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InspirationIllustration

Jeff Östberg’s mellow illustrations of stylish characters and simple scenes

Soft lines and a mellow colour palette are used to portray everyday narratives throughout the work of Swedish illustrator Jeff Östberg.

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Bearded man wearing glasses and a brown jacket stands by a window with peach and teal striped curtains, with bookshelves visible behind him

Working with clients including New Yorker Magazine, Airbnb and Bloomsberg among others, most of his editorial illustrations portray stylish characters in simple scenes and landscapes. Layers of shade and tone are used to create a subtle depth and a subdued, yet impactful, feel.

Growing up in a small town in Northern Sweden, Jeff developed a love for drawing from a young age, influenced by the works of comic artists such as Hergé, Joost Swarte and Vittorio Giardino. "I think growing up in a town like that was important for my process and creativity," he says. "I tend to dream myself away and visualise the things that I want to draw."

Jeff moved to Stockholm in 2008, studying at Konstfack University of Arts, Crafts and Design, where he drew inspiration from music, fashion, travel and the people around him to develop his distinctive visual style.

Discover more about Jeff’s work at his website.

A stylishly dressed figure in a yellow and black jacket holds a fish above their head inside a subway car filled with seafood and marine items
Two figures stand on a balcony overlooking a Parisian street at dusk, with illuminated buildings and a potted plant in the foreground
Stylised illustration of a figure in a yellow hat sitting in a desert landscape with red rock formations, a cactus and a blue shelter, beneath a bright turquoise sky
Person barbecuing on a wooden deck outside a pink building with turquoise windows, surrounded by plants and a fox below
People walking dogs in a park beneath large trees with a city skyline visible through hazy orange air in the distance
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