Ren Moen

Year of birth: 2004.
Where do you live: Georgia.
Your education: Bachelor of Fine Arts/BFA in Illustration.
Describe your art in three words: Playful, Vibrant, Curious.
Website | Instagram

Your work spans across various mediums like digital illustration, character design, and animation. How do you approach a new project, and does your process differ depending on the medium you’re working with?

When beginning a new project, I always take the time to do the mental work before sketching out anything. No matter what medium I am working in, I find it crucial to understand the intended audience and create a strong concept first. Illustrations and animations can be highly rendered and polished, but without a clear concept and direction, the message gets lost. After that, I’ll complete a series of thumbnails and color tests until I find the composition that best supports my goal for that piece. My process remains the same overall no matter the medium; of course, with animation, storyboards are essential to find what movement is most dynamic. 

Ren Moen | Deforestation #1 | 2025

Whimsical and conceptual themes are central to your work. What is it about these themes that draws you in and inspires you to explore them in your art?

In my work, I am especially inspired by childlike wonder and imagination. Often this reflects in my work through whimsical themes and conceptual subjects rather than a narrative. I believe fostering an inner child allows you to view the world through a more colorful lens and find wonder in everyday life. Creating illustrations that explore vivid hues and fun characters is my method of keeping my inner child alive. I hope that those who view my art are also inspired to slow down and look at their environment through a more youthful lens. 

The use of vibrant colors seems to be a distinctive feature in your pieces. How do you choose the color palette for a piece, and what role do colors play in conveying the message of your artwork?

I love color, and always have. When ideating for a new piece, I’ll create several different sketches with different color palettes. I tend to lean towards complementary colors- such as orange and blue, as I find the contrast helps create emphasis for the subject. Most of the time, the most essential element of my artwork- or the element that communicates the message strongest- is done in warm, saturated colors while the background and supporting details remain cooler. 

Ren Moen | Apple Eater | 2023

Your work often has a surreal, dreamlike quality. How do you balance the fantastical and imaginative elements in your artwork with a sense of reality or emotional resonance?

The juxtaposition of the fantastical and realistic is something I enjoy experimenting with. Many of my illustrations and animations are intended for children’s media and publication- therefore leaning into the whimsical appeals to children’s active imaginations. However, there will always be elements of the “real” incorporated into a scene in order to make the artwork feel familiar, relatable, and grounded. 

As an artist working with digital mediums, do you find any unique challenges or advantages in creating artwork this way compared to traditional methods?

For me, the biggest advantage I’ve found for working with digital mediums is the ability to add movement through animation. So much of today’s digital landscape includes movement to draw in an audience- you see it in advertising, social media, and editorials. Working digitally allows me to really bring a piece to life through motion. However, when working digitally, it is possible to lose some of that handcrafted charm that traditional art has. I like to use brushes that add traditional-inspired texture and linework to my illustrations to replicate that feeling. 

Ren Moen | Ace of Borzois | 2024

What themes or concepts are you most passionate about exploring in your art, and how do you see your work evolving in the future?

I am most passionate about exploring feelings of wonder and curiosity. When looking towards the future, I hope to continue infusing my work with these themes but apply them to a variety of situations. I’m interested in using my illustrations, often geared for children, to bring awareness to current struggles and issues in an approachable way. It’s so important that the next generation is educated on these topics, and art is one of the most communicative tools that can be utilized. 

You’ve worked on a variety of projects that explore imaginative worlds and creatures. How do you develop and build the characters in your pieces, and where do you draw inspiration for them?

Concept and visual development has always been a passion of mine. I draw a lot of inspiration for my environments and creatures from the natural world. Through my process, I test out combining these natural components with strong shape language and vibrant colors to simplify them and infuse them with personality. I find that it also helps to write out a story, even if it’s only a few sentences. Having a story or background for a character will make it feel so much more alive in an illustration. 

Ren Moen | Deforestation #2 | 2025