Ala Southiick

April 30, 2026 by Arseny Vesnin in 2026, Illustration, Portfolios, Serbia

Ala Southiick draws what she sees, where she sees it. The Serbian illustrator and environmental artist works in plein-air: sketchbook open, pen moving, catching street life as it passes.

Her technique is rooted in speed and presence. Quick observational drawings capture characters, animals, and the quiet dramas of public space before they dissolve. The method demands a certain surrender: no corrections, no second passes, just the line and the moment.

Southiick documents her outdoor sketching workshops on TikTok, filling page after page with the faces and creatures she encounters on location or showing the process of quick sketching. The sketchbooks become a kind of visual diary, not polished, not precious, but alive with the texture of being somewhere specific.

Follow Ala Southiick

Sad Girls by Glam Beckett

April 22, 2026 by Arseny Vesnin in 2026, Illustration, NFT Art, United Kingdom, Portfolios

We've followed Glam since her first NFT project, Sad Girls Bar, went viral in 2021 with nearly $8M in volume.

Beckett draws what lingers after the party ends. The London-based illustrator works exclusively in black ink, building worlds where sadness wears its finest clothes and ennui poses like it knows you're watching.

Her monochrome compositions explore the space between beauty and darkness, romantic, erotic, heavy with nostalgia for things that may never have existed. The absence of colour is the point. Black and white strips away distraction, leaving only the emotional core: longing, melancholy, the glamour of feeling too much.

“I realised how empty and meaningless that work felt to me. I longed to create something that held real value and personal meaning. That’s when I made the decision to fully dedicate myself to art. And it turned out you don’t really need art education to become an artist.”

— Glam Beckett

Follow up artist Glam Beckett

mcbess - Alice

March 07, 2026 by Arseny Vesnin in 2026, Illustration, Motioncollector

A talented person has many gifts. So does Matthieu Bessudo, whom we’ve been following for ages under mcbess moniker. Besides his extensive illustration work, Matthieu composes music and songs under the name Mcbaise.

Alice is a leading song from his “Wrongderful” album. I deliberately put this animation on the main page rather Music section because it belongs here. Worth mentioning, this video generally takes about six months of painstaking illustration work by talented Nicolas Macia under McBess ' direction.

“There’s a place for you to find
Let it bloom your mind”

— Mcbaise on "Alice"

P.s. This is Alice as a vinyl toy you will fall in love directly. Figure works as a night lamp, you better check yourself on mcbess store.

Richard Nadler

February 11, 2026 by Arseny Vesnin in 2026, Art, Craft, Illustration, Germany, Portfolios

Richard Nadler is an artist whose work is based on close observation and personal stories. His work is shaped by his father's influence, especially his lifelong love of textiles and craftsmanship - from antique Persian rugs to worn watches and handmade leather shoes.
Nadler's aesthetic belief is that surfaces hold time and closeness, and that objects carry human experience. His work links traditional craft values with contemporary digital art.

Nadler focuses on showing unseen layers of life through rooms and halls. Instead of people, he paints empty spaces as a "vacuum of presence" that feels lived-in by placing marks, textures, and light. This choice shows how memory and feeling live in places. He turns homes into stages of personal moments as joy, grief, laughter, silence and made visible by careful detail and mood. His work mixes documentary observation with poetic interpretation.

The artist works with materials both digital and physical, exploring time and handmade skill. By offering his pieces as NFTs and as embroidered versions, Nadler contrasts the instant nature of digital work with the slow, meditative pace of embroidery.

Follow up artist

Melancholy dipped in sunshine by Kalle Hellzen

May 23, 2025 by Arseny Vesnin in 2025, Art, Illustration, Netherlands, Portfolios

Kalle Hellzen discovered his passion for art in his 40th. For him, being colourblind is not a barrier to creating awe-inspiring art. His condition enhances reds, dims blues and blurs mid-spectrum colours, which is why he's making incredible contrast in his work. But it's his process itself which is fascinating.

Calais begins with oil and acrylic paintings, creating original bases from which to work. He then works digitally with tools like Photoshop to generate print compositions. He often captures subjects in pause, falling, or contemplation, exploring the human experience of enduring and navigating life's challenges. Combining traditional printing, painting, varnishing, and pouring layers of gloss acrylic medium, he crafts one-of-a-kind original prints, describing his work as melancholy dipped in sunshine.

