Singapore-based illustrator and art director Elen Winata is known for her clean aesthetic – a hybrid between playfulness and structure, illustration and design. “I mostly work in vector because that’s what I’m used to and work fastest in,” she explained in an interview with Ballpitmag. “With the right brushes/textures you can use it to emulate drawings done organically. Vector drawings can also be scaled up easily, making vector a versatile medium for adaptations to different formats.”
Having earned her Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design from The Art Institute of New York City, her work spans across different mediums such as illustration, digital, design, and advertising.
“As a naturally quiet person, art is a way for me to express myself,” she says. “It is a big part of me and I am lucky to be able to make a living through it. I’ve also enjoyed how art has been used to promote messages and causes that would otherwise take a long time to express. A picture does speak a thousand words.”
Her illustrations tend to center around characters (mostly human, but sometimes animals), colored in bright colors and composed of clean lines and balanced layouts. And when Winata’s not pushing pixels, you can find her surfing memes, doodling quotes, and stalking the neighborhood cat.
