Artist Collaboration: An Interview with Gretel Lusky @gretlusky

Magical Worlds Await

Say hi to Gretel, an Argentinian illustrator and comic artist, known for her expressive characters, fantasy themes, and vibrant mixed media style.

@gretlusky’s work blends storytelling, emotion, and celestial beauty—often featuring strong, whimsical protagonists brought to life through bold lines and dreamy colours. We were curious to learn more about her process and perspective—read on to discover what we found.

Hi Gretel, nice to meet you :) Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi! I’m an illustrator and comic artist from Argentina who works with both digital and traditional mediums. Growing up with ’90s cartoons, Disney movies, and comics like W.I.T.C.H. sparked my love for drawing and deeply shaped my art style. While I enjoy working on comics and illustrations for different clients, my true joy comes from creating personal artwork and bringing my own ideas to life.

My work often blends nature elements and fantasy themes with expressive characters and vibrant colors. I love exploring dreamy, nostalgic feelings that evoke a sense of wonder and storytelling, making each piece feel like a little glimpse into a magical world!

How has your art style evolved over the years? What influenced its development?

Even though my art style has evolved a lot over the years, I’ve always had a clear sense of the kind of art I love creating. This has allowed me to develop in a somewhat steady, linear way—constantly refining and building upon what was already there. As you grow, your interests, tastes, and perspectives change, and those things naturally find their way into your work. Social media -with all the goods and the bads- has also had a huge influence on my growth. I’ve discovered so many artists over the years whose work inspired me to explore new approaches and ideas. Client work—especially comics—has played a big role in my artistic growth as well.

Working professionally with others constantly pushes me out of my comfort zone, making me draw things I probably wouldn’t do on my own. I’d say another turning point was making sketchbooks a regular part of my creative process. My sketchbook practice has helped me so much to explore my ideas freely and experiment with different mediums—leading me to new discoveries that I often incorporate into my work. More importantly, it keeps art fun and exciting for me!

What sparked your interest in fantasy themes?

My love for fantasy themes goes back to my childhood when the stories that fascinated me the most always had a magical element to it—fairies, mermaids, witches, superheroes saving the day and anything beyond the ordinary.

I’m drawn to concepts full of wonder and characters with a story to tell, whether it’s an epic adventure or small, dreamlike moments. There’s just something really exciting about exploring fantastical worlds compared to realism, which is more grounded and predictable. Fantasy has no rules, and that’s what makes it so inspiring!

Your covers are named Morning Dew and Starry Dreams, are there any specific themes or messages you wanted to convey through your covers? We would like to understand your creative vision behind them.

My art is very often about exploring magical worlds and whimsical scenes. I enjoy taking small, everyday things and giving them a playful twist. I'm not quite sure how I ended up imagining what it would feel like to fall asleep on a giant cloud—or maybe a big, comfy flower!—but that’s usually how my ideas begin; the message is rarely clear from the beginning. I always start drawing with a mix of taste and intuition, and find my way as I go. In the end, things fall into place like a puzzle. With these two particular covers, I knew I wanted to create something that feels cozy and peaceful, filled with warm little details.

Did you face any challenges or obstacles while creating the design? If so, how did you overcome them?

I think one of the biggest challenges in designing a cover is leaving enough space for the title and fitting the required dimensions, all while keeping the composition visually interesting. You're creating a full illustration, but the main focus sometimes ends up being just a small portion on the front—so it's important to pay extra attention to that area! The Mossery team was great at providing feedback and helping me notice small details that improved the overall look and feel.

What materials or techniques did you use to bring your design to life?

I first sketched the ideas very roughly in my sketchbook, then did a digital pass over them. Digital art makes it easier to do quick edits and try things out, so I was able to experiment and move elements around until I landed on a composition I liked. I originally wanted to paint the final illustrations traditionally, but since we were on a tight schedule, I went with the digital route. I'm glad I did—these designs really called for lots of glowing/ magical effects, which would’ve been much harder to achieve with traditional mediums. Overall, I’m very happy with how they turned out!

Are there any hidden details or symbolism in your design that you'd like to share with us?

I knew I wanted to connect both covers in some way, so I decided to incorporate elements like the shooting stars and the moon into each. I like to think of the characters as long-distance friends who live in different universes—one is going to sleep while the other is just waking up. I often feel this way, living far from my family and friends and not being in the same time zone as them. At night, I find myself thinking about how we're all looking at the same moon despite the distance, and that thought makes me happy.

What advice do you have for aspiring artists or creators who want to make their mark in the industry?

I honestly don’t know any other way to make your mark than by staying true to the things you love—the things you naturally find yourself drawn to. Try to listen to whatever it is that makes you excited to pick up a pencil, and follow that feeling. I believe when art comes from a genuine place, it changes everything. Stay curious and keep learning at your own pace, you'll always be improving and growing!

Are there any other artists or creators who inspire you in your work?

Yes, there're too many. It would take me some time to go over all of them, but here're a few that come to my mind in no particular order: Alessandro Barbucci, Brianne Drouhard, Sophie McPIke, Natalie Andrewson, Ami Thompson, Maud Bihan, Chris Hong, Flesh.png, Kiera Won, Little Thunder and more!

Do you have any favourite Mossery products or designs from other artists that have caught your attention?

My first Mossery product was the art kit by Sibylline Meynet that I bought years ago. I absolutely adore her work, and I’m especially fond of that kit because it was the very first time I tried acryla gouache. More recently, I discovered the work of Olivia Ariferiani through her Mossery covers, and I love her use of colour.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with the Mossery community and those who appreciate your work?

Whether you found my work by picking up this art kit or you’ve been following me on social media and supporting me in other ways, I just want to say a huge thank you. Being able to do what I love for a living is something I never take for granted, and I’m incredibly grateful for it. And of course, a special thank you to the team at Mossery for this opportunity and for believing in my work!

A big thank you to Gretel for sharing her artistic journey and insights. If you found her work inspiring, we encourage you to discover more of her creations with us here!