Designing the Happy Little Fruit Collection

Looking back to March 2022, I spent an afternoon experimenting with drawing the same object in several different ways. I chose a photograph of some juicy lemons from Unsplash and played around with various brushes, colours, and textures to see what I could create.

First Experiment: Inspired by Sophie Mellissa

The first style I tried was inspired by Sophie Mellissa's work. I love her bold use of colour and the grainy texture she adds to her simplified illustrations, which I believe she creates using Adobe Illustrator. That texture adds such a lovely complexity to what could otherwise be very minimal forms.

For my take, I used solid monoline brushes and tried to add depth through shadows and a noise layer for texture. I was really happy with how it turned out — it felt polished and clean — but deep down, I wasn’t sure if it felt like me yet.

Second Experiment: Bringing in Texture and Personality

Next, I looked at some other favourite illustrators who create adorable, textured art that feels more hand-drawn and playful. Mimimoo Illustrations, for one, uses beautiful textured brushes in Photoshop that give her work a real tactile feel. Another big inspiration was Sara Faber, who brings fruit and other inanimate objects to life by giving them cute little faces and personality.

For this piece, I switched to a 6B pencil brush in Procreate to get that soft, textured look. Like some of the artists I follow, I started with a lighter, more pastel palette, but then decided to bring in the brighter colours I use for my own brand. I added little flourishes inspired by Mimi and Sara, and to maintain consistency, I reused the noise texture from my first experiment.

Which One Felt Right?

This second piece really hit me differently. I even asked my mum which one she preferred because I was proud of both, but when she picked the blue one, I was a little surprised—I’d been leaning more towards the colourful, cutesy fruit. That moment made me realise where my heart was: with those happy little lemons full of life and colour.

Instead of immediately trying more styles, I decided to run with this vibe and started a small fruit series. So far, I’ve created “Happy Little Oranges” and “Happy Avocados,” and I’m excited to keep adding to the collection.

Where I’m At With My Style Now

These happy little fruit illustrations are pretty old now — they date back to early 2022. Since then, I’ve explored many different styles and mediums, moving into more traditional artwork like acrylic painting and experimenting with abstract art and beyond. My creative journey has been full of twists and turns, and I’m always learning and evolving.

That said, these early digital pieces still hold a special place for me. In fact, they caught the attention of my current employer, a children’s toy retailer, who discovered them on my website. We’ve started experimenting with printing the illustrations onto products, considering them for a personalised children’s gift range. These artworks helped me land my current design and marketing role — a reminder that even early experiments can lead to exciting opportunities.

While I continue to grow and try new things, I still love this series's bright colours, textured pencil feel, and playful details. So watch this space for whatever creative directions come next!