Noemi Fabra / How Illustration changed my life
All children grow up with a natural urge to represent. I don’t know a single child who hasn’t drawn or painted at some point. It’s part of how we develop language, how we begin to understand and express the world. That’s how I started: by drawing.
But somewhere along the way, something got blocked. Drawing was often seen as something “for little kids” once writing took over. There was also a quiet but persistent pressure: you either draw well, or you don’t. There didn’t seem to be space for anything in between. I never believed I was “good” at drawing, because “good” meant something very specific—being highly realistic.
For me, drawing was pure joy, but it was always secondary. At home, academic achievement came first. Without even realizing it, I gradually moved away from drawing, even though it made me happy. Over time, I’ve learned to look back on that with perspective, understanding that my environment was simply doing its best with what it believed was right for me.
As a teenager, I found my way back to art, but those doubts were still there. I chose to study Art History—a path that didn’t require drawing. It may seem paradoxical, but it was exactly what I needed. It gave me a strong cultural foundation that I value deeply today. Later, while working full-time, I studied Illustration and slowly began to rebuild my relationship with drawing.
Becoming a mother marked a turning point. My eldest daughter, Alix, gave me the final push I needed. I allowed myself to pursue what I had long set aside. I began working with focus and determination: building my portfolio, continuing my education, and making the most of every moment between work and motherhood. When my youngest daughter, Tanit, turned three, I took the leap—I left my job and fully committed to illustration.
It was a bold and uncertain step, but opportunities began to appear soon after. Today, I make a living doing what I love. For me, the artistic process is an open and evolving space—one of exploration, experimentation, and continuous growth. That ongoing discovery is what makes me feel most alive.
Today, I work as a professional illustrator, creating projects across editorial, press, and animation for international clients. My style is fresh, naïve, and evocative, with a strong sensitivity to color as a central tool for conveying emotion and meaning. I specialize in topics related to lifestyle, science, and health, bringing a visual language that makes complex ideas feel accessible and human.
My clients include Boston Globe Media, Desert Companion, NPR, Vanity Fair France, Myself Magazine, Scientific American, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Zahorí Books, and Penguin Random House. I approach each project with curiosity, care, and intuition—creating images that not only communicate clearly, but resonate on a deeper level.