About

Hi, I’m Sarah, also known as Illy, a Buffalo, New York–based illustrator, artist, and graphic designer and the person behind Illymakes. My work lives somewhere between colorful and creepy, combining bold color, dripping forms, skulls, nostalgia, nature, humor, horror, music, and the beautifully weird.

I’ve been creating art for more than 18 years, working across traditional and digital illustration, graphic design, branding, web design, merchandise, and other visual media. My personal work has evolved over that time, but I keep coming back to the same idea: taking familiar subjects and transforming them into something a little stranger.

That idea eventually grew into my signature Drippy Skull artwork. I reimagine animals, plants, monsters, pop-culture-inspired subjects, and unexpected everyday things through colorful skeletal forms, exaggerated drips, and bold linework. What started as an illustration style has grown into an ever-expanding collection of original artwork and has become one of the most recognizable parts of Illymakes.

I love the contrast between subjects that might traditionally feel dark or macabre and bright, playful color. A skull doesn’t have to be grim. Horror can be funny. Something creepy can also be cute, nostalgic, or strangely beautiful. That push and pull is a huge part of what keeps me creating.

My work doesn’t stop with skulls, either. I create original paintings and illustrations alongside stickers, prints, posters, coloring books, handmade custom art trading cards, and other pieces that turn my artwork into things people can collect, display, wear, and enjoy. You can also find me throughout the year at comic cons, anime conventions, trading card shows, art markets, and other events around the region.

Alongside my personal artwork, I bring my background in graphic design, web development, and digital media into freelance projects and collaborations. I’ve created artwork and visual design for musicians, businesses, streamers, merchandise, websites, branding, posters, and other creative projects, and I’m always interested in opportunities where my style can bring something distinctive to the idea.

Illymakes continues to grow as I experiment with new subjects, materials, products, and ways of getting my artwork out into the world. At its heart, though, it’s still about making art that feels unmistakably me: colorful, drippy, spooky, nostalgic, and a little unconventional.

Ready to explore the weird?