Costa Rica based illustrator and graphic designer, Adriana Esquivel, admits her practice requires certain mindfulness. “Honestly, illustration to me is a form of meditation,” she remarked once in an interview with Ballpitmag. “It’s a way to disconnect my brain and just be in the moment. I feel like art levels me out, it gives me perspective and makes life more enjoyable.”
Her work — upbeat, bright, and playful — invites the viewer in. A blend of natural and urban landscapes, her illustrations depict animals and humans (mostly women) as equals in a world that’s more in tune with its natural surroundings. “Coming from such a biodiverse place as Costa Rica, of course, I get some of my inspiration from nature,” says Esquivel. “Besides that, I get a lot of references from films, books, and stories in general.”
Esquivel’s work also includes typography art, with quotes like “open your heart wide” and “the future will either be green or not at all”, in line with her overall sense of optimism. “It’s hard to predict how people will react to your work,” she says, “but I hope it brings people joy. I hope they feel good when they look at it and it bolsters their imagination.”
