The work of Brooklyn-based illustrator Meredith Schomburg vibrates with a kind of joyful energy that feels almost fauvist, so it’s no surprise that she counts Matisse and Picasso among her influences. “Generally, I’m most inspired by the human body in motion—my favorite things to draw are focused around women in sport—and nature, particularly florals,” she says. “Things that celebrate life influence my practice the most.” Encouraged by an artist that was a family friend to pursue graphic design, Schomburg never considered illustration as a viable career until the pandemic when she realized she could illustrate full time in 2021, and since then, she’s never looked back. Now, she works with clients like Adobe, Apple, Duolingo and Marie Claire, among many others. “I want to create colorful, beautiful things that add joy to the world and bring people into the fun of that process along the way,” she says. “There’s a very spiritual aspect to my practice in that I believe the world was originally created with beauty and intention, and that’s worth celebrating. To honor that, I always want to create from a place of gratitude and joy for life, even when it comes to the simplest illustration.”