For Cat Novelli, illustration is a way of bringing magical worlds into reality.
Inspired by nature, forests, and imagined creatures, she creates whimsical scenes filled with wonder and storytelling. Working primarily with gouache, she embraces the tactile experience of traditional painting—the brushes, the paper, and the quiet ritual of transforming a blank page into something entirely new.
In this interview, she shares her love for gouache, the inspiration behind her fantasy-filled illustrations, and the magic she finds in the creative process.
Finding a Visual Language
What first drew you to illustration as a creative path?
My love for nature and magical worlds was what first drew me to illustration. I wanted to bring to life the ideas I had in my head and turn them into something real.
And also the materials themselves, something truly magical about creating traditional art ✨
How did gouache become an important part of your practice?
I discovered gouache through YouTube videos. I remember watching a Japanese artist painting landscapes, and that was the moment I first came across it. I became really fascinated by its consistency and the way it looked while painting.
Since I was able to buy my first gouache set, I never stopped using the technique. It became my favorite, and I truly enjoy the magical feeling that comes with painting with gouache ✨
What attracted you to working with painted illustrations rather than purely digital work?
The materials themselves are a huge part of it. I love the magic of preparing your whole space — laying out every object and getting ready to transform a blank sheet of paper into a complete idea.
The feeling of paint on paper, the brushes… it all feels truly magical to me. It’s something I don’t get from digital art. Digital gives me convenience, but traditional art gives me an experience.
What kinds of stories or ideas naturally find their way into your work?
It’s almost always stories about magic or forests, magical creatures, and I also have some OCs that appear repeatedly in my illustrations, they’re little compasses and forest spirits. They naturally find their way into my work and have become a very special part of the worlds I create.
Looking back, what has remained consistent throughout your artistic journey?
I think what has remained constant throughout my artistic journey is always staying in a mindset of learning. There is always something new to discover, improve, or explore as an artist, and I think that’s one of the most beautiful parts of creating.
Shape, Color & Process
What do you enjoy most about working with gouache?
What I enjoy the most about working with gouache is how easy it is to build layers. You can work from light to dark or the other way around, which gives a lot of freedom while painting.
But I also think it depends on the gouache brand, some are much easier to work with and make the whole painting experience smoother.
How does gouache influence the way you think about color and composition?
I think gouache is kind of the hybrid of traditional techniques hahaha. It can behave like watercolor, you can achieve finishes that almost look digital, and I also feel it’s very similar to oil painting.
That versatility helps me a lot because it makes approaching composition and color feel much easier and more natural.
How do you approach building a scene from the first sketch to the final painting?
First, I think about the idea. Then I make sketches until I arrive at a concept I really like.
From there, I transfer the idea onto my watercolor paper while already thinking about the color palette beforehand. Once I have that, I start painting and continue refining it until reaching the final piece.
Do you typically plan your color palette in advance, or discover it as you work?
I usually think about my color palette beforehand, although it tends to change a little throughout the process hahaha ✨
Sometimes while painting I discover combinations that work better, so I allow myself some flexibility and adjust things as I go.
How have Artify brushes supported your painting process, if at all?
Honestly, I paint a lot, almost every day, and something I really liked about the brushes is that they feel very soft while still being firm at the same time.
They also hold enough pigment to work comfortably, but what stands out the most to me is definitely their softness.
What qualities do you value most in brushes when working with gouache?
The qualities I value the most in brushes when working with gouache are firmness, softness, and how much pigment they can hold while painting.
I like brushes that allow me to have control but still feel smooth and comfortable to use.
Where the Work Leads
How do you see your illustration practice evolving in the coming years?
In the coming years, I want to improve my understanding and use of color even more, I still feel like I haven’t reached the point I want to get to yet.
I also want to improve the way I work with light and become better at creating atmosphere and depth in my illustrations.
Are there stories or themes you hope to explore more deeply?
Yes, always. I’d love to explore mystical and magical themes more deeply.
Those kinds of worlds have always inspired me the most, and I feel there are still so many stories, creatures, and atmospheres I want to create and bring to life through my illustrations.
What creative challenges are you excited to take on next? Do you see yourself experimenting with new mediums or formats in the future?
I’d love to create more illustrations featuring my OCs and continue developing their world and stories.
As for new mediums, maybe oil painting in the future… but honestly, I don’t think it’ll happen anytime soon hahaha. I love gouache so much — I’m completely in love with it right now.
What do you hope remains at the heart of your work as it evolves?
I hope magic and fantasy always remain at the heart of my work.
No matter how my style evolves, I want to keep creating worlds that feel magical and inspire people to imagine and dream.
What does growth look like for you as an artist right now?
Right now, growth as an artist looks like continuing to improve my understanding of color, light, and storytelling.
For me, growing isn’t only about technique, it’s also about creating worlds that feel more immersive and being able to communicate emotions and magic more clearly through my work .
For Cat, the magic of art extends far beyond the finished illustration.
It lives in the preparation, the materials, and the process itself—transforming simple tools into gateways to imagined worlds. Through gouache, storytelling, and a deep love of nature, she continues to create spaces where wonder feels tangible.
And with every painting, another piece of that world comes to life.
Want to see more from Cat? Find her here:
Cat's Instagram
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