Van Saiyan

Van Saiyan

(He/Him) • Murcia, Spain

Biography Interview

Van Saiyan is a Spanish multidisciplinary artist, illustrator and musician based in Rincón de Seca (Murcia), a quiet little town in an orchard area in the southeast of Spain. His style is a blow of retro fresh comic book air. He usually works with Photoshop, combining his own pencils and vintage textures in order to create his imaginary world. Van loves science, music, movies, lifestyle, and sports themes, but also other topics such as education, social criticism, economy, or politics. His work has been featured by magazines, advertising, editorial, packaging, posters, comics, and clothing brands. In recent years, Van's talent was recognized by several international illustration awards. Van received his illustration degree in ESDIP art school in Madrid. After living there for a decade, he decided to return to his hometown.

Selected clients


The Washington Post (USA), Greenpeace (ESP), Entertainment Weekly (USA), Universal Music (ESP), Super7 (USA), Forbes (ESP),Telos Magazine-Telefónica Foundation (ESP), GQ Magazine (ESP), Reader's Digest (USA), Texas Monthly (USA), Bimber Whisky (UK), Politico (EU), BJU Press (USA), Tufts Magazine (USA), Baltimore Magazine (USA), Polygon-Vox Media (USA), Vocento Group (ESP), Golf Digest Magazine (USA), Glug Magazine (UK), Virginia Living Magazine (USA), Estrella de Levante Beer (ESP), Actar Publisher (ESP), ...

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Sectors


Magazines, Advertising, Editorial, Packaging, Posters, Comics, Clothing Brands

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Awards


  • Winner APIM Awards 2023, Applied Illustration. Madrid (Spain)
  • Finalist APIM Awards 2023, Press & media. Madrid (Spain)
  • American Illustration 42 Chosen Winner. 2023 New York (USA)
  • Finalist APIM Awards 2022, Advertising. Madrid (Spain)
  • World Illustration Awards 2022. Shortlisted Artist. London (UK)
  • American Illustration 41 Chosen Winner. 2022 New York (USA)
  • Finalist APIM Awards 2021, Press & media. Madrid (Spain)
  • Mazoka Artist 2020. Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain)
  • Alternative Movie Poster of the week. AMP Posters. October 2020. London (UK)

Career Milestones


To be part of the gang in Anna Goodson Illustration Agency with other awesome artists. Since then, I've been able to work for great and interesting clients in big projects. On top of that, they brought me to be chosen in some important international illustrations awards.

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Van Saiyan in the Spotlight


Van Saiyan

Your pronouns:
He/Him

How do you define your identity? Do you identify with (or advocate for) any marginalized communities?
I support the LGTBIQ+ collective because I’ve some relatives and friends who belong to this community.

Where is home?
My studio and anywhere where I could be creative, if it’s close the nature better.

Describe your illustration style in one sentence:
A blow of retro fresh comic book air

What lights your soul on fire?
Drawing and play music

What themes do you enjoy exploring in your illustrations?
All of them, from science, music, movies, lifestyle, sports…to education, social criticism, economy, politicians…

What techniques do you use?
I usually work with Photoshop, combining my own pencils and vintage textures.

How much of yourself and your own story can we see in your work?
You can find this in all my work related to music, as a musician I usually draw music bands and musicians that I admire. Also part of my work is focuses on my concerns about our society, the environmental problems, or my view on lifestyle.

Is there an unmistakable thread in your creative work?
This is often the touches of retro nostalgia.

What do you want to be known for?
As an artist and a kind guy who enjoys his work.

Which projects excite you most?
Normally, those which have to do with science, tech, music or toys because I can totally capture my retro style in them.

What is your dream gig?
I don’t have any particular dream gig, maybe keep working for important clients.

Where, when and how do you best create?
Usually work in my studio, surrounded by my comics, electric guitars and my movie posters. Also, I’m comfortable making some sketches in the middle of the nature or somewhere that inspires me.

How has your style evolved since you started?
I started combinig superheroes with some of my favourite musicians and nowadays I draw all kind of topics.

What do you find most challenging in your practice or in the illustration industry?
I’m always on the lookout for improvement and now I’m focused on perspective. The industry is very competitive and there are many artists making incredible things.

How as being an illustrator changed your life?
I was working as a freelance illustrator before the agency and preparing to be primary school music teacher at the same time, but I always wanted to develop my profesional career as an artist, so here I am.

Name a tool you can’t live without!
My graphic tablet…., it’s essential!

Tell us about a project you worked on that was meaningful to you as an artist.
When I had a commission for one of my favourite rock bands called “Failure”. I made two official posters for their first and second weeks of concerts in their 2022 North American Tour.

What influences or inspires your art?
Comic book vibes from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s,..music and pop art. Comic book artists like Jack kirby, Neal Adams, George Pérez, Infantino…

What would you tell your younger self?
Don’t stop drawing and enjoy it!

Why do you think art speaks louder than words?
Because art is an universal languaje, you can communicate feelings or concepts with art anywhere in the world.

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