Illustrator Valeria Petrone Plays With Witty Characters And Odd Situations
The world of Valeria Petrone is filled with many characters. They animate the illustrations she draws for adults in magazines and for children in books. From men and women with big observant eyes to cats, dogs and birds casually striking a pose; the cast is deliciously enchanting and entertaining.
The artist is an illustrator with many talents. She juggles from children’s books to serious editorials for magazines, newspapers and ad campaigns from Italy, the UK and the US. She keeps a humorous style whether she’s designing for an informative article or a playful story. Valeria Petrone is often commissioned to create an atmosphere to go along a text.
Her methodology consists of letting her mind wander while reading the text. While doing so, images come to her mind. She associates these snapshots to the words and then begins drawing.
The set-up and characters express an idea or a feeling. We could imagine the entire story by only looking at the imagery. The main character is always put in a situation that makes us wonder about its psychology and deep emotions. Surrounded by other individuals or animals, the whole picture communicates empathy and sympathy.
Most of the time, Valeria Petrone does not create descriptive illustrations but rather complementary visuals with a subtext parallel to the main text. The artist’s many alternative realities.
Her unique style combines elements of abstraction with a deep exploration of human form and identity. Petrone’s art is known for its bold, colorful compositions and intricate, flowing patterns that evoke a sense of movement and vitality. Her use of color is particularly notable, as she expertly manipulates palettes to convey mood and emotion, often utilizing vivid hues to explore themes of personal expression, transformation, and connection.
Petrone’s work is also deeply introspective, with an emphasis on the human experience. She frequently draws upon her own observations of inner life and external influences, blending figurative elements with abstract shapes and forms. This allows her to explore the tension between the known and the unknown, the tangible and the intangible. In many of her pieces, the human figure serves as a symbol for broader concepts of identity, vulnerability, and self-discovery.
While her art is grounded in emotional depth, it is also visually dynamic and layered. Through her seamless integration of traditional and digital techniques, Petrone is able to explore new textures and visual effects, pushing the boundaries of what is possible within her medium. Her works have been exhibited internationally, capturing attention for their boldness, their emotional complexity, and their ability to engage viewers on both a visual and psychological level.
–words by Tamara Akcay. All images courtesy of Morgan Gaynin, Inc.