By Cansu Waldron

Ariadna Sysoeva is a freelance illustrator and animator based by the seaside in Georgia, where the sun, sea, and palm trees often find their way into her creative world. With over a decade of experience in the visual arts, she has collaborated with international magazines, brands, and creative studios — crafting illustrations, editorial visuals, and moving images that tell stories through emotion, shape, and color.

Originally trained in graphic design, Ariadna began her career as a designer and concept artist before realizing her true passion lay in illustration. What started as a quiet personal pursuit after work evolved into a full-time artistic path. Today, she blends traditional and digital techniques to create fluid, expressive works — from editorial pieces and advertising visuals to fine art prints and animations.

Her art is defined by its dreamlike quality and narrative warmth, often capturing the beauty of fleeting moments and the calm found in imagination. When she’s not drawing or animating, she channels her creativity into her own fashion brand and finds inspiration in the simple pleasures of seaside life — especially the fresh scent of early morning air.

We asked Ariadna about her art, creative process, and inspirations.

You’ve been an illustrator for over 10 years — what first drew you to illustration, and what keeps you excited about it today?

I studied graphic design at university, and during my last years there I started working as a graphic designer, then as a web designer. But the more I worked, the more I realized that something didn’t feel right. It just wasn’t what I wanted to do. At the same time, I was always drawing illustrations after work and in my free time, simply for pleasure. It fascinated and calmed me. In illustration, I could create my own world of shapes, lines, colors, and take a break from reality. Illustration feels like magic to me.

I also was working for several years as a concept artist, character artist, and texture artist in game and animation studios. Eventually, I moved entirely into illustration. I think that’s truly my path that I haven’t found anything more exciting or fulfilling.

Today I continue working as a freelance illustrator, and it still captivates me just as much. I keep drawing my own worlds. I get inspired by almost everything. I'm just having this constant desire to capture and express it through images almost every minute.

What inspires your art? Where do you usually find inspiration?

I find inspiration in people and in traveling. When I work, I’m inspired by artists, illustrators, photographers, dancers, and musicians by the way they see and express the world through their art.

Frame-by-frame animation has such a fluid, almost magical quality. What do you love most about working in this medium?

Frame-by-frame animation is truly magic. This technique offers an endless field for imagination. There are absolutely no limits. It’s the ultimate form of creative freedom. I love drawing, how one shape flows into another, how it transforms. I love breathing life into a character I’ve created. When a character comes alive, it feels like a miracle. In that moment, I’m always overwhelmed with emotion, even though the process itself is long and challenging.

When you collaborate with publishers or agencies, how do you balance your personal style with the needs of the project?

Lately, I’ve been working with amazing clients who want exactly my style and vision in their illustrations. I create my own sketches for them, and then we collaborate, making small adjustments together if needed. But these changes are never significant. The work always stays true to my style.

Is there a project in your career so far that feels especially meaningful or transformative for you?

Every project I work on is meaningful to me, but if I had to choose one, I would mention a football project. During the World Cup, I illustrated portraits of the entire Mexican team for a football fans magazine Tchutli-Heftli. It was a large series of portraits.

It was a major event worldwide, and being part of such a huge, exciting moment was unforgettable. I was also invited to the magazine’s launch as a guest artist. It was a very bright and high-profile project. That year, I even watched the matches and cheered for the Mexican team myself.

What’s one tool, traditional or digital, that you couldn’t live without in your creative process?

The most essential tools for me are a dip pen, black ink, and paper. I start all my sketches and projects with them. It helps me think and come up with ideas more freely. I also really enjoy working with a mechanical pencil and watercolor graphite.

Looking ahead, what’s your dream project - something you haven’t yet had the chance to explore, but would love to?

I have many projects like this. For example, I would love to participate in a large animation project as an animator.

What is a fun fact about you?

I print and wear my own designs on clothing because I can’t find the right color palettes in stores. Everything there is too boring for me.

What else fills your time when you’re not creating art?

I love traveling, going for walks, and observing people. I’m also interested in dancing, playing drums, and terrarium keeping, and I’m learning French.