@artbykallehellzen

Portraits in Prism by Irina Kiro

May 16, 2025 by Arseny Vesnin in 2025, Illustration, Lifestyle, Portfolios

Irina Kiro, a seasoned graphic designer turned illustrator, brings a bold visual punch to the portrait format in her electrifying series Portraits. Known for her vibrant minimalist approach, Kiro reinterprets faces through a kaleidoscopic lens of colour, geometry, and mood. Each piece in the series pulses with layered hues—blues, purples, tangerines—merging expressive emotion with the clean efficiency of vector art.

Her decade-long career that we covered through our pages informs her keen eye for composition and storytelling. In Portraits, she distills personality into angular forms and radiant overlays, achieving a striking harmony between abstraction and humanity.

With an impressive roster of clients including Wired, The Guardian, L’Oréal, and Kiehl’s, Kiro proves that minimalist illustration can still be emotionally rich—and wildly captivating. Portraits is not just a collection of faces; it’s a celebration of identity in technicolor.

irinakiro.com

Ballpoint pen art by Castro Adefisayo

April 29, 2025 by Arseny Vesnin in 2025, Art, Illustration, Nigeria, NFT Art, Portfolios

Castro Adefisayo is a talented artist based in Nigeria, celebrated for his incredible ability to craft stunning portraits using only a ballpoint pen. His artwork showcases the diverse beauty of humanity, capturing the essence of individuals across various genders, ethnicities, ages, and socio-cultural backgrounds.

Through meticulous attention to detail and a unique technique, Castro brings his subjects to life on the canvas, inviting viewers to appreciate the intricate stories and emotions that define each person he portrays. His work highlights the aesthetic charm of human figures and conveys a powerful message about the universal dignity and worth of every individual.

Follow up artist

City Pop by Hiroshi Nagai

April 17, 2025 by Arseny Vesnin in 2025, Art, Illustration, Lifestyle, Japan, Portfolios

Hiroshi Nagai (b. 1947) is a Japanese artist known for his vibrant, nostalgic illustrations that capture the dreamy essence of summer. Inspired by the 1970s and ’80s pop culture, his work often features palm trees, swimming pools, and sleek architecture under bright blue skies.

His signature style became iconic during the rise of Japan’s City Pop music scene, especially through album covers like Eiichi Ohtaki’s A Long Vacation. Blending clean lines, bold colours, and a calm, minimalist aesthetic, Nagai creates timeless scenes that feel both familiar and surreal.

@hiroshipenguinjoe

Pixel Ptushka

February 24, 2025 by Arseny Vesnin in 2025, Digital Art, Illustration, Russia, Portfolios

Pixel Ptushka is a talented pixel artist and manga creator. While I cannot appreciate her manga skills as I am completely out of that zone (but you shall), her pixel art is a pure pleasure for the eyes. The cities series is my favourite and I wish to see more of her pixel art soon.

@pixelptushka

Ilya Kazakov - from personal projects to a thriving community

September 16, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Illustration, France, NFT Art, Portfolios, Russia

Ilya Kazakov, a name familiar to our readers, is an illustrator based in Paris, France, whose work we've showcased multiple times. Known for his incredible productivity and a style that's both simple and engaging, Ilya has recently ventured into the world of personal NFT projects. With his unique approach and swift, precise technique, he's created art and built a community of enthusiasts who actively participate in and support his ventures.

Featured

Jun 4, 2021

Crypto jumpers "POPSIKI" by Ilya Kazakov

Jun 4, 2021

What sets Ilya's projects apart is the level of involvement from his community. From dozens to hundreds, these individuals don't just offer ideas; they become co-creators. Take his latest project, FTCG, for example. Ilya draws each card specifically for the person who requested it, crafting a deeply personal connection and fostering a vibrant sense of community.

On Ilya's private Discord channel, fans can request cards for free using their NFT tokens. These cards are then grouped into sets of five and distributed through fun giveaways. Getting your card involves a mix of luck and patience, often requiring trades to complete your set. Participants describe this process as both enjoyable and thrilling. The third set is underway, with 240 cards already drawn, and the community eagerly awaits the 300th card.

Ilya thrives on challenges. He's completed multiple Inktobers and the 365 Project, where he drew daily. He has also embraced a new tradition from the crypto community on X (formerly Twitter): the 'GM' (Good Morning) greeting. Inspired by this, Ilya now sketches every morning, each piece reflecting his mood and offering a window into his life through art.

