Roma Gavrila — Romanian Editorial Illustrator

Roma Gavrilǎ is an illustrator whose work is full of subtlety and nuance. Using natural textures, perspective, colour, contrast and detail, within a single image she shows us that within every story, idea and feeling there’s more than first meets the eye. To look at one of her illustrations is to become a participant, experiencing its layers and understanding its wider meaning.

Perhaps this is partly to do with where she’s based. The Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca has a rich history, with multicultural influences. There’s the baroque majesty of the Austro-Hungarian empire juxtaposed with communist apartment blocks, while round its edges the built environment gives way to fields and forests. It’s this messy mix of complex connections that Roma loves, and into it she blends visions from the dream diaries she’s been keeping for the last 15 years. Clients love the imagination, emotion and information that flow through her imagery. Roma’s qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in fashion design, and masters’ degrees in textile design and graphics.

Approach

Traditionally trained, Roma uses digital brushes that replicate natural media on paper. Each illustration begins with free association sketching on her iPad, narrowing down the variations and creating clean pencil work to which she’ll apply watercolour, acrylic, gouache, pastel or pencil brushes.

Key software

Adobe Photoshop and Procreate.

Style

Roma’s artworks have a natural, organic style, with hand-rendered strokes, textures and patterns creating worlds that feel rich and tangible. Using light and shadow, and separating foreground and background detail, the viewer feels like they’re looking in on stories with real meaning.