Farhana Hossain

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Originally from Singapore, Farhana Hossain is a Brooklyn-based illustrator and animator with a style that’s warm, whimsical and appealing – the perfect starting point for creating a captivating narrative. Her award-winning short The Dumb Elephant put her on the map in animation, and she also specialises in illustrating environments, characters, concepts and storyboards for animated films and commercials. Work for some of the world’s biggest broadcast brands populates Farhana’s portfolio. Farhana loves watching stand-up comedy, and there’s often a touch of humour in her work. She enjoys the hustle and bustle of New York City where watching real life going on around her in cafes, restaurants and on the subway is another source of inspiration. Then there’s the architecture – abandoned houses, drab and lived-in suburbs, and the cityscape as a whole are all sparks for new visual approaches. Farhana is a big fan of Harry Potter and Ravenclaw, and is addicted to cups of tea.

Training

After four years studying architecture at the National University of Singapore, Farhana worked for an architectural practice. Then she moved to New York to take an MFA in Computer Art at the School of Visual Arts.

Approach

Home is wherever Farhana’s Cintiq is, and after sketching her basic concepts on paper and scanning them in, her process is mainly digital. Colours are added in Photoshop, but she also brings in natural media brushes and pens to give her work a hand-painted feel.

Style

Farhana’s style will remind you of a high quality, realistic graphic novel. It’s whimsical, atmospheric and colourful, with dramatic lighting and warm colour palettes that make her work very approachable and lifelike. She also brings in a larger than life quality wherever impact is required.