In wrapping up, Ilya Kazakov's artistic journey continues to enchant and inspire. His talent for storytelling through visuals enhances our world and invites us into a realm of boundless creativity. As we anticipate his upcoming works, we're excited to follow his artistic growth and always ready to be delighted by his next creation. Ilya's art isn't just observed; it's experienced, and we're eager to see where his imagination will take us next.

ilyakazakov.com

Hey Studio

September 05, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Design, Branding, Graphic Design, Illustration, Spain, Agencies, Advertising

Hey is a creative studio based in Barcelona, established in 2007. Specialising in developing creative strategies and visual languages for a global clientele 🌍, Hey Studio thrives on a collaborative approach powered by a passionate team. Their designs are crafted to be impactful, meeting client needs while resonating with target audiences. Believing in the power of design 🎨 to communicate messages beyond mere aesthetics, Hey Studio fosters a vibrant creative community where personal and professional growth is encouraged. ✨

The HeyStudio x Kaleos collection combines sustainability with versatility by offering a single, customisable frame that transforms into 1,296 styles. This reduces the need for multiple frames and caters to diverse tastes with a range of colors.

This collaboration with Balvi reimagines the classic chess set through a modern, artistic lens. It features geometric shapes, vibrant colours, and a blend of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design.

Caravelle Brewery's new Soda, their first non-alcoholic drink, embraces a summery retro vibe with a vintage label design, a single flavour-focused colour, and a bubbly custom typeface evoking nostalgia and fun memories.

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"In Times New Roman…" animation by Gloria Gemignani

July 23, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Illustration, Italy, Motioncollector, Portfolios

Gloria, an Italian motion designer and passionate music lover, embarked on a unique project to honor Queens of the Stone Age’s album, “In Times New Roman…”. Over four months, she crafted a short animation for each of the album’s 10 tracks.

In June, Gloria released these animations online, culminating in a full edit to celebrate the album’s first anniversary. Her work beautifully merges visual storytelling with the band's distinctive sound, offering fans a new way to experience the music.

Explore Gloria's animations and see the captivating blend of music and motion design in her tribute to Queens of the Stone Age.

gloriagemignani.com

Surreal Digital Art by Chema Mendez

July 08, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Digital Art, Illustration, NFT Art, Spain, Portfolios

Chema Mendez is a renowned artist who has been working in digital art for over a decade. His works are always surreal, with a high degree of detail regarding the digital components that blur the lines between reality and imagination.

Over the years, the style Mendez worked on has grown in people and more over his NFT collectors, placing him as one of the prominent figures in digital art globally.

His surreal compositions grace the covers of albums by top musicians, adding visual depth and intrigue to their musical tales.

Chema’s work has also adorned the covers of various prestigious magazines, implying that the artist is versatile and opens his creative vision to a large audience.

Through Mendez's oeuvre, he continues to push the limits of digital artistry, significantly impacting contemporary visual culture.

mendezmendez.com

Art by Karina Eibatova

June 24, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Art, Illustration, Russia, United Kingdom, Portfolios

Karina Eibatova is a visual artist who has previously published work on our website and has also appeared in Juxtapoz, the New York Times, Wired, and The Verge. She has shown her artworks in Vienna, Berlin, Tokyo, London, and Los Angeles. Karina, born in St. Petersburg during the USSR's twilight, has pursued her passion for art and established an international career and academic trajectory from a young age. At the moment Karina is based in Devon, UK.

Karina's first collaboration with a UK company was with Atlantic Records in 2010. The artist created the cover artwork for the Versaemerge "Fixed At Zero" disc. The popularity of Karina's graphics in the early 2010s brought her many projects around the world at the very beginning of her artistic career.

Karina began her fine art studies in 2007 at a foundation school in Sweden. In 2014, Karina studied at Central Saint Martins in London on the Fine Arts 4D faculty. She later studied art in Tokyo and attained her first MA in fine art from the Art Academy in Vienna.

Solos show Project Space 1, AUP, Plymouth

Later in 2020, she did a cover for the fabulous British musician Tom Adams, which will only be released this year. After, Karina pursued her second Master's degree at the Art University Plymouth in the Southwest of the UK. There, she reached a new level of creativity, where her practice took on a more personal and profound approach: her paintings increased in size, and from watercolour and pencil graphics, she began to focus more on oil painting.

