South African illustrator and animator Fran Labuschagne has a particular love for characters, soft colors, and chocolate. Her aesthetic could be described as a mix of organic and rigid shapes, with a feminine touch. “I like to slip in some color and humor in too, especially pink, you might notice the pink,” she remarked in an interview with Ballpitmag.
Indeed, her work is often inspired by playful themes and humorous notes. Working with local and international brands alike, Labuschagne aims to create bold illustrations with a touch of charm. With most of her illustrations being digital, her favorite medium is Adobe Illustrator. “I am quite the perfectionist,” she admits, “so working with a medium that enables you to align points and object with one another is quite enjoyable for me.”
Her creative process usually begins with a sketch. “Sketching out an idea first can be very helpful, as you aren’t trying to make it look good, but rather attempting to get the idea out your head,” she explains. Once that sketch is approved by the client, she dives into the final render on Illustrator. Sometimes, she uses Photoshop for some texturing, but mostly she prefers subtle textures to jarring ones.
“My work is very detail-oriented, and I’ve come to realize that I see small details in the real world,” says Labuschagne. “I see patterns on trees, faces on top of mountains, I notice the colors of a seagull’s feet. My work brain and life brain is someone forming one.”
An avid traveler, Labuschagne can be found working form a different country every so often. But you can also follow her online, via Instagram.
