difficulty balancing business and art
Participating in many self-directed art galleries, Evanoff found it difficult to balance being both an artist and a business owner.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced many shop owners to close their doors, the stress of maintaining a business became all too clear.
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.
“We had regular customers that are like family,” said Chiswell. “Employees that have left the shop still keep in contact and go for lunches on their birthdays. It’s like a big extended family.”
Although business steadied out, Evanoff still dealt with the pressure of maintaining two careers.
After years of deliberating, she finally sold Paper Root Studios to another party in December 2025.
With the weight lifted, Evanoff now plans to explore her newfound independence as an artist.
“I’m excited to discover what I’ll do being free with art,” said Evanoff. “I don’t even know where I’m going, but I’m grateful to be free.”