In conversation with Nesma Mesbah (JEWEE) ,Algerian Illustrator/Designer

Nesma Mesbah is an illustrator who created a world where peculiar characters act out the nuanced interchanges that we all face in our regular life .Her doodles are a mix between abstract art with large, blocked-out colorful shapes and zany characters,that all meet and interact .Last year she published a comic book entitled”MON ÉTERNELLE HALLUCINATION” which is still ON SALE AT THE “POINT VIRGULE ” BOOKSTORE IN ALGIERS . WE had the chance to talk with Nesma about the theory behind her work , her inspirations and her influences .

L’aubade : Hello NESMA can you tell us a bit about yourself ?

Nesma : so my name is Nesma Mesbah but I’m known on social media as JEWEE , I’m 22 years old from Algiers, (Algeria), and i’m an illustrator.

L’aubade : How do you describe your art style?

Nesma : Generally when people ask me what type of art I do I always answer saying that I’m a professional doodler, or as we say in arabic “TKHERBICHA”, because a lot of my work is sketchy at first.

L’aubade : Who are your biggest influences?

Nesma : Strangely my biggest influences are not famous painters but illustrators from the local art gallery aka internet. These days I really like the works of “furry little peach”, “ectomorphe” and “varguy”.

L’aubade : What subject matters interest you? What are some of the stories behind your work ?

Nesma : Most of the time when I draw, I tend to draw little stories or reflections that I previously noted in my note app. But I also like to create and imagine characters and create a whole story about them. Last month, during the pandemic I created a whole story about an adventurer called “indiano Janiss” (wink wink to indian Jones), and strangely the first drawing of the serie illustrated her being trapped in the forest. And now that i think of it, i think i unconsciously reflected my condition and emotions regardless of the lockdown.

L’aubade : How do you keep your portfolio up-to-date? Any tips?

Nesma : Most of the time people assume that i only do illustrations because it’s the things i generally post on my instagram, tho i’m also a graphic designer. So in order to have a diverse portfolio I try to mix between my illustration and design works. If i could give a tip regardless of the portfolio i think that diversity is important, also posting only works that we really love.

L’aubade : Tell us about the project you’re most proud of and why?

Nesma : One of the projects I’m the most proud of is the comic book I edited last year, it was a consecration for me because I put in all my heart and hard work, and as a result I realised a childhood dream.

L’aubade : One word to wrap this up?

Nesma : I’m not going to pretend to be a superhero with an inspirational quote, but the only thing I can tell to anyone reading this is that there is a place for everyone in this universe, and everyone has their own rhythm in achieving their goals.