Renowned artist Richard Kenton Webb, who is an award-winning artist and educator with over 30 years of extensive experience at institutions including The Slade School of Fine Art, admires Karina's work, and he has left a review of Karina's last exhibition.

“What am I considering when I encounter Eibatova’s visual poetry? A sublimity of mind and a genuine ambition for wonder. These thoughts have been my companion when I engage with this painter’s vision. A vision that is both compelling, fresh and unnerving. I am not necessarily comfortable or put at ease when I spent time with these accomplished paintings, I like that fact, they are enigmatic. What I find is I am compelled to look, digest and converse with them face to face, to behold and hear their voice asking me questions. They certainly ask why to any certainty I consider a fact of seeing.
I find I am writing the words, apocalyptical and visionary. We could discuss English qualities of the painter and printmaker John Martin or the writer and academic J.R.R.Tolkien, or the extraordinary Gray’s Anatomy as sources, if necessary, for inspiration. Yet we for all this referencing we are certainly in what painting is now, contemporary thinking and making, not in a past, but a forward thinking, inside cinema graphic questions of fiction that are rooted deep in nature.
We are in the language and use of colour. Where colour is used to carry a magnificent narrative, that speaks into the soul of the viewer from an exquisite detail to a soft velvetiness of flat colour. I witness the sensibilities of the Cornish painter Peter Lanyon, his eyes and inheritance of being in Devon and Cornwall. Where painting is made air-born. Her diptych that is so beautifully original and statically poised about this particular place and landscape. As a gull floats on the wing, looking, stationary high over hundreds of feet of cliff beside the ocean. It makes me understand being inside a thought.
Karina’s paintings are like a dial in slow motion materializing hope. Of being a witness inside a dream, and renewed because of it. Collectively the ten paintings in this exhibition organise a great sense of otherness that we have shared in a great calm, like witnessing a flower open into its glory, but it seems just for us alone.”

— Richard Kenton Webb, 2024

From the author’s manifesto

“Currently, my personal creative practice is centered on oil on canvas. I explore imagery drawn from nature, dreams and imagination and strive to create an immersive and contemplative experience for the viewer through color and symbolism. My painting is at the crossroads, somewhere abstract, in some places not so much: a landscape or a body, a stone or a tree. In my recent works I try to reflect the value of the human body and of life itself, without resorting to depicting human figures, I try to depict our inner world, a secret landscape full of organs and light. Through a combination of neon, dark and pastel colours I want to express a sense of hope”.

This year, Karina was awarded the “Artist of the Month” prize in Zima magazine, one of the most recognised Russian-speaking media projects based in London. One of her works is on display in the city centre of London this summer.

“Karina Eibatova’s works combine tenderness, organicity, lightness of abstract forms, painted with special care, expression and force, a kind of rumbling, reminiscent of works about the terrible judgment of the English Romanticism artist John Martin. In her paintings there is a certain confidence, power and resilience of a soft, feminine flow of forms – not something corporeal, not something cloudy, not something earthy and tangible, not something airy and elusive. This remarkable balance of opposites allows the viewer to feel a profound visual comfort. The works envelope the beholder like a soft blanket and immerse him or her in other levels of this visual aesthetic, where he or she encounters an intense vitality, some even doom. One plunges into this painting like a cloud, which, while outwardly harmless, carries thunder and lightning. Karina has been shortlisted for the prize several times and we are delighted to finally present her with the award she deserves”

— Katya Granova, curator of the Artist of the Month project

Intriguingly, two individuals made a similar comparison with English painter, engraver, and illustrator John Martin, which prompts the audience to contemplate the relationship between the apocalyptic landscapes of the 19th century and Karina's dramatic works. We'll continue keenly observing this gifted artist's upcoming creative endeavours.

About the author

Arseny Vesnin founded Designcollector, a platform established in 2003 in Russia. Designcollector is one of the pioneering digital magazines dedicated to covering and supporting the digital art scene and creative communities in Russia and beyond. The platform showcases a variety of content related to digital art, design, and visual culture, providing artists, designers, and creatives with exposure and inspiration. Over the years, it has expanded to include digital art events like the Digital Decade, an exhibition featuring emerging visual artists and designers. Designcollector has always covered the intersection of art, design, music and culture.

