A Visual Exploration from 2020
During the pandemic, I began a self-directed residency focused on exploring how my style had evolved. I worked with travel-friendly formats and limited tools — mainly markers — to define my palettes, characters, and visual language.
This process led to three ongoing sketchbook series. I studied references from favorite illustrators, identifying recurring visual elements that resonated with my work: contrasts between patterns and solid colors, clean shapes and organic textures.
This moment marked a more conscious blend of my background in expressive, intuitive painting and the structured, graphic sensibility shaped by years of design practice. A key focus was developing characters with distinct personalities — playful, a little absurd, and emotionally nuanced.
This process led to three ongoing sketchbook series. I studied references from favorite illustrators, identifying recurring visual elements that resonated with my work: contrasts between patterns and solid colors, clean shapes and organic textures.
This moment marked a more conscious blend of my background in expressive, intuitive painting and the structured, graphic sensibility shaped by years of design practice. A key focus was developing characters with distinct personalities — playful, a little absurd, and emotionally nuanced.
Many of these pieces are available as prints on my website vervlova.com
