I am Emanuela Bonaffini from Italy.

I am an illustrator and character design artist from Italy, now based in Montreal.

I immigrated to Canada at a young age with the dream of becoming a cartoonist. Growing up, Walt Disney movies were my window to imagination, and moving to Canada from one of Italy’s poorest parts, opened up a world of new creative opportunities and set my mind to become one.

Today, I specialize in creating whimsical, original characters in playful, yet powerful, and often sports-inspired settings using my trusty iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. I gravitate toward soft brushes and colors that mimic the warmth and texture of traditional pencil on paper.

My work blends a rough yet polished aesthetic—bringing personality and life into every character I design. Whether it’s developing mascots, illustrating for brands, or designing concept art, I help clients tell their stories with heart and authenticity.

Over the years, I’ve collaborated with several creative agencies including Zone Orange and Neon Cactus, and worked on mascot creation for organizations such as the Jeux du Québec and Zoo de Saint-Félicien. I also created a dynamic superhero-inspired character for Toundra, a Montreal-based basketball team, which was featured at their Comic Con booth, and for the Alliance, Montreal’s longest-established basketball club.

My biggest clients are The Mathurin Family Foundation—an NBA OBNL, Manmade, several basketball teams in the TBL and BSL, Flagrant Mag, Mezan and Woof Pack.

Montreal’s basketball scene is a big creative fuel for me—its energy and culture continue to inspire my passion for blending sports and illustration.

I take pride in delivering every project on time and within budget—because I’m a perfectionist at heart.

When I’m not drawing, you’ll find me laughing at my pets’ antics or studying the rhythm and movement of the game for inspiration.