Featured

Nov 29, 2019

Illustrative world of Karina Eibatova

Nov 29, 2019

HUGOS

June 17, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Illustration, Italy, NFT Art, Portfolios

Hugos is an Italian illustrator bending the art world where tradition meets digital innovation.

His work goes into the traditional limits of illustration, achieved by contemporary tools and techniques, to evoke a compelling, detailed form of storytelling. It is an imagination mixed with emotion and technique that begets original illustrations, which touch deep within viewers.

Each piece is an exemplar of his mastery of both classical methods and cutting-edge digital artistry.

In Hugos's work, innovative fusion preserves the cultural legacy of Italian art and takes it into uncharted territories. At the same time, it seduces audiences worldwide with its unique visual narratives.

@Hug0ne

PosterLad

June 07, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Czechia, Graphic Design, Illustration, Lifestyle, Lettering, NFT Art, Portfolios

Vratislav Pecka, known in the art world as PosterLad, is a celebrated artist renowned for his minimalist and colourful designs. Born in Prague, Czech Republic, Pecka's journey to artistry began after graduating from film school as a video editor.

Discovering his passion for graphic design, he co-founded Pecka Studio and worked with prestigious clients like Adobe and HP. His art, influenced by the Bauhaus movement and 90s nostalgia, emphasises basic shapes and vivid colours. With exhibitions across four continents and a book titled "PosterLad: Colorful Minimalism," Pecka's work transcends traditional poster use, aiming to captivate visually and please the observer.

“Vratislav managed to get international exposure for his excellent work. I appreciate the fact that the work is purely formal and does not pretend to advertise or promote anything, there is no function that manages to drag the work into the gutter”

— Stefan Sagmeister (Forbes, 12/2022)

@posterlad

Bored Josei

June 03, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Illustration, Digital Art, NFT Art, Portfolios

Talented illustrator Bored Josei creates nostalgic flat-coloured isometric artworks calling out a lot of 90s childhood flashbacks.

Josei's art is a vibrant and captivating delight that effortlessly draws the viewer into a world of creativity and imagination. Their self-taught style sets them apart in anime art and adds a unique charm and authenticity to their creations. Through a masterful use of rich colours and intricate details, Josei's pieces beckon onlookers to explore every nuance, promising a journey of visual discovery and artistic appreciation. For those yearning for novel and exciting artistic expressions, Josei's work offers a refreshing and immersive experience that lingers long after the initial gaze.

@BoredJosei

Magic world of digital artist Alariko

May 27, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Digital Art, Illustration, Portfolios, Spain

Dive into the serene atmosphere of small towns created by Spanish artists working under the Alariko moniker. There is little to tell about the artist, but the works speak for themselves. Mainly using a rectangle brushstroke, they create beautiful scenery worth a full-length animation.

@alariko

Anya Asano

May 06, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Digital Art, Illustration, NFT Art, Portfolios

Anya Asano, a digital artist, seamlessly transitioned from a decade-long traditional painting career to the immersive world of NFTs, marking an evolution in his expressive journey.

With roots in traditional art school, Asano's work transcends boundaries, fusing digital technologies to create a unique visual language. They craft abstract and figurative amalgamations using tools like Blender, After Effects, AI algorithms, and glitch techniques, where the virtual and the real intertwine in a vibrant dance of pixels and polygons.

www.ayenwhyay.com

Normal Weirdos by Martisha Merems

March 27, 2024 by Arseny Vesnin in 2024, Digital Art, Illustration, Israel, NFT Art, Portfolios

Martisha Merems, a Tel Aviv-based artist, explores the intricate dance of mental and spiritual transformation in her art. Through her work, she delves into the realms of emotions and self-awareness, aiming to harmonise the chaos of life with moments of tranquillity and joy. Her imagination intertwines with contemporary reality, offering new perspectives and celebrating the joy of existence.

Her "Normal Weirdos" collection epitomises this journey, championing the uniqueness of individual imperfections. Inspired by her idiosyncrasies and those of her loved ones, Martisha sees these quirks as vital, distinctive aspects of personal identity. This collection is a call to embrace and empower oneself by accepting these traits, suggesting that what makes us different is what makes us powerful. Martisha Merems showcases her creative prowess through her art and fosters a dialogue on self-acceptance and the beauty inherent in our imperfections.

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