Tuesday, October 29th 2024
London-based illustrator and animator Aysha Tengiz has a knack for bringing playful, colorful worlds to life—whether through bustling scenes packed with quirky characters or through anthropomorphized bugs that dance and dream big. Her work, vibrant and alive, feels like a breath of fresh air in the world of contemporary illustration.
"Making even the simplest movement can change the entire dynamic of drawing"
After graduating from Camberwell College of Arts in 2016, Aysha took the leap into freelancing, carving out her niche by blending digital and traditional media. “Living in London isn’t cheap,” she admits. “It took time to build my portfolio, but it’s been rewarding to work on projects that challenge and excite me.”
Recently, Aysha’s career has evolved to embrace animation, an area she describes as a natural extension of her work. “Making even the simplest movement can change the entire dynamic of a drawing,” she says. This pivot has allowed her to explore new dimensions in storytelling, offering her illustrations fresh layers of depth and motion.
Aysha is no stranger to experimenting with form and medium, from combining her illustrations with textiles and printmaking to creating animations that demand a whole new way of thinking. “Animation is becoming so accessible,” she observes.
“With so many new tools available, it’s easier for illustrators to bring their work to life—and clients are loving the versatility.”
One standout project for Aysha was her debut as a picture book illustrator with Baboo the Unusual Bee, written by Lliana Bird. Aysha describes the process as a collaborative dream: “The finished piece is a little bit of all of us. It was exciting to create something I’d never achieve alone.” In the story of a pink bee navigating his identity, Aysha’s illustrations balance playful whimsy with deeper emotional tones.
“I loved exploring loneliness and individuality without making the artwork feel too heavy.”
What makes Aysha’s work so compelling is its unapologetic embrace of joy and chaos. She thrives in her playful depiction of everyday life, often through packed, detail-rich scenes that invite the viewer to get lost in her world. But for Aysha, the process is as important as the outcome. “Learning a new skill, like animation, pushes me out of my comfort zone. It’s rewarding and keeps me inspired,” she says.
Aysha’s work is a testament to the power of experimentation and the beauty of collaboration. Whether illustrating dancing bugs or reimagining busy cityscapes, her art is a reminder to embrace creativity with curiosity and playfulness. As she puts it: “You never know where a new technique or idea might take you.”
Want to explore Aysha Tengiz’s buzzing world? Check out her work here—you won’t be disappointed.
All images attached to this article are not property of Lorem Ipsum and were crafted by Aysha Tengiz.
