The studio

Who is behind the studio?

I’m Aby, a Mexican watercolor artist based in Lyon. I create hand-painted patterns full of color, texture, and life, which I adapt for textiles, stationery, and home décor. Unique designs, rich with emotion, ready to become fabrics, prints, or objects that people cherish and keep close.

What is your background?

My passion for watercolor began almost by chance: one day, instead of waiting for my tram, I wandered into an art supply store. What started as a few minutes to “kill time” quickly turned into the beginning of a never-ending creative adventure. Soon, I wanted to explore further by blending my traditional paintings with the digital world. It felt like discovering a new playground where my illustrations could take on new lives — on mugs, calendars, notebooks — adding softness and poetry to everyday objects.

Describe your style.

My style blends traditional watercolor with digital flexibility. Every creation begins by hand, driven by the spontaneous merging of colors on paper. This freedom gives rise to unexpected shapes and happy accidents, which become the signature of my world. Then, I bring my illustrations into the digital space, where they transform: new compositions, color variations, playful rhythms and shapes. It’s a dialogue between the authenticity of manual work and the limitless freedom digital offers, creating poetic and lively visual universes.

What are your main inspirations / influences ?

Every place I visit leaves a mark in my sketchbook. In Italy, vibrant lemons and blue ceramic tiles awakened my brush. In the French mountains, rabbits and squirrels gently hopped onto my paper, bringing a natural softness to my illustrations. And in Tunisia, seeing a camel for the first time in Djerba inspired a colorful, joyful collection starring that very camel. These travels nourish my vision and give birth to motifs full of poetry and wonder. I love translating into watercolor the details that tell a story — the texture of a stone, the morning light, or the curious pose of an animal — transforming them into visual worlds inviting dreams and tenderness.

What sparked your passion for prints?

Everything changed when I digitized my first watercolors. Seeing them come alive on everyday objects, I felt a spark: what I painted with joy could now accompany others in their simple moments — on a mug, a notebook, a bag. Each pattern became a little shared story, an emotion in motion. That’s how my passion for prints was born: a desire to make my illustrations travel and dress the world with a touch of poetry.

Your first print memories.

My grandmother was a seamstress, and since I was little, she’d take me to fabric stores to pick out cloth and threads for her creations. I would lose myself in those vast spaces, fascinated by the colorful patterns covering the shelves. These whimsical designs sparked my imagination, making me want to draw and create... adding a touch of sweetness and magic to my clothes. That’s where my love for prints began, without me even realizing it.

Describe your creation process.

It often starts with a quick sketch in my always-on-me sketchbook — inspiration can strike anytime. Sometimes I begin with pencil, other times I let watercolor guide me directly on paper. I paint calmly, without pressure, reminding myself that each illustration can become special... or simply a step toward the next one. Once the watercolor is done, I scan it and enter another world: digital. Here, anything is possible. I move my patterns like puzzle pieces, transform them, play with colors, shapes, and repeats. It’s a second creative phase, full of surprises and freedom, where my illustrations take on a whole new life.

What is your favorite medium to work with and why?

Watercolor is my heart’s medium. I love its spontaneity — the way colors magically blend on paper, unpredictable yet always harmonious. When I paint, I feel peace and joy... like being in a bubble outside of time. Over the years, I’ve learned to trust my brushes and to have a conversation with them. Sometimes I add watercolor pencils for texture or Indian ink for new energy in my lines, which I later enhance digitally.

While working, what do you listen?

When I work on a project, I love the silence... or rather the simple sounds around me: children playing outside, my dogs barking now and then, cars in the distance. This keeps me present and lets my thoughts flow freely. My mind chats with itself: “What if we did it like this?” — “Oh, that looks nice!” It’s in this gentle, lively atmosphere that my ideas take shape.

What is your job's favorite part ?

Every stage of the creative process has its magic. I love the moment an idea appears, sometimes free, sometimes guided by a framework or constraint... Then it slowly takes shape on paper. Afterward, when I bring it into the digital world, a new game begins: I transform it, make it dance, discover unexpected combinations and rhythms.

But what I love most is when that creation finds a place in someone else’s daily life. Seeing a pattern I painted dress an object, accompany a routine, bring a smile or a soft feeling to a space — that’s when everything makes sense. It’s a little poetry traveling from paper to real life.

What type of product / sector do you mainly work for ?

I create joyful and sensitive patterns that adapt to various supports: stationery, wall art, textiles, decorative or gift objects, and even wallpaper. I enjoy imagining how my illustrations can accompany the small moments of everyday life. A notebook inviting you to write your dreams, a postcard that makes you smile, a t-shirt reflecting a part of yourself, or a framed print changing the mood of a room. Each product becomes a way to convey emotion, softness, and a spark of poetry in someone’s life.

On which fairs do you exhibit?

I haven’t yet exhibited in large fairs, but it’s a project I’m passionate about. I hope to meet brands and publishers who share my values: ethical companies, sensitive to everyday poetry, looking to collaborate with artists to create meaningful and beautiful objects — products to cherish, that last and tell a story. Meanwhile, I exhibit my creations in the heart of Lyon, at Les Créations Lyonnaises, located in Hôtel-Dieu. This space allows me to meet a curious and kind local audience and engage directly with those touched by my universe.

What do you want to accomplish in the future?

I dream of collaborating with brands that value sensitive and poetic art, to create objects people keep and love. Seeing my illustrations travel onto notebooks, fabrics, or everyday items would be a way to share a bit of my world beyond paper. I want to build lasting partnerships where each creation adds soul and beauty to products.

What advice would you like to give to new designers who are just starting out?

Stay true to your way of creating and dare to step outside your comfort zone — that’s where real growth begins. Create every day, even small things, because regular practice is the foundation of your journey. Art doesn’t need to be perfect: exploration sharpens your skills, nourishes your imagination, and helps overcome impostor syndrome. Every stroke counts and brings you closer to the artist you want to become.