about
nell | nellbell (she/her)
Nell is a Chinese-American illustrator based in Boston. She specializes in the big and small: public art and comics. She is known for her cute characters, bright colors, and bold, fun lines. She holds a masters in Art Education from Lesley University and a BFA in illustration and a minor in creative writing from MassArt. She also has been teaching art in museums, art centers, and community centers.
Other than drawing, Nell enjoys searching for the best bubble tea in the city. Her boyfriend and she also have guinea pigs they love dearly.
Clients and Experiences:
Town of Brookline
Harvard Children’s Stories
artist statement
All my art holds cute animals and nature. These ideas are often stemmed from my relationship to animals. Since I was a young girl, I have been an animal lover. Growing up in a small town with two dogs and a farm next door, I was always surrounded by soft cuteness and endless space to run in nature. I especially enjoyed visiting the sheep and pigs at Honey Pot Hill Orchards. During the pandemic I adopted two guinea pigs. We are now a beautiful herd of five!
I am greatly inspired by nostalgic characters such as Maisie Mouse, Snoopy, Hello Kitty, Peter Rabbit, and Winnie the Pooh. It’s incredible how the stories they hold have crossed generations of people, filling them with comfort and great joy. I aim to do the same.
I like to use my comic and public art to unify people through a sweet moment. Life can be hard and unforgiving at times, but love and sweet moments exist. They give me hope. Ideally, the majority of my work is drawn with bright, cheerful colors. In my experience, the colors help to create a world and a feeling for the scene. In general my work is rounded and soft, making physical and digital brushwork an important key..
It’s important for me as a artist to connect with my audience on a personal level. Connecting with others has been a human quality that I've felt strongly about even outside the art world. As an artist, art instructor, and art lover, I am eager to get to know my community and the stories they hold. My art is honest, fun, and quirky. It makes me so happy to see people of all ages and backgrounds trying to replicate my characters. Inspiring and giving others a feeling that they can do it too is everything to me.