It's Not Made In China

illustrators

Njabulo Mokgathi (@Fonix_bc), born & raised in Durban, is a 3rd year graphic design student at DUT. His love for illustration started long before he learned the word “illustration”. His first inspiration came as a kid watching cartoons & Anime, & reading comics. “I was really inspired by the unique style of Akira Toriyama (the creator of Dragon Ballz)”.

#Taylormadebluu was inspired by my mother, Lucky Nhlengethwa, who has always worked from home sewing & selling clothes. In creating my own style, I took the technique of sewing and stitching and incorporated it into my work. I'm also inspired by the concept of dystopia & this also influences my art. My characters are tailor made (TaylorMade) to inspire and motivate, which makes me the Tailor (Lol)”

Jess Nicholson (jess-nicholson.squarespace.com) can't really decide who she is. She lives in Durban and for most of the day she works as a journalist, sometimes writing, sometimes editing. But when words fail, she turns to drawing, and this is probably what she would most like to be doing.

Jess also likes to play with children all the time, and her drawings often have a child-like quality to them. She studied Fine Art and English and has, over the years, also worked doing layout and graphic design for newspapers and magazines.

Michael Kostakis (@mikekostasis) is a Durban-based illustrator and practicing digital designer. He has experienced the creative scene in Gauteng, but decided to relocate back to his hometown to ply his trade in Durban where he currently works in an agency.

Michael has been drawing and painting (mostly on Microsoft paint) his whole life but adds: “I fell in love with vector style illustration as I grew as a designer. I love exploring new styles of illustration and making use of contrasting palettes. I love to create local authentic work which expresses my views visually.”

Jacobus Silwer (@jacobussilwer) was schooled in Bloemfontein & studied Graphic Design at Technikon Free State from 1999 - 2002. Jacobus has been a professional singer/songwriter/entertainer since 2012, writing music & lyrics for plays. He also sculpts but his love for sketching has been life-long.

“I’ve done WAY more sketches than I have written songs. Ballpoint pen became my favourite early on. I love the BIC "click" 0.7mm black on brilliant white mounting board. Most of my work is monochrome & is usually nature-inspired - especially trees. I LOVE trees! My wife, Lizzy, is also an accomplished artist, she mostly paints and photographs the trees I want to sketch". We live on a lion farm with our 9 month old daughter, Emmalé”.

Dan Kalmer (@mr_kalmersutra) is a Johannesburg-based software developer who loves to draw everyday. He enjoys filling sketch books from cover to cover.

Dan's illustration was the winning submission at the illustration competiton held at the Smoking Dragon New Year Festival. Besides drawing, his other passions are reading and dogs.

Rogan van den Berg (@feral_dude) is a resident illustrator & 3D Artist currently working at Feral Child Animation studio based in Durban.

He brings a unique style of illustration with an added 3rd dimension to his work. Rogan is also part-producer, building larger creative teams when extra artists are required.

Joshua Mackenzie (@joshmackcreates) is a Durban-based artist. When it comes to the artistic process, his style tends to vary from piece to piece. Joshua is an ever-changing individual and is always willing to learn new things that interest him.

As of 2019, Joshua is completing a degree in Multimedia Design at Vega School of Brand Leadership. Of art, Joshua states: "I believe art is a physical form of celebrating human diversity."

Elmeri Steyn (@stickytoffeestudio) is a Bloemfontein-based illustrator/graphic designer & the brains behind Bliksim Upcycled Tins. Elmeri studied art at Pretoria Technikon {"about 1000 years ago!"} & recently earned a certificate in Graphic Design from The California Arts institute.

She is passionate about colour & patterns. For illustrations she uses Copic & Posca markers, & occasionally watercolor ("if I can find the box!"). Elmeri says she does not know how not to be creative. "I have two lovely studios: one on the couch (& coffee table) & one in/on my bed! Imagine waking up with pens and paper at the ready between the sheets! – I drive my family nuts". She has turned her creativity into a business – "so it never feels like work! And for this I do have a 'normal' studio – can’t see clients in bed – not so professional!"

Meghan Kenmuir (@manifest_designs) was born in Durban and is currently working as a freelance Graphic Designer in the creative hub of Woodstock, Cape Town. Meghan recently graduated from Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography with a BA in Visual Communications (and majoring in Graphic Design).

When she's not designing, you can find her performing and singing in and around Cape Town. Meghan describes her style as "digital-based and bold", however, she says: "I am forever experimenting with different mediums and compositions and always pushing myself to try new things!"

Divan Schutte (@divster23) is a fashion designer specialising in weddings and matric farewells. He does some painting and illustration on the side. "I've been drawing ever since I could speak," he says.

