Emmy Award-winning cartoonist who worked on Iron Man, Fantastic Four and American Tail ditches Hollywood to live a simple life as an organic farmer in rural Montana: 'I appreciate life more now'

An Emmy Award-winning animator left her star-studded career in Los Angeles behind, trading it to live off the land in rural Montana - in a house she built from straw bales and clay.

Kathryn Yelsa left sun-soaked Los Angeles for a ranch near Saint Ignatius, Montana, a tiny town with a population just under 800 people.

She founded a farm called Yellow Bear Star Garden, growing crops like cherries, beans and squash. 

The artist earned five Emmys for her work as a background painter. However, she didn't find the achievement fulfilling.

'I wanted a simpler life because I’d already gotten five Emmys, and they weren’t satisfying,' she told NBC Montana.

Five-time Emmy award-winning artist Kathryn Yelsa worked for some of the biggest production houses - like Warner Bros. and Universal - before she decided to settle in rural Montana

Yelsa bought a property near the town of Saint Ignatius, which has a population of under 1,000 people

She established a farm called Yellow Bear Star Garden, which she describes as a 'homestead' - a way of living off the land

Originally from Upland, a city bordering Los Angeles, Yelsa worked all around Hollywood.

She was an artist at the biggest-name studios at the time including Hanna-Barbera Cartoons and Universal Pictures.

As a background painter, she worked on some of Hollywood's most successful animated cartoons in the nineties - shows like Dexter's Laboratory and Animaniacs, plus nearly 70 episodes of Tiny Toon Adventures, a popular Looney Toons spinoff.

While her work was more subtle, Yelsa played a crucial role in creating emotion and beautifying scenes.

'I used to do background paintings for cartoons for Warner Brothers and various animation studios,' she said. 'All the color. All the lighting. All the mood.'

She worked at Marvel until 1995 and soon after decided to leave that lifestyle behind.

'I spent all my time doing backgrounds of nature, and reading books about it,' she explained. 'I wanted to start living it.”

The artist moved to her parents' native Montana and built a house from straw bales, clay cob and lime with the help of her children.

She is inspired by the concept of permaculture, which uses land and resources in a way that is meant to be self-sufficient and produce zero waste.

Yelsa is a self-styled homesteader, which she describes as 'where you live off the land and you appreciate the life that you live in.'

The background painter was awarded five Emmys for her work on some of the most popular cartoons of the nineties

She built a home (pictured) out of materials like straw and clay cob, with the help of her children

Yelsa founded an internship program to give back to the community and teach students about the benefits of homesteading and sustainable farming

Her goal is to welcome other people to the property and continue making art. The artist said: 'I would like to build tiny homes and have people here making art on the farm'

Since moving to Montana, the artist has been heavily involved in education and used it as a way to integrate herself into the community.

Several years ago, she taught art at the nearby Arlee School District. Most recently, Yelsa launched an internship program for students interested in homestead farming.

One of the students, Maddie Hollingsworth, spoke to just how influential the program had been. 

'My family has land, and I’d like to have my own at some point, and to be able to do what Kathy’s done here,' she said.

'Everything’s natural. No chemicals. It’s just very healthy. It’s a good way to live.'

On Airbnb, Yelsa offers a portion of her paradise to paying guests.

The property is described in the listing as 'an environmentally-crafted and sustainability-minded vacation destination.'

For $120 per night - per guest - a maximum of five people can elect to stay in a loft-style apartment adjacent to Yelsa's home.

It features two beds and one bath and a simple kitchen setup with all the necessities - the animator provides her guests with tea and coffee.

A narrow wood staircase leads to the second level, where there are two mattresses tucked beneath a sloping ceiling.

Her artistic spirit is evident within the walls of the house, which are decked in vibrant paintings and African animal masks.

The property is full of quirks, like its location by a so-called 'grizzly bear corridor.' The listing advises guests not to wander aimlessly around the property, 'especially after dark.'

Yelsa hopes to welcome other people to her homestead.

'I would like to build tiny homes and have people here making art on the farm,' she said.

While her lifestyle may seem daunting, the artist is grateful for the simple things like being immersed in nature.

'Even at night there’s this light, even from the stars,' she said.

'You don’t get that in L.A.'