People are often surprised when they find out I paint. It’s not something I’ve always shared publicly—but for me, watercolour has always been a quiet, personal form of expression. It’s where I find peace, slow down, and reconnect with the textures and colours that inspire me most: florals, foliage, and the organic beauty of nature.
Over time, I began to notice how much my painting practice was influencing the way I approach graphic design. I started thinking differently about colour palettes, negative space, softness, and flow. I realized that painting wasn’t something separate from my design work—it was quietly shaping it all along.
One of my favourite examples of merging both worlds was a Christmas card I designed for Farmers Edge. The concept was to feature a watercolour-style holiday card that included one of their weather stations as a gift on the old style car illustration. While we found a great image of a car with a Christmas tree on Adobe Stock, we couldn’t find anything that resembled our weather stations in a watercolor style. So—I painted it myself. The weather station you see on the card was hand-painted by me and later integrated into the design using Photoshop. The final result turned out beautifully, and it was a great example of using my creative skills to deliver something unique.
Another project I loved working on was for a different agricultural company. The idea was to create a card that paid tribute to the company’s early days—specifically, the old-style tractor they used when they first started their business. Once again, I painted the entire card by hand, bringing in a nostalgic, personal touch that digital tools alone couldn’t replicate. You can see the artwork below.
Incorporating hand-painted elements adds a level of warmth and authenticity to digital design that’s hard to achieve otherwise. It reminds me that not everything needs to be perfect or overly polished—sometimes, it’s the subtle, imperfect details that leave the strongest impression. That blend of handmade and digital is something I truly love to explore through Geniya Design.
Thanks for reading. If you’re curious about how original artwork can enhance your brand—or just want to see what I’ve been painting lately—you can explore my latest watercolour collection here.