His illustration was chosen as the winning entry at the Bloem illustration competition in Oct 2018. Divan is passionate about food and also about animals and their welfare and he has cut animals and animal products from his diet. It's a stand we whole-heartedly approve of!

Jaclyn Matthias (www.forestfiredesigns.co.za) is a 26-year-old female designer based in Durban. Hard working individual – extremely passionate about Digital Design, Animation and Corporate Identity. To view more of her work visit her website (address above).

Anna-Claire Whysall (@tigertitz) is a 24-year-old tattooer from Durban. Day-to-day you can find her at Trade Mark Tattoo, drawing all day, every day, and cuddling her dog, Zeppelin, in between.

“I like to draw bejewelled water ladies, tigers, jungle scenes and wild florals! I draw a lot of things I kinda wish I owned like elaborate earrings and necklaces! I always try and give my ladies character and a backstory! At the moment I am really into drawing big scenes, perfect for back or front pieces!"

James Chappe (@jameschappe) is an 18 year old Durbanite illustrator and Digital Design student at Vega School. He specialises in detailed marker and fine-liner work but is broadening his artistic reach into other media and the digital sector.

James has been drawing for as long as he can remember: "Every one of my school textbooks were doodle-riddled. I was lucky enough to grow up in a home which encouraged a passion for creativity.”

Muzi Nkosi @muzi_sensei) was born in 1995 in Pretoria but grew up in the small town of Nelspruit. He is currently studying graphic design, but the art journey began when he was 8 years old on first seeing Dragon Ball Z on TV. “Since then i haven’t been able to put the pencil down.” From early on he desired to be the best manga artist in the world. “Hey! I'm working on that one!”

Sandesh Jugmohun (@sandesh_jugmohun) is a graphic designer, well-versed in various design and branding platforms. He likes to be referred to as a Durban cat while currently working his trade in Jozi. His focus is on digital design, but remains attached to the handmade. "I enjoy creating with my hands before anything else - feeling the texture of a wall, smelling the paper I work on, and seeing how imagery translates from paper to the walls."Sandesh is a long-practising calligrapher who regularly enters the PMB Royal Show and is recognised as an active graffiti, calligraffiti and street artist. He has been involved with international artists integrated into the digital calligraphy space and other projects at ISEA 2018 Durban, and has worked on projects with Public Art Labs based in Berlin, becoming a Calligrafitti Ambassador for the programme.

Leanne Van (@leannevaloves) is an illustrator from the small town of White River, Mpumalanga, currently living in the UK. With a background in fashion her favourite subject matter is people, patterns and awesome outfits. “I am constantly working on my illustrative style and trying to master new techniques. Inspiration is all around me and I am always inspired by other illustrators and their unique perspective.”

Georgina Taylor (@__jorj__) is based in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her work often features native fauna and flora though not exclusively, and her preferred medium is watercolour, “It captures my energy and signature and allows for the detail and translucency that I love.” Georgina’s technique is unconventional, “I was never formally trained in watercolour. Instead, I studied to be a jeweller, but after graduating I was drawn back into illustration - a childhood obsession.”

Laurine Lindner (@laurinelindnerart ) is a 30 year old graphic designer, fine artist and illustrator who started and owns a design studio called Lindner Design. She gives credit to God for her successful business, “it is hard work and not many creatives who dream of this have the luxury and freedom of working for themselves. I wake up grateful everyday." Laurine studied graphic design and interior décor and loves working in many mediums, pushing herself to learn new techniques and skills. When she’s not in her studio or helping the cat get comfortable, she’s fixates on DIY projects and dreams of living “where there are more trees than buildings”.

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Shelby Guerin (@shelbyy.art) is a 16 year old from Nelspruit who grew up drawing and always found peace in it. “Art allows me to express myself when i don’t have the words to do so. There are no rules; you can interpret art any way you want to. A work of art is unique to you, though it may be seen differently by many. I love that about it!”

David Griessel (www.davidgriessel.com) born in 1990, studied Fine Art at the University of the Free State.

He graduated in 2012 and lives in Cape Town in a flat “with way too many plants” and “draws pictures for a living”. To view more of his work go to his website (see above).

