Character art sets the tone for each adventure, providing flair and inspiration in a way beyond words.
At Saturday Box, we are so fortunate to be able to work with an incredible artist who truly brings our visions to life. We sat down with Anika de Jesus to ask a few questions about her creative process:
How long have you been creating art & character illustrations?
"I’ve been creating art since I was a kid and started doing design projects for school, friends, and family back in high school. I only began working professionally as an illustrator and designer during the pandemic. At the time, I had just passed the engineering licensure exam but decided to switch careers. I’ve been illustrating and freelancing ever since."
Walk me through your process of doing the art for one of our adventures from start to finish.
RESEARCH
"I always start with the brief from Emma. I ask her about the character’s personality, traits, story and her specific preferences. If there are references from movies or media, I study those, or sometimes I research a style or mood I want to capture that I think would fit."
"For example, in the Fairy Tale Box, I used Ian Somerhalder’s face and expressions for the male character and drew inspiration for the queen fairy variation from model Maria Amanda. I also use Pinterest for additional references."
THUMBNAILING AND EXPLORATION
"Next, I create loose sketches of poses, guided by the characters’ personalities and traits. I explore multiple pose options for each character at this stage."
SKETCHING
"From the roughs, I refine my favorite options, adding variations in hair, clothing, and expressions. I focus on how each detail reflects the character’s personality. These sketches are what I present to Emma for feedback and let her choose."
RENDERING AND DETAILING
"Once we’ve agreed on a direction, I move on to rendering. This is where details like clothing, expressions, and accessories are finalized. I usually work closely with Emma in this phase, making adjustments to push the design further until the illustration feels complete."
From an art perspective, which Saturday Box has been the most fun to work on and why?
"My favorite so far has been the Arabian Nights box. I already had a good rhythm with both the box design and the characters at this point, so I felt more confident exploring ideas. The theme itself is very visual, which made designing the cards especially fun. Emma also gave me a wide range of characters with distinct personalities, which I loved bringing to life. Her feedback pushed me to refine the designs, and I was able to add more intricate details that really made the illustrations stand out. Overall, I think that box turned out beautifully."
One of my favorite things about our illustrated Saturday Box girls is their gorgeous range of hairstyles. Do you have a secret when drawing hair or a source of inspiration?
"I wouldn’t call it a secret. It really comes down to research. I study a lot of references, from both photos and drawings. Sometimes I already have a particular style in mind, and other times I browse Pinterest or Google until I find something inspiring. I also take inspiration from anime hairstyles structures. Most importantly, I make sure the hairstyle fits the character’s personality since it can help tell their story. And honestly, I just really enjoy drawing hair maybe that’s probably the real secret."
Where can people go if they want to follow you or see more of your art?
"You can follow me on my art accounts on instagram (@art.nikaa) and twitter (artnikaa). You can also connect with me thru Linkedin. See more of my work on my website and on Behance."
Thanks so much Anika for taking the time to chat with us (and for putting up with our many fluctuating demands).
Share: