Meet Norangel Alvarez | Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Norangel Alvarez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Norangel, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Success as an artist isn’t just about being famous. It’s also about getting better and feeling happy about your work. There’s no one way to be successful, but for me, it’s all about hard work, love for art, and believing in myself.
From the beginning, I wanted to be like the anime artists I loved. I didn’t know everything about their techniques, but I liked their passion. This big dream has always pushed me forward, even when my goals changed.
I like to always have goals, even if they’re hard. When I don’t feel like working, I take a break and then come back to my dreams. Just dreaming isn’t enough, though. It’s important to have a clear idea of what you want, even if it changes a bit later. The most important thing is to keep working towards your goals with confidence and never give up.
For artists, it’s especially important to believe in ourselves because emotions can affect our work. Don’t listen to negative thoughts! If you know you have talent, keep practicing, try new things, and take on challenges. Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone.
This approach has brought me to where I am today. It’s not the end, but it’s a big step in my journey as an artist. It is normal to feel tired or doubt oneself sometimes; however, it is important to rest periodically and take pride in one’s own achievements. Keep working on your goals, stay positive, and never stop believing!
After almost a year and a half of hard work, with good times and bad times, I’m finally seeing results. I’m now working on many projects at once, which is something I always wanted. This is all because I never gave up, and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved.
Being an artist has shown me the power of dreams, hard work, and believing in myself. Success isn’t a place you arrive at, it’s a journey of improving, learning, and finding yourself as an artist. I’m excited to keep going, explore new ideas, and see how far I can take my art!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My artistic style has been a continuous journey of evolution, starting with a strong influence from anime. Initially, I immersed myself in this style due to its aesthetic appeal and visual storytelling, but over time, I noticed certain limitations. The minimal shadows and lights, the two-dimensionality, and the restricted facial expressions prompted me to seek greater depth and dynamism.
Although these challenges, I didn’t abandon the anime style completely. Instead, I integrated and transformed it into something more personal. This artistic movement remains a constant presence in my work, providing a solid foundation upon which to build.
Parallelly, I’ve been deeply inspired by Impressionism. While my style doesn’t strictly fall into this movement, the blend of vibrant colors and the expressiveness in brushstrokes and textures are elements I appreciate and incorporate into my work. The freedom and emotion captured in Impressionist art enrich my approach, adding a layer of complexity and feeling.
Another significant influence comes from the comic book style that Sony popularized with its Spiderman animated movies. This approach combines 3D elements with intense expressiveness and a rich and dynamic color palette and textures. The way these lines and details bring characters and scenes to life has deeply impacted my style, allowing me to explore new forms of visual expression.
Also, Alberto Mielgo’s art has left a profound mark on my current style. His work, which blends realism with Impressionist and comic book elements, is a great source of inspiration for me. While my approach is more semi-realistic, I try to incorporate that blend of realism and expressiveness that characterizes his work, adapting it to my technique and personal vision.
My work can be described as a style with a slightly free line, maintaining the idea of a sketch. I use a line that imitates the texture of a brush, which means it’s not 100% straight but always has some irregular edges. As for colors, I use vivid tones and constantly play with contrasts, especially complementary colors. Additionally, I use a lot of lights, shadows, and mid-tones, varying the colors and adding multiple textures to enrich the work.
I like to play with different dynamic poses, perspectives, and compositions, always seeking to add complexity and challenge to my works. I’m a portrait artist; drawing faces has always fascinated me for the ability to express emotions and narratives through them. The influence of editorial photography is reflected in my work, where I experiment with angles, compositions, and light and shadow effects.
I’m a big fan of textures. I don’t like drawings to be flat, so I always try to imitate the textures seen in traditional drawings and paintings, or even in Impressionist pieces, mixing them with the characteristic textures of comics. This adds more volume and life to my drawings.
Moving on to my creative process, I mainly use my iPad with the Procreate program to draw. I also sometimes use my Huion tablet with Photoshop. I prefer the iPad because it’s faster and, being wireless, allows me to take it anywhere, thus advancing my projects with greater comfort.
The themes that I usually show in my drawings are related to what surrounds me and what I’m passionate about, such as the content I consume or some strong emotion that I’m feeling at the moment. I like to experiment by reflecting emotions, especially related to love, an intense and universal feeling.
Inspired by editorial photography, my characters often project a cool and confident image, reflecting empowerment and security, characteristics that attract me even though I personally consider myself shy. I also reflect my passion for anime and K-pop, showing my admiration and respect for the stories and artists that inspire me. Through my drawings, I support the authors and singers who work so hard.
My creative process usually begins with an idea that has been lingering in my mind for days. It could be a phrase, a situation I want to reflect, or simply a scene that includes a character or person. Then, I look for references to reinforce the idea, whether it’s the aesthetics, the clothes, the accessories, or the pose. When I don’t find a pose that really shows what I want, I resort to taking pictures of myself.
With all the information together, I start drawing. I usually start with geometric shapes to structure the drawing well, and as I progress, I add details. Then, I play with colors. I like to look for reference images for color palettes, whether they are other drawings with interesting combinations or photographs. Then, I start working with the shadows, lights, and textures, adding depth and dimension to the piece.
Looking back, I’m proud of the place I’ve reached. Many of my followers and fellow artists highlight the evolution of my style. Frequent comments about my drawings highlight the color palette and how it differentiates my work from others. Additionally, they recognize my style as unique. With ongoing projects, I always try to create content that showcases the process or teaches something new. The community loves this type of content, and that makes me very happy, since the idea is that we grow together and support each other.
Getting here hasn’t been easy. I’ve faced numerous challenges, from finding a personal style to constantly evolving my techniques. However, I’ve overcome these obstacles by staying true to my passion and being persistent. Each challenge has been an opportunity to learn and grow. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is the importance of consistency and self-exploration. Remaining open to new influences and techniques is key to artistic growth.
My art is an expression of my passions, influences, and emotions. Each piece reflects my artistic and personal evolution. My style is a fusion of everything I love most, creating unique works that embody my artistic journey and influences. These works are characterized by free and textured lines, vivid colors, dynamic contrasts, complex poses, and perspectives. My deep love for textures and portraits, along with a clear passion for anime and K-pop, all come together in my art.
This is the story of my artistic journey, a continuous exploration fueled by passion, perseverance, and a desire to learn and grow. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next and to keep sharing my art with the world.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Atlanta’s a city full of life, with cool places to discover and fun things to do. I’d love to show you some of the best spots I’ve found, so you can see all Atlanta has to offer.

Day 1:
We’d start with a yummy pick-me-up: bubble tea at Boba Mocha. They have amazing flavors, you’ll love it! Feeling refreshed, we’d take a walk in Piedmont Park, a beautiful green space in the city. It’s a great way to relax and enjoy the fresh air. Afterward, we’d hop on the Beltline, a walking trail, and head to Ponce City Market. This lively market has lots of shops, restaurants, and fun activities. We could spend a few hours exploring before grabbing a delicious lunch at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in Doraville.
Day 2:
Next, we’d head to Duluth, a magical town with a unique vibe. We’d start at Teso Life and Tokyo Kuma, two stores with cool and unusual things. It’ll be fun to look around and see what we find! Then, we’d take some funny (or maybe cool) pictures at Life4Cuts Atlanta Studio. To unleash our inner rockstars, we’d sing karaoke at Do Re Mi Karaoke – even if we’re not the best singers, it’ll be fun! We’d finish the day with a walk around Downtown Duluth and then head to Gwinnett to see Galactic Quest, a comic bookstore! If you like comics, you’ll love it here. After all that shopping, we could play some bowling at Bowlero for a fun competition.
Day 3:
In the morning, we could volunteer at the Suwanee Art Center. It’s a great way to meet some local artists and see some cool art. For lunch, we’d eat at Kyuramen, a restaurant I really like. Then, we’d explore Suwanee Town Center, a place with always something fun happening. In the evening, we could cuddle with cute cats at The Catfe, perfect for cat lovers!
Day 4:
For our last day, we’d go tubing in Helen! It’s a fun way to cool off and see some beautiful scenery.
This trip would be awesome! Atlanta has great food, cool shops, and fun activities for everyone.
For next time, though, I promise to find even more hidden gems for us to explore together. But for now, these are some of the coolest places I’ve discovered in Atlanta so far!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely, I have several shoutouts!
First and foremost, I’m incredibly grateful to my parents, my brother and my family. They’ve been strong supporters of every project I’ve done. They trust me to follow my passion for art, and their belief fuels mine. My dad deserves special mention. As a photographer, he’s given me a love for visual arts and media since childhood. He’s kindly shared his knowledge, helping me improve in many areas of my artistic development. He also instilled a valuable lesson: “We are our own limits.” This has empowered me to tackle projects in design, 2D and 3D animation, even without prior experience. It’s shown me I’m a fast learner and that sometimes, you just must jump in and try something new. He continues to be a strong supporter of my work, helping with projects, attending festivals with me, and even documenting them through his photography.
I’m also fortunate to have a network of supportive artist friends. We regularly draw together, offering helpful criticism and tips to improve each other’s work. Collaborating is fantastic! We each have strengths in different areas, and it’s invaluable when coming up with new ideas and projects. Their guidance pushes me to constantly improve.
Finally, in the past few months, I’ve volunteered at the Suwanee Art Center. It’s been a rewarding experience. They provide valuable knowledge and opportunities that will contribute to my long-term growth as an artist.
This is just a glimpse of the incredible people who have supported my journey. I’m incredibly grateful for each and every one of them.

Website: https://norangelll.wixsite.com/portafolio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/norangelll/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/norangel-alvarez-402313122/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgnCQ2FMtL8GdLZbDJCpMkQ

Image Credits
Norangel Alvarez