Teedee Dlamini (@teeds_dlamini) is in her final year at Vega School of Brand Leadership. She believes the illustration narratives make her work unique, allowing her the opportunity to authentically celebrate and preserve an African aesthetic. “I make sure that when I design my illustrations I allow them to dance with excitement and represent everyday occasions, by allowing the viewer to experience the journey of the illustration piece. “

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Ankia Lloyd (@wolfie_artpage) is a Fine Arts student at Stellenbosch University who is passionate about all things art: writing, drama, singing, dance, photography, drawing, fx make-up... She loves experimenting in all media: “It's important to always push yourself to become better at what you do.” The inspiration behind much of her work is her favourite painting: van Gogh’s, Starry Night. “It's not so much his art as his story and the emotion he put into his work that inspires me”. Of the creative process, she says, “I try not to over think things. Much of my art I create with a fun view to it and as it progresses I start to attach meaning to it.” Ankia doesn’t like being put in a box and tries to always see the beauty and the adventure in life. “My mind is open and my dreams are big. I believe you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.”

Riaana Pieters (@riaanapieters), originally from Jeffery’s Bay, is a single mother currently living in Bloemfontein. Riaana’s talent and passion for art was obvious from a young age as she loved to illustrate all the time. Today this passion finds expression during the nights she experiences insomnia and her notebooks fill up with the illustrations that dwell in her imagination. It’s two of these illustrations that have found their way onto our bottles and she hopes that the exposure will provide an opportunity to live her artistic life more fully.

Thobani Khanyile (@knight_till_dawn) was born and raised in Kwa-mashu, Durban, and is currently studying a Bachelor in Arts and Graphic Design at the Pearson Institue in Umhlanga. “I specialize in different skills which are illustrating, corporate designs, conceptualizing and animation. I like to be spontaneous when it comes to life, but at the same time I like preparing and planning ahead, which makes me a thinker and a person that likes balance to life.” The creative process is where Thobani becomes alive, because, he says, “I am art and art is I”. “Expressing myself in the most honest way is always key to me because art is a language, so when I create, I'm communicating my ideas and my thoughts. In a nutshell thats who I am, I represent the thoughts that are to be expressed, because if there is nothing new under the sun I can only echo.”

Jil Jarvis (@jiljarvis) is a Durban-based digital collage artist and sells her prints and toys at the I Heart Market. Jil has a background in animation and it is here that she developed a love for illustration and for the creation of other-wordly characters. Although she studied Fine Art and Digital Design, Jil is largely self-taught. “I take photographs of the world around me and use them to create creatures from other worlds. I love working with both organic and industrial shapes and am obsessed with detail.“ She is planning an interactive storybook and game aimed at teaching children about energy healing.

Izabel Door (@izabeldoor_ing) is a freelance artist, illustrator and educator living and working in Cape Town. She works in a variety of mediums and believes that a creative education is at the core of innovation and sustainability and, therefore, essential to the foundation of a thriving society. Izabel enjoys creating interactive art, where the viewer plays an essential role in the meaning-making process. By encouraging viewers to craft a subjective narrative, a mutually beneficial relationship is born. She naively believes that art can change minds and worlds. She is open to collaboration and commissions.

Jackie Zhang (@jackie.z.yo) is a UX/UI designer based in Pretoria, a resident of the digital world and a full-time cat person (if his cat permits). Jackie is a self-taught illustrator. He has explored many different styles and mediums but feels that his best work is done digitally.
He likes to juxtapose different themes in his work to make it “fun and weird”, but, he says, “Ultimately, I just want to make cool stuff. I love to just create things, and be all creative about it, and have found that I can achieve this through drawing and illustrating. Although I am all for the creative freedom, I always aim to make my stuff functional with the user or audience in mind as a side effect of being a user interface/user experience designer.”

Rein van de Wall (@reinoland) is a 44 year-old (acts like a 20-year-old), father of 3 and a creative, working at Wisdom & Youth advertising in Durban. Umhlanga was his stamping-ground where he grew up surfing, skating & creating. Rein got into the creative world by default when he was hired by Zigzag Surfing magazine to be their designer even though he had no training or work experience. This forced him teach himself multiple disciplines of creative application, and is probably why he teaches himself something new creatively almost everyday. To release creative tension, he writes, illustrates and doodles in a notebook. Thanks to his daughter, Gabi, who suggested that he submit some of his artworks, he’s now on our bottles. Thanks Gabi!

LUMO is small a design studio based in Westville, KZN. Sharing a passion for illustration, typography and design, brothers, Daniel and Raymond Loumeau started working together 10 years ago.

Andrea Vonn Shunmugam (@andrea_vonn) - good luck pronouncing that – is a proudly born-and-raised, tea-drinking, Marvel-loving, graphic-designing Durbanite. For as far back as she can remember, she’s always seen the world through pictures, drawing on every surface imaginable; much to her mom’s dismay. Over the years, with her head in the clouds, and her much-loved pens, khokis and pencils in her hands, Andrea’s deep-rooted passion for design was born and took shape. Good art is a talent. Good design is a skill.”
“I bleed design and love every aspect of it. This year I challenged myself to create not just for me - but for others.” The result was a series of artworks for multiple commercial products, such as notebooks and now this water label. Fancy that!

