©2000-2025 Anna and Elena Balbusso. All rights reserved.
All ©Balbusso twins images and content are copyrighted. No Machine Learning, AI. You may not use our ©images, our name (as authors), and content of this website (including any caption information, keywords or other metadata associated with content) for any machine learning and/or artificial intelligence purposes.The artworks above cannot be used for commercial purposes by any third parties without explicit permission from the copyright holder ©Anna and Elena Balbusso Twins. Violation of this right means an infringement of copyright law and is indictable.
How we work
Welcome! If you want to work with us and you have new projects to propose us CONTACT US !
We are always available to evaluate new collaborations and new projects!
Our work philosophy
We look at the quality of the project, not the quantity. We continually experiment with projects, doing research and aiming for excellence with an open-mind mentality. We prefer projects that allow us the freedom to experiment because two souls coexist in us: an artist and a designer. It’s necessary to be unpredictable, so personal research is important. We love images with strong ideas, synthesis, and strength of expression.
Our goal is to create images that arouse curiosity and emotions while avoiding stereotypes.
This is our daily challenge; it’s not easy, but we try!
Our Technique
We use an artisanal technique even if the final result is in digital format.
We use a mixed technique that combines traditional tools (pencil, tempera, acrylic spray paint, collage, frottage) with digital (Adobe Photoshop®). We do not use virtual brushes but all our brush strokes, pictorial backgrounds, textures are made by hand and then scanned and worked on Photoshop. This technique will give the work a pictorial material visible with an effect similar to tempera or acrylic on paper. During this process, we test color many times through digital color proofs. After your final approval, we send you the hight resolution original artwork in digital format like tiff, eps, jpg. It isn't a vector image. Digital images can be rapidly transferred via We Transfer, Dropbox with link download.
The Creative Process
The final artwork is only the tip of the iceberg of the whole creative process. You have to go very deep to get powerful images. Our work is not quick illustrations. We do not work in series, every project is unique! It is important to study the Art history and to know the past as well as the present. In all our work there is a clear reference to artists and paintings. Most projects require a strong knowledge of art history. There is not a specific art period but Art in general, from Ancient Rome mural painting (frescoes at Pompei), Italian Renaissance, Romanticism, Modern Art (Symbolism, surrealism, Russian constructivism, Italian Futurism) and Contemporary Art. We can choose very several ways!
Illustrated Book Projects
…it’s like making a film…
After carefully reading the story, we select the scenes we want to illustrate. We choose interesting points and also balance the number of illustrations throughout the whole book. We always start by talking and imagining what we want the project to be. It helps us to look at a lot of paintings from the period we are illustrating – in all our work there is a clear reference to artists and paintings. We make detailed notes about the characters and the scene of each illustration then conduct preliminary historical research to understand how best to create the characters and setting. We collect all of the references for each illustration – artists and art, sketches, photos of people… then we begin the rough drawings. We develop the idea through very different layout and compositions until we achieve the desired affect. We work and rework the illustration until we have a detailed visual of the scene. Make the art the best it can be in the time that we have for the assignment. We use graphite pencil on tracing paper then we digitalized our sketch and work it with photoshop.
The Handmaid's Tale, Folio Society 2012
Conceptual Images
After studying the topic, reading the article and stressing the most important concepts, we try to define some ideas to develop. Our goal is to obtain an image strong and concise as possible and to center the topic well. We submit to you, generally two-three proposals (digital grayscale layouts) to better convey the idea. In our style the role of color is very important. The composition and the interlocking of light and dark are the most important part of the sketch and often they build the idea.
Cover art U Magazine 2023
Work Process
The three-step work process for creating an illustration generally involves: Concept Development. Creation: This phase involves sketching, submit the sketches or gray scale digital layouts. Creating the final illustration, whether digitally or traditionally. Review and Refinement: This final step involves reviewing the illustration, potentially making revisions based on feedback, and ensuring the final product meets the desired quality and expectations.
First Sketches
Grayscale layouts
Final artwork
When you have discussed with our Shannon Associates team the assignment's details (usage, budget, copyrights contract agreement, schedule, style, size) we will work directly with you on the project. After receiving the brief, all info and guidelines, we will get to work on the concept development. Before the sketching we always do thorough iconographic research. First, we made some quick pencil sketches to fix our first ideas of composition. Then, we carefully study all the details.
We submit to you some grayscale layouts very close to the final image. We provide explanations and written comments along with the sketches to communicate the ideas and interpretations of the subject in a clear, exhaustive way. If you are happy with the direction of our initial proposals we proceed to the next stage but we can also proceed with any minor changes if necessary. In many cases, you also can request one or more color comp during the quote phase. The color comp conveys an idea very close to the final art. Once we receive your written approval we proceed with the final step: make the original artwork. Our final artwork is in digital format, it isn't a vector image.
The next stage of the process is to make the final color art. We use an accurate pictorial style with many details and nuances keeping the brush strokes and the pictorial material visible. We do not use virtual brushes but all our brush strokes, pictorial backgrounds, textures are made by hand and then scanned and worked on Adobe Photoshop®. It is an artisanal technique even if the final result is in digital format. During this process, we test color many times through digital color proofs. After your final approval, we send you the hight resolution original artwork in digital format like tiff, eps, jpg. It isn't a vector image. Digital images can be rapidly transferred via We Transfer, Dropbox with link download.
BALBUSSO TWINS
Get in touch
New project proposal: please write via email to our Shannon Team everything we should know about a project, including the timeline, budget, style, number of images, subject, objectives, and goals. Our team will contact you and provide you with all the information quickly.
Many Thanks for your help!
Email for new projects