I specialize in hand-painted watercolor and ink illustrations that bring a sense of "home" and whimsy to commercial projects. Whether I’m painting a cozy, sun-drenched cafe or designing a vector coloring-book comic to make a dentist’s office feel like an adventure for kids, my goal is the same: to make the viewer feel something. I chose watercolor for its warmth and its imperfections—the way colors bleed and settle on the paper creates a texture that digital art can’t replicate. While my process starts with a brush and cold-press paper, it ends with a professional, high-resolution scan. I carefully clean my files to ensure they are print-ready for everything from menus to T-shirts, all while preserving the raw, tactile soul of the original painting.

Sofia Livia

I specialize in hand-painted watercolor and ink illustrations that bring a sense of "home" and whimsy to commercial projects. Whether I’m painting a cozy, sun-drenched cafe or designing a vector coloring-book comic to make a dentist’s office feel like an adventure for kids, my goal is the same: to make the viewer feel something. I chose watercolor for its warmth and its imperfections—the way colors bleed and settle on the paper creates a texture that digital art can’t replicate. While my process starts with a brush and cold-press paper, it ends with a professional, high-resolution scan. I carefully clean my files to ensure they are print-ready for everything from menus to T-shirts, all while preserving the raw, tactile soul of the original painting.

Available to hire

I specialize in hand-painted watercolor and ink illustrations that bring a sense of “home” and whimsy to commercial projects.

Whether I’m painting a cozy, sun-drenched cafe or designing a vector coloring-book comic to make a dentist’s office feel like an adventure for kids, my goal is the same: to make the viewer feel something.

I chose watercolor for its warmth and its imperfections—the way colors bleed and settle on the paper creates a texture that digital art can’t replicate. While my process starts with a brush and cold-press paper, it ends with a professional, high-resolution scan. I carefully clean my files to ensure they are print-ready for everything from menus to T-shirts, all while preserving the raw, tactile soul of the original painting.

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Language

German
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Product Photographer at Akris
June 1, 2019 - August 31, 2020
Production Oversight: Coordinated all e-commerce and editorial shoots for Akris.ch and high-priority wholesale partner platforms. Shoot Management: Managed comprehensive shot lists to ensure seamless, high-productivity photo sessions and studio workflows. Post-Production & Digital Assets: Executed full post-production workflows, including high-end retouching for all e-commerce imagery and overseeing uploads to the Celum cloud archiving system. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partnered closely with E-Commerce, Sales, and Marketing teams to align on project priorities and delivery timelines. Digital Asset Management (DAM): Maintained organized image archives within Celum to ensure global asset accessibility. Logistics & Crew Support: Managed production logistics, including crew travel arrangements, transportation coordination, and on-site catering schedules. Talent Coordination: Assisted in scheduling models, hair and makeup artists, and fashion stylists; maintained the e-commerce studio calendar and handled all booking technicalities.
Freelance Illustrator at Book An Artist
January 1, 2021 - Present
Multidisciplinary Illustrator with extensive experience delivering custom visual solutions across print and digital media. Expert in both traditional watercolor and Adobe Illustrator (vector), I bridge the gap between classic artistry and commercial design. Key deliverables include editorial illustrations, promotional posters, and character-driven comic panels.

Education

Gestalterischer Vorkurs (preliminary course in design) at Medien Form Farbe Zürich
January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2013
Graphic Design Diploma at GDK Gestaltungsschule Zürich
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2017

Qualifications

Graphic Design Diploma
January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2017

Industry Experience

Consumer Goods, Healthcare, Professional Services
    uniE621 Vector Comic for Dental Office
    Project: Coloring Booklet Client: Dental Forté This six-panel coloring booklet was designed to demystify dental visits for children. By featuring Dental Forté’s tooth mascots alongside the actual staff, the illustrations create a sense of familiarity and comfort. Featured Panel: This bonus illustration depicts the "Treasure Chest" reward system used at the clinic. I created this extra scene to show the positive experience kids receive after a successful appointment. Tools: Adobe Illustrator Format: Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) illustrator designer
    uniE621 Local Café Illustration
    I created this hand-painted A3 watercolor illustration to capture the cozy, unique atmosphere of a local Singapore café. To add extra value, I translated the artwork into a custom T-shirt design for the owner. The Impact: I produced a TikTok featuring the process, which reached 15,000+ viewers in Singapore. This didn't just showcase my art—it drove significant online engagement and brand awareness for the café itself. Medium: Watercolor on A3 cold-press paper. Deliverables: Original painting + high-res digital scan for apparel printing. watercolor designer branding illustrator
    uniE621 Illustration for Autobiography
    Commissioned black and white sketch for a client’s autobiography. Hand-drawn using Uchida Yoko fine liner pens. Note: This image features a watermark for copyright protection. illustrator designer