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InspirationIllustration

Ari Puguh's cheerful and positive illustrations are just what we need right now

"My work speaks of cheerfulness, positivity and naivety," says Ari Puguh, an Indonesian illustrator based in Abu Dhabi.

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Colourful cluster of smiling round characters in various hues floating above a small house with a tree, illustrating themes of friendship and togetherness

Ari works as a full-time illustrator for an educational company in the United Arab Emirates and is a visual artist in his spare time. He studied his Bachelor of Arts at the Institute Art of Indonesia in 2014 and has since worked for MTV, published children's books and games, and launched a series of illustrations.

His latest book, Different but the Same shares the message that even though we are different, we are the same. One page reads, "Even though our religions are different, we are still best friends".

"Looking at my own childhood, I feel the need to give back and contribute something that was perhaps missing from my past, giving hope and inspiration to children, despite their circumstances and background," Ari says of his work.

At the moment, he is exploring a one-line drawing technique, playing around with lines and white space. With a light and fresh colour palette and cute happy characters, Ari's work is just the lift we need. Discover more at Behance.

Colourful abstract illustration of overlapping face-like shapes in yellow, pink, blue, green and black with simple line-drawn features and expressive gestures
Colourful illustrated composition of quirky line-drawn characters and shapes in pink, orange, yellow, blue and green against a white background, with green hill at base
Colourful abstract illustration with line-drawn characters and geometric shapes in green, yellow, orange, blue and pink, with text reading "Your Smile Is Just Make Someone's Day
Colourful illustration of diverse characters huddled together with text reading "I am not gonna reveal my race, religion or identity if that makes you less interested in me
Colourful illustration of a stacked group of stylised animals including a blue giraffe, pink hippopotamus, yellow lion and green elephant with simple facial features and striped markings
Colourful circular illustration with overlapping stylised faces in various skin tones and text reading "Nothing is fully bad, nothing is fully good
Colourful illustration of overlapping cartoon characters in pink, blue, yellow and green with simple line-drawn features and text below reading "Where I am from, people in hi to each other, even on the street
Colourful illustrated characters with smiling faces line a classical corridor beneath a spinning rainbow wheel suspended from the ceiling
Colourful smiling creatures by Ari Puguh tower over a cityscape with buildings and palm trees, with text reading "There you are" and "Tell us your stories
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