Netherlands-based illustrator Sonal Jadhav produces anything from editorial work to advertising campaigns, collaborating with brands like Microsoft Build, FOUR magazine, and British Petroleum. When it comes to her medium of choice, Jadhav admits she’s “digital all the way”. In an interview with Ballpitmag she described this medium as “very forgiving”, declaring “it gives me the freedom to experiment constantly.”
Indeed, one thing is clear when scrolling through Jadhav’s Instagram page: her playful inclination for experimentation. After years of playing around with different aesthetics, she found that her best work happens when she’s creating surreal spaces. Inspired by photography, architecture, modern art, and textiles, she uses characters, forms, and textures that add a tactile quality to her finished pieces.
Born in India, Jadhav grew up in the bustling city of Mumbai, recalling her childhood as filled with creativity. According to Jadhav, growing up in India also meant she was surrounded by its colorful culture, which would later inspire her work. After attending Supinfocom Rubika for her master’s in 3D Direction, she decided to work at an indie game studio in the Netherlands, and has lived there since 2016.
Now based in Enschede, she also runs an online shop that offers postcards and art prints. A multi-disciplined illustrator, Jadhav’s aim is to deliver imagery that surpasses the brief, satisfying both herself and her audience. “I live to create illustrations that are pleasing to the senses,” she writes.
