Ivona Mitankina, Illustrating with Style and Flair
Ivona Mitankina is an illustrator from Serbia, now based in Bulgaria. Drawing on a background in costume design, Ivona creates warm, textural illustrations for children’s books and personal projects, blending nostalgia, everyday rituals, and a strong sense of human connection.
Her digital work incorporates hand-drawn textures and organic brushes, giving each illustration a handmade, cinematic feel. Inspired by everyday life, fashion, and psychology, Ivona focuses on small, meaningful moments, bringing characters and scenes to life with warmth, humour, and charm.
Let’s find out more about Ivona, where she finds her inspiration, how her process works, and more:
What would you say is your best piece of work / collaboration to date, and why?
I don’t think I can pick one single piece just yet. I still feel like I’m in the process of building toward the kind of work I dream of making. But I’m proud of how each project so far has brought me a step closer to the illustrator I want to become. Every new commission teaches me something and helps me refine my voice.
Where do you like to go to be inspired, or how do you find your inspiration?
Honestly, everywhere. I’m inspired by people I see outside, fashion, magazines, music, makeup, food and drinks, art, and everyday little moments. I’m constantly collecting visuals and moods. Inspiration comes very naturally to me from many different places.
Is there anything you’d say you would be a good advocate for? Please elaborate if so.
I think I’d be a good advocate for creativity in everyday life, noticing beauty in simple things and expressing it playfully. I also deeply believe in creating work that feels joyful, bold, and uplifting, and encouraging others to embrace their individuality and artistic voice.
What would you say sets you apart from other illustrators? Something you feel is unique to you.
My characters and the way I capture their movement, attitude, and personality. I also think my colour combinations and the mood they create are quite distinct to my work — playful, stylish, and expressive.
If you have done paid commissions prior to joining the agency, what would you say is something that clients repeatedly come to you for (up to now)?
Clients often tell me they appreciate how quickly I connect with their ideas and how fast I can translate their vision into something creative. They value my imagination, my work ethic, and the ease of collaborating with me.
How would you describe your style?
My work blends expressive character-driven illustration with vibrant, modern colour palettes. It feels playful, fashion-forward, and full of energy. Often a mix of bold shapes, elegance, and a little bit of attitude.
Please give a scenario of a project that would mean the world to you, if you were offered it — something meaningful to you.
A dream project would be designing an advertising campaign for a fashion brand or creating packaging for a well-known beauty line. I would also love to illustrate portraits of musicians or create artwork that ends up on a large billboard in a city. Another dream would be illustrating a cookbook with expressive, stylish depictions of food and drinks.
Are you working on any personal projects you can share with us?
Yes! For the past few months I’ve been working on a series of food and drink illustrations, just for myself. I share them regularly on Instagram, and they’ve become a really fun personal exploration of style, colour, and atmosphere.
Finally, if you were to illustrate a book related to a real-life person, who would that be?
Probably an iconic actress or musician — someone like Debbie Harry or Audrey Hepburn. Both have such timeless style and presence that would be a dream to capture in illustration.
If you’d like more info, please contact [email protected]
At illo agency, we pride ourselves in representing a collation of global illustrators, distinctly diverse in creativity and uniquely celebrated by like-minded clients across a range of commercial markets.