Coming from a sleepy town on the South African coast, Fran Labuschagne is an illustrator whose images are stylish and sophisticated enough to have global appeal, and playful enough to feel approachable to any audience. With simple graphical forms, a few hints of Art Deco and an eye for the abstract, her work is grown-up yet fun and is the preferred choice of leading publishers and brands around the world.
Which is fitting, because travel is one of Fran’s main sources of inspiration, and while she loves her beautiful setting on the Garden Route in South Africa, she also enjoys the flexibility of being able to work from any location. Clients appreciate the broad appeal of her style, gentle colour palettes and the pace at which she works.
With a BA in Graphic Design and Illustration from the North-West University in South Africa, Fran loves visiting new places, and discovering the everyday lives and activities of people in faraway lands to feed her creative muse.
Approach
Initial sketching is tackled in Procreate, after which Fran draws vector artwork in Adobe Illustrator, sometimes adding textures for a handmade feel. Her palette is soft and balanced, with pastel colours coming to the fore.Key software
Procreate, Adobe Illustrator.Style
Fran’s style is graphical, elegant and humorous, and her characters’ unique, elongated forms are something of a trademark for the artist. She’s adept at creating patterns and optical effects, playing on concepts with a touch of wit for the knowing eye.Languages
English and Afrikaans.