{"id":70567,"date":"2020-09-08T13:05:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-08T03:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elements.blog-cms.envato.net\/?p=8851"},"modified":"2025-11-29T15:02:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T04:02:18","slug":"made-with-envato-peppy-colours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/made-with-envato-peppy-colours","title":{"rendered":"Made with Envato: Behind the Feed with Peppy Colours"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Splashing quirky, colorful content all across Instagram, digital artist Peppy Colours<\/a> is one of the most inspiring new creatives on the digital art scene. Creating modern pop art exploring the extraordinary in ordinary items \u2013from chameleon Coke cans<\/a> to donut scrunchies<\/a> \u2013 this designer’s eye-catching work is sure to put some pep in your step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CD3kvbKhrqb\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The brainchild of designer Pepe Bratanov \u2013 also the creative director and co-founder of Canadian independent creative agency, The Local Collective<\/a> \u2013 Peppy Colours is an exploration of the unexpected fun and beauty that can be found in the everyday objects and living things that surround us. Sharing his work both on Instagram<\/a> and his website<\/a>, Pepe’s distinctive style and marvellous mashups have garnered him an impressive Instagram following, as well as plenty of praise from the wider creative community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We caught up with Pepe to get to know the guy behind the grid, and to pick the pop artist\u2019s brain on how he uses Envato Elements<\/a> to make his art pop…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hey Pepe! How did you get into digital art, and how would you describe your style?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CDRssj-hKjE\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As a kid, I used to draw a lot. I was in love with drawing Disney characters. Then, there was a huge gap in my life with no artistic endeavours until I went to college. I enrolled in the advertising program at the Ontario College of Art & Design. In the first couple of years I took a lot of illustration<\/a>, design<\/a> and art history classes and that really reignited my love for the creative arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduating, I dove into the world of advertising and have been swimming in its waters ever since. I think my background in advertising has a lot to do with how I approach my digital art as well. As a young art director, back when we were still doing a lot of print, one of the most fun challenges for me was to highlight a product feature by creating some sort of visually interesting mashup to illustrate the benefit of the product. I think that carried through for me over the years and is now a big part of the approach behind Peppy Colours<\/a> \u2013 simple, colourful mashups that make you look at the subject in a different way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s the mission or meaning behind your work?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CBQcIO0BbI3\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The end goal is to put a smile on someone\u2019s face. The same way I clear my head while creating  art, I want the viewers to take a brief moment from their busy everyday lives and clear their heads. Nothing too deep or meaningful in most cases. Just a quick, enjoyable, snack-sized visual break.

Though, we are all different and some people find their own, deeper meanings and interpretations with some of the pieces, which is always nice to hear. It\u2019s exactly what art is supposed to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I want viewers to take a brief moment from their busy everyday lives and clear their heads. Nothing too deep or meaningful in most cases. Just a quick, enjoyable, snack-sized visual break.<\/p>Pepe Bratanov – @Peppy_colours<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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\n Unlimited creative assets. Access to AI tools. <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n \n
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\n Paddle Ball <\/h3>\n \n PixelSquid360 <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \"Paddle\n <\/div>\n
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\n Basketball <\/h3>\n \n PixelSquid360 <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \"Basketball\"\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Your work is so colorful and unique! How did you develop your minimalist pop art style? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CA-gF5EJ6UB\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve only been doing this type of art in a more streamlined way for just over a year. Before that, I was still creating digital art, but it was a bit all over the map in terms of technique and approach. With every next piece, I was trying to strip away anything that\u2019s not necessary and eventually that\u2019s how I got to what Peppy Colours<\/a> currently looks and feels like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inspiration behind it is mostly cultural observations and reflections of all the things that happen around us every day \u2013 from local culture and things I may have come across throughout the day to visual commentary on current global events and behaviours. It really varies. It could be something small or really big, but the connective tissue is always color and simplicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Realizing a complicated subject through a simple execution, in most cases, leads to a visually intriguing outcome and to me, personally, that\u2019s very rewarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do your ideas get from your imagination to Instagram?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/B-huYbfhY3R\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most of the pieces are reactions to things. It\u2019s like reporting the news as opposed to creating it. So, once I have encountered something interesting throughout the day (news, event, social post) I try to bring it to life in the best and simplest way possible. Some pieces take a couple of hours, others take days, simply because I like to go back to the work and look for imperfections. And sometimes I\u2019m stuck on choosing the background color for a couple of days. We all know what that\u2019s like. Patience, and lots of it, is a big part of the process too \u2013 anyone who’s photoshopped hair<\/a> or fur will know what I mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How does Envato Elements help you create your work?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CAvTunThFEI\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Envato Elements<\/a> helps me with my work in so many ways. With Peppy Colours<\/a>, it makes my work so much easier. I especially like the 3D objects<\/a> that allow you to find the perfect angle for the asset you need. And sometimes it provides inspiration. It\u2019s not always that I go to the site and look for something specific, sometimes I just browse and find inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the rest of the work I create on a daily basis as an art director and designer, Envato Elements<\/a> not only makes creating work easier, but it also makes it better with unlimited creative resources. From fonts<\/a> and music tracks<\/a> to photography<\/a> and vector assets \u2013 you name it, I\u2019ve used it all. I have a lot of subscriptions to all kinds of things and creative resources, but Envato Elements<\/a> really does have it all and a lot of the stuff cannot be found on other creative resource sites. It has a more indie feel to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Envato Elements not only makes creating work easier, but it also makes it better with unlimited creative resources. I have a lot of subscriptions to all kinds of things, but Envato Elements really does have it all and a lot of the stuff cannot be found on other creative resource sites.<\/p>Pepe Bratanov – @peppy_colours<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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\n Unlimited creative assets. Access to AI tools. <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n \n
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\n three months old cheetah cub sitting, isolated on white <\/h3>\n \n Lifeonwhite <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \"three\n <\/div>\n
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\n Retro Aviator Helmet <\/h3>\n \n PixelSquid360 <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \"Retro\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

What types of items do you use to bring your ideas to life? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CEHOUegAlTi\/\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\n Unlimited creative assets. Access to AI tools. <\/h3>\n <\/div>\n \n
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\n Caterpillar <\/h3>\n \n PixelSquid360 <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \"Caterpillar\"\n\n <\/div>\n
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\n Monarch Butterfly <\/h3>\n \n PixelSquid360 <\/span>\n <\/div>\n\n \"Monarch\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

For Peppy Colours, I use photos, 3D objects<\/a> and sometimes mockups<\/a>. For example, with my butterfly post<\/a>, I found everything I needed on Envato Elements<\/a>. I\u2019ve always had a fascination with the transformation of butterflies and wanted to create a fun version of it that shows how transformation can go wrong. So I started looking for visuals that will help me bring the concept to life and found the perfect angles for both, caterpillar and butterfly. From there, it\u2019s a lot of photoshop massaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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