Ilaria Ranauro

I’m Ilaria Ranauro, a kawaii illustrator, published children’s book artist, and Etsy shop owner. I create cute stationery, stickers, washi tapes, prints, and more - always with a focus on joyful, colourful design. Originally from Italy, I’m now based in Berlin.

Drawing has always been my passion. As a kid, I spent hours re-drawing my favorite characters from manga and magazines. Later, I studied and worked as a graphic designer, but in 2017 I decided to follow my true dream and become an illustrator.

That decision led me on a long journey - learning from other artists, practicing every day, and discovering what tools and style felt truly mine. I experimented with many techniques before finding my creative home in digital illustration, thanks to an iPad, an Apple Pencil, and apps like Adobe Draw and Procreate.

After building my confidence, I launched my Etsy shop, self-published an ABC book and several coloring books, and began reaching out to publishers with my portfolio. In 2020, I was commissioned by Penguin Random House Mexico to illustrate three children’s books, the first of which was published in 2021.

One of my biggest dreams came true with the launch of Puddle & Lettuce, a picture book series that I created as both author and illustrator. The stories follow a frog and a snail - best friends navigating creative, funny, and heartwarming adventures together. Seeing these original characters come to life in books has been one of the most meaningful parts of my journey so far.

You can follow me on Instagram @ilariapops to see more of my work and what I’m up to next!