Illustrator Nadia Hafid reinterprets the art of comics, using minimal shapes and restricted color palettes. Rather than relying on speech bubbles, Hafid’s comics-inspired illustrations are strictly visual, allowing the viewer some room for interpretation.
Omitting dialogue balloons also means Hafid’s work is more abstract than traditional comics. “In my illustrations, my characters are part of the representation of very abstract ideas,” relayed Hafid in an interview with wertn. “When I draw my comics I think there is something about me, especially as the stories are usually based on my own experiences or thoughts. In any case, I think there is some distance between me as a person and my works due to my symbolic and geometric style.”
Each piece begins with a light sketch which is then transferred to her computer. “I always draw by hand!” she explains her creative process. “I always begin with freehand sketch. Then, I polish it with rulers and circle templates. Sometimes I use the light board to polish the drawing even more. Finally I scan it the illustration, and clean the drawing with Photoshop very well before adding the color with it.”
With a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Barcelona, and another in Arts Applied on the Wall from the School of Arts and Crafts (Llotja de Barcelona), Hafid’s work leans heavily on her artistic upbringing. Recent works include illustrations for the New York Times‘ section “At Home” and an editorial illustration for an article in the Economist. Scroll down to see more of her work.