Lumkile Mzayiya iQaba (@lulongwe1989) is a contemporary artist, born in 1989 and raised in a small town called Matatiele in the Eastern Cape. Lumkile’s parents, especially his mother, played a huge role in molding his love and passion for people, art, design and food. “Growing up in a rural area, under the Drakensberg mountains was very exciting but with limitations, guarded by a culture or religion. I was always fascinated by the idea of leaving my rural home to experience city life and the modern world.” This led Lumkile to Durban where he studied visual arts at the BAT Centre and where he worked with international artists during Cope17 in 2011. His work has been exhibited at the Durban Art Gallery and Johannesburg Art Gallery in 2011, BAT Centre in 2013, Durban University of Technology in 2014 and at KZNSA Gallery in 2017.

Placed on Earth as a weeping fetus, Dain Kasheel Durgapershad learnt that tears never really get you anywhere. As Dain grew, he discovered that the road to true success was through originality and effort. This thought-process shaped the creative person he is seen as today – a well-rounded designer whose work hits all the right frequencies. His illustrations offer variety influenced by music and anime among others. Harnessing the conceptual nature of design, he incorporates diversity to his illustrative work, never allowing his design work to fall into commonality and mediocrity.

Nicole Treadwell (@_nicole_treadwell_) is 16-years-young and hails from Witbank. “I have always had a love for art and it took me years to find my own personal style. I have a massive love for fine detail and patterns so I incorporate them into my drawings. I am practicing my skills in other media to grow my style and drawing quality.” After completing High School in Pretoria, she wants to study graphic design. “My aim is to open my own company where I can share and build on my art and give the same opportunity to other artists."

Gregory Darroll (@gregorydarroll) is a Durban-based freelance designer, illustrator and animator with an uncanny need to create something new everyday.
"I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. So much so, that I often battle to remember the last thing I drew. Being ‘creative’ has always been a constant part of my life. Studying design at DUT was a no-brainer in terms of career progression, then a move into advertising was the next inevitable step.
Now, I create content for various ad agencies and private brands, both locally and abroad, as well as maintain a regular turnover of personal projects.
I’m lucky enough to say that at work, I do what I would be doing if I wasn’t at work."

Lindy Pelzl (@lindy_doodle) is a Durban based illustrator currently working in the fashion retail industry. She likes to work in a broad variety of styles in many different mediums, constantly trying new things. Lindy’s favourite themes often involve elements from the natural world, and she prefers organic curves to manmade shapes. She enjoys adding an element of humour in her artworks, and quirky animal characters often crop up. She aspires to one day be a children’s book illustrator. “Art is an extension of who I am, and as I play around with new techniques and create new artworks, I feel like I am continually growing. It makes me happy and keeps me inspired.”

Helga Malan (@helgamalandesigns) studied graphic design at Pretoria Technikon. After stints in design jobs she moved to Jozi and has worked through the line to above the line. Her passion is illustration - digital or hand. In 2016, she undertook the #iloveyellow project to create a yellow-themed illustration every day for a year. “This was a big challenge but I received so much positive feedback and this was the fire-starter to focus on illustration as a career.” Helga began freelancing and says, “It has been an amazing journey and I’m loving everything about it”. She still does design work “to balance things out” as well as sculpture, jewellery, portraits, wallpaper and more - “I just love working with my hands”.

Julie Smith-Belton (@juliesmithbelton) is a Durban-based illustrator who describes herself as a professional daydreamer - “I dream with my hands & I play in paint.” Julie studied fine art & graphic design & says she has always been drawn to art. Art is her escape – “its a way to get lost in my thoughts, to play & to create without fear of failure. It makes me feel like me.”
Julie is presently a home-schooling mom who is nurturing the talents of her four creative muses (all 10 years & under). She started Duck Duck Samoosa (@duckducksamoosa), an enterprise through which her children can express themselves through playful creativity while teaching them to be entrepreneurs. “I dream of travelling the world with my family, of experiencing art everywhere we go, of documenting our journey through our art and impacting the world through playful creativity and love.”

Josh Ihlenfeldt (@Joshthumbs) has been “keeping the stoke alive since ‘95”. Josh grew up on the North Coast of Durban and, from as far back as he can remember, has always been in-touch with the surrounding nature: he is often submerged in the ocean and getting his hands dirty in the garden. Arts, crafts and photography fill up his days. Josh is in the final year of a Visual Communications degree at Vega School and, he says: “I look forward with delight, for creativity is in abundance.”

