Sofia Hydman describes her illustrations as “whimsical and cheeky with a feminist touch”. Her characters, mostly female, look like the cartoon version of a Botero painting. Aside from illustrating, Hydman also creates whimsical GIFs of her characters, which loop endlessly.
Born in the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden, Hydman has collaborated with giants like Google, NY Times, and Giphy. “While working on an illustration I feel calm and concentrated,” she shared with I Do Art, “it’s a state of mind I’m longing for when I’m stressed out about something.”
Inspired by artists she finds on Instagram, her artistic process relies very much on her gut. “I tend to follow my gut and what I feel is funny, interesting or plain pretty in the critical moment of inspiration,” she says. “Other times I just remember that I love The Beatles or that I’m just stunned by how awesome Sailor Moon is, so I pay a little tribute. It’s a project I do entirely for my own sake, for the fun of it and for some GIF-fame.”
“Chubby, confident girls are my favorite thing to draw and I prefer them nude in all their glory,” she adds. “I also have a thing for sad boys. I don’t know why I like it when guys cry, I just do, so I make them. Literally.”
See some of her whimsical creations in the gallery below:
