Sophie Melissa’s Digital Artwork is All Smiles

We’ve taken lately to Sophie Melissa’s digital illustrations. Inspired by art deco posters from the 1930s, she uses simple lines and shapes to create stunning compositions that induce nostalgia. Based in London, Melissa graduated in 2017 from Falmouth University with an Illustration degree and has since worked independently, collaborating with brands like VOGUE, WIRED, and Fujitsu amongst others.

“I enjoy finding a balance between analog and digital techniques,” she told Creative Boom. “I combine them by starting each illustration as a pencil drawing, and once created digitally I overlay color and traditional textures I’ve made through mono printing, these add an imperfect nature to the clean digital shapes.”

“I take a lot of inspiration from the composition and layout of art deco posters from the 1930s, which I studied in my first year at university,” she added. “I also find stepping away from my desk, whether that’s strolling around London, spending time in nature, or returning to Falmouth to spend time by the sea, really helps inspire me to create.”

Her poster-like works are well worth hanging on your walls. Take a look for yourself!

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Day Two of #MarchMeetTheMaker is how you started ✏️ (This is a ramble one for those who actually want to read on!) I planned to study design as I’d always loved drawing and creating so I did an Art Foundation year at @bucksnewuni which was so much fun, lots of experimenting, and it was there I discovered illustration was even a degree option and I remember feeling so excited at the chance to turn what I loved doing into my career. I actually dropped out of my first uni in Birmingham immediately after a few weeks, as I realised the course wasn’t for me (or worth the 9k a year!) so decided to go with my heart and apply for @falmouthuni which was my best life decision yet 🍃 Studying illustration there was an amazing experience – the tutors were so passionate and helpful and I learned so much and was surrounded by so many amazing creative people! Towards the end of my degree we visited New York and the feedback on my portfolio from art directors really gave me the confidence to get my work out there. I exhibited my work at @newdesigners in London that summer, and won the SAA new talent in illustration award, which introduced me to my amazing agents at New Division. This here was first commission a few months out of university for Scouting Magazine ✏️I am always learning more and developing as time goes on, but I am so happy with where I am in my career and am very thankful every step in my journey to get here! ✏️

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