Cristy Zinn (@loomadesigns) is a designer and illustrator by day and an author by night. She owns a small design company called Looma Designs which, to her delight, allows her to make stuff all day long. Cristy loves reading, watching and listening to stories of all kinds, and is mildly obsessed with making playlists for everything. She is living proof that you're never too old to start something new.

Sebastien Quevauviliers (@sebastien_draws) is a Durban-based artist. He has illustrated children's picture books and contributed to the local and international gift paper and bag industry. Acrylic inks and graphic tools are his favourite media. He is currently working in the apparel industry as a print and colour specialist.

Katharina (Kat) Richter (@kat_r_art) is a 20 year-old, Durban-based artist. She got hooked on art at the age of seven and names Frida Kahlo as her main inspiration. Kat has taken part in exhibitions, done many commissions, worked in the tattoo industry and is planning to study fine art in 2018. She is passionate about animals and the environment, and this can be seen in much of her work. Kat specialises in ink, fine liners, detail, etching and dotwork.

Josh Brimble is a designer presently working at BFG in Durban. Design is his first love, but when he's not at work, he's likely to be distracted by one of his other passions - skating, art and music. What he loves most about the design process is the experience of being able to give his ideas shape and form and then seeing the public's response when the product hits the market.

Mario Nobrega (@lincoln_inc) is a visual artist that works under the alias of Lincoln Inc. He works predominantly in the media of illustration and photography, but also experiments with web design. He currently resides in Durban and is working as a freelance visual artist, while studying a visual communications degree at Vega. His main influences are dotwork, tattoos and urban photography.

Paige Baites (@my_life_as_paige) discovered the beauty in art when she was about 9 years old. “I had just come home from watching an animated movie, and had the urge to draw every scene I remembered." From then on, there was no stopping her. Ten years later, Paige loves to create something new every day, pouring herself into her word. “There is nothing better than being able to create something from emotion, or better yet, create something just because”.

Tasheera Jai Jai (@the_caramello_bear) is an illustrator and graphic designer. She has an empathetic connection with the world which translates into deeply emotive illustrations and a passion for people. Her experimentation with drawing started at a young age as a means of expressing the complicated concepts she couldn’t yet fully grasp or verbalize.

Tash is currently based at Arc Design Studio in Umhlanga Ridge, Durban and she is currently investigating the use of graphic novels as a therapeutic tool to heal trauma.

Cameron Lofstrand is an illustrator, designer and musician from Durban and The Valley of 1000 Hills. Born in 1993, he has been drawing and scribbling for as long as he can remember. He spent most of his time in school drawing and doodling instead of paying attention. Cameron has a crude, cartoonish, and colourful style, often depicting strange and disturbing images/doodles/cartoons that float around his brain. His media of choice include permanent marker, fine-liner, ink, and watercolour.

Kat Kali (@katharinekali) is a "Durban based lover, grime kid, baby mama, contemporary popsurrealist and chronic doodler just living the dream. She spends her days slaying demons by making things, and gets a real kick out of the fifth dimension, writing about herself in the third person and saying 'yippee ki-yay motherfucker.' "

Skye Steen (@skyetxn) is a 25-year-old, half-Irish, coffee-drinking, geeky, passionate creative, born and raised in Durban, South Africa. She earned her Diploma in Visual Communications at the Durban University of Technology in 2013 with full distinctions, which gave her an enjoyable month-long internship, straight out of her studies, at THB Disturbance. From there, she was hired by The Fire Tree Design Company where she currently works as a Graphic Designer and Illustrator.

Lauren Holliday (@holliday.illustrates) is a 24-year-old Illustrator from misty Hilton, in the KZN Midlands. She is currently based in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Her passion lies in children’s book illustration and design.
"I love anything cute and colourful (unicorns are the best) and bring this style into my artwork. If you are looking for custom design illustrations or to bring a quirky touch to any children’s book - then I am the designer for you...”

Jade Gaines (@jadiefox) was born in Durban and lives in Johannesburg but, she says, “I've found my home in art”. “I love video games, tasty food and adventures. I'm obsessed with the sky (night and day) and art (of course)".

Jade enjoys exploring the artistic process through all forms of media and her greatest satisfaction comes from creating interesting artworks that make people feel deeply. Currently studying a BA in Fine Art, Jade hopes to be a practicing artist when she’s done. “Until then, I intend to plague the earth with my art until someone notices it (notice me senpai).”