Nina Levett at work: Drawing the second layer of colour for a wallpaper

I usually start my work with photos and scanned media, like drops of ink, pieces of wool from textiles, and other bits and pieces I find that fit the subject. From these scanned files, I make vector graphics in Illustrator, as well as other visual symbols.

Hand-drawings, depending on the project, are often the last part of my work process. I feel that they are the most important and direct way to find out what’s on a mind, and I find this process to be very intuitive. It’s like the ideas flow out of my pen or brush and I just have to help it happen. These hand-drawn illustrations and written texts are often the finishing touches to my work. They are like the salt in the soup!