Carolina Peláez on her nature-inspired vector illustrations, art school, and why she prefers freelancing

Wacom released the Wacom Movink OLED pen display in 2024. Since then, we've watched as tons of creatives have utilized the professional-grade power of the Movink's OLED display, slim and sleek form factor, simple connectivity, and included Pro Pen 3 to create incredible work at home and on-the-go. We've long been fans of the work of Colombian artist Carolina Peláez, known online as Kropsiland. Her dynamic, colorful, nature-inspired work covers textile design, branding, design research, and illustration for all kinds of brands.
 
“My work always was inspired by Colombian biodiversity and culture, the direct contact with nature, exotic fruits, flowers and animals," she says. " I create illustrations full of details and bright colors formed by solid vectors, trying to bring all these handling colors, emotions, textures, and the stunning natural beauty details to my work ... [I want] to strengthen environmental awareness and a sense of pride for our natural heritage.” 

We wanted to see what she'd do with a Wacom Movink in her hands, and she created a few Spanish-language videos for us about how to work smart, how she creates merch, and how she uses references. We also interviewed her (in English!) about her background, process, and what she thought about the Wacom Movink pen display. The videos, that interview, and examples of her work are below. Note: the interview below has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

How did you discover your passion for art? Were you a creative kid?

I do believe that my creativity was trained from a young age. My mother was a primary school teacher, and taught me many art techniques, sparking my curiosity to explore different forms of expression. She kept me busy with little creative tasks like DIY “art attacks” and puzzles!

You got a degree in design. What was your experience like? Would you recommend college to young creatives who are thinking about a creative career, or these days can artists be self-taught?

I'm a complete nerd, and I love studying! I do believe that college is a place of expansion and openness to the possibilities that exist in the real world of creativity, far from the ideal of "living for the love of art." In my case, I’ve greatly valued the support, professional seriousness, and knowledge I’ve received from past teachers. I was always aware that I was the one who enjoyed acquiring that knowledge and saw creative potential in that information.

On the other hand, I do believe that we should take charge of our learning and expertise, nurturing our skills and interests in a self-taught way, with discipline. I think that's what makes the difference between a very good artist at what they do; they have surely dedicated a lot of time to studying and practicing their craft. Some knowledge is not acquired in college, but through experience.

Your style is very distinct, with bright colors, smooth shapes, and featuring lots of animals. How did your style develop? Was it always like this, or did it take a while for you to figure out your style? What inspires you and your style?

Yes, I think my vector aesthetic has always been similar: simple, organic lines and solid colors. I started illustrating in Corel Draw using only geometric shapes. My work is inspired by nature, and some illustrations are influenced by my personality and personal experiences.

What is your relationship to Wacom products? What did you think of the Wacom Movink in particular?

I got a Wacom Intuos from college with one of my first freelance payments as a student. Many years later, when I started setting up my studio and working on my own, for one of my first international projects, I bought a Wacom One. It definitely helped me take my work to the next level and greatly improved my productivity.

This year, I received the Wacom Movink as a reward for my discipline and dedication to illustration over the past few years! It was like receiving a gift from Santa at Christmas. It's very lightweight. Its touchscreen has helped me find practical ways to improve my performance and shortcuts while I'm illustrating. The colors are definitely what I like most, as it provides great visual consistency with other monitors.

You've worked in agencies as a full-time designer, and as a freelancer. What do you like about being a freelancer? How did you decide which approach you wanted to take?

Yes, I've worked in agencies and companies as a full-time designer. I really enjoyed it and learned a lot, but I started to get better with my personal projects, which I was working on simultaneously while working for other companies and brands.

Since college, I've been interested in packaging and graphic design for objects. So I focused on finding work in the design and manufacturing of packaging for mass-market products and large retail stores. At one of the agencies where I worked, I started creating proposals that included illustration, and that same year, I decided to participate in competitions and public calls with my personal work. As a freelancer, I've also worked with several agencies that contract graphic services on a temporary basis. The most interesting thing about working on your own, is that your creativity is truly diverse and flexible.

You do a lot of different kinds of artistic things. Do you ever feel pressure to “specialize” in one artistic discipline, rather than doing many things?

In fact, I am a specialist; I have a postgraduate degree in Strategic Design and Innovation. But I think this study helped me expand my creative vision more than just "focus" it.

I do believe we should spend more time cultivating one of the skills we're best at and enjoy the most, but I think the true focus or specialization lies in your own way of doing things. Illustration could be just one part of a design project. Perhaps over time, I've found a way and opportunities to take my illustration style into different formats and surfaces, but I feel my skills aren't limited to just vector art and color. And what I've learned about design management has helped me have a broader vision of how I make money, for example, with what I know and enjoy doing.

If a young creative wanted to grow up to have a similar career as you, what advice would you give them?

Definitely by choosing what you enjoy doing! Imagine what your ideal position would be … If you had to do the same task for a long time, what would it be? What job would bring you comfort, satisfaction, and pleasure? That would be my guideline for the path to follow and to start building a professional profile. Then it's time to study, practice, and practice a lot.

Do you have anything cool coming up that you’d like to share with our readers?

After a long time dedicated only to client projects, I am creating a new collection of illustrated products for my online store! Hoping to be launching at the end of this year.