Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/184500
Who does all your branding and logos? Becca Gips. What do you do to keep calm, de-stress? Stay up late and watch TV. Drug of choice. Ice cream and reality TV. Ellis' vintage Mexican bar at his home. Philippe Starck bar chairs. Gary Komarin Wig painting from Gremillion & Co. As a 12th anniversary gift for Ellis in 2003, his wife, Melissa, commissioned a painting by Donald Roller Wilson of his signature character, Cookie, on her wedding day. The Roller Wilson paintings on either side are a quirky story about Ellis' life. You're watching … The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Southland, The Killing, Ray Donovan and Strike Back. Do you read? I only read nonfiction. Just finished Neil Young's book, Waging Heavy Peace: A Hippie Dream. Labels? Denim: Civilianaire. Khakis: Paul Smith. Shorts: Original Paperbacks. Shirts: Patagonia. Ellis is a fixture at Liz Lambert's Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin. Your dream team to do projects? We have the dream team: Lance Fegen, Carl Eaves, Will Davis, Susan Molzan, Elisha Lopez, Lisa Gochman and Kahia Perry. Favorite vacation spot. St. Barth's. I stay at a house called Seaweed, which we rent. We go at Thanksgiving, before the season. Love it because it's quiet and peaceful. Name all of your pets? Cookie, Louie, Mimi, Stella and Milly — dogs. Atticus, Lucky and Lucy, and Mr. Big at the office, which is a Savannah — a cross between an African serval and a domestic cat. 1972 Husky 250 motorcycle If you had an entire afternoon to yourself, how would you spend it? Golf. Favorite course. Royal Aberdeen in Scotland. Best places to shop? Paris and L.A. Ellis' Jack Nicholson leather jacket, acquired in 1993 from a HarleyDavidson swap meet. It hangs in front of his Air Jordans. Favorite places to buy shoes. Luke's Locker in Houston and Nice Kicks in Austin. Ellis holding a Tony Alva Dogtown skateboard Where do you buy your glasses? From Rudy at Oliver Peoples in Malibu — all of them. Oliver Peoples Carl Eaves and Lee Ellis, business partners for 13 years, in a booth at Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette on San Felipe Two 2004 paintings of Donald Roller Wilson's characters Why do you love the Hotel Saint Cecilia in Austin so much? I feel like I'm far from home. The place is comfortable and relaxing. It's just so well designed, inside and out. Everyone needs an overstuffed leather couch outside. Any tats? No, but I love tattoos. The only problem is I like change too much. I'd want a different one every week. Clark's Oyster Bar and Barlata, Austin St. Barth's. Ellis stays at a house called Seaweed. What did you want to be when you were growing up? Photographer. WHAT'S THAT QUOTE YOU ALWAYS SAY? DON'T LET YOUR NEGATIVITY GET INTO MY POSITIVE WORLD. Ellis' Royal Aberdeen golf bag