Humans of Pixabay featuring regencygirl123
Meet Milena
TL;DR
Illustrator Milena, known as regencygirl123, shares how watching her daughter draw on Procreate sparked her modern doodle style.
- Milena is an illustrator based in Watertown, US who started drawing digitally in 2020.
- She began after watching her daughter draw on Procreate during the pandemic.
- Her style is a loose, playful modern doodle built from fluid lines and bold color.
- Food, autumn, and Christmas are her favorite recurring themes to illustrate.
- Her best creative advice is to practice every day, since consistency matters more than talent.
Two truths and a lie
Can you guess which are the truths and which is the lie? Get to know more about Milena through this guessing game. Answers are at the end of the interview.
Statement 1: I don't watch American TV shows or movies. I'm a devoted K-drama fan through and through.
Statement 2: I have lived on four different continents.
Statement 3: I love writing and have actually finished a few books, with ideas for many more always swirling around in my head.
Some questions for Milena
What was your creative journey like? How did you start your craft and when?
My creative journey began in 2020, during the quietest stretch of the pandemic. I was home, watching my daughter draw on Procreate, and she is absolutely incredible! I found myself thinking, I want to try that. So I downloaded the app and started learning, practicing, and slowly improving ever since. It started as a way to pass the time during the pandemic, but now it has turned into a genuine passion.
How would you describe your style, and how has it evolved over the years?
My style is best described as modern doodle. It is loose, playful, and a little whimsical. I love working with fluid, imperfect lines and bold blocks of color rather than aiming for anything too polished or precise. It has a handmade warmth to it that I've come to really embrace.
What themes or stories do you love exploring in your work?
Food is absolutely my favorite thing to draw. Beyond that, I'm drawn to seasonal themes, especially the cozy, golden warmth of autumn and the magical, nostalgic feeling of Christmas. There's a real comfort in those subjects, and I love that they resonate with so many people.
What inspires you in your work?
My daughter is my greatest source of inspiration. Watching her create so freely inspires me. Beyond her, I spend a lot of time on the internet, exploring an endless source of ideas, moods, and color palettes that I love getting lost in.
Who are some of your inspirations in this field that have highly impacted your work?
I've found such a wonderful community of artists on Instagram who have genuinely shaped the way I create. @five_oclock.art, @eveandersondraws, @ohjessmarieart, and @mymcdoodles are all artists I return to again and again. Liz Kohler Brown has been a particularly big influence. Her approach to digital illustration and her generosity in teaching have been invaluable to me. Weronika Salach is another artist whose work I deeply admire.
What was the best piece of creative advice you’ve ever received?
Practice every day. It sounds almost too simple, but it's the most honest advice there is. Consistency matters more than talent, more than inspiration, more than having the perfect idea. Showing up every day is how you actually grow.
I would advise the same thing for young artists who are aspiring to work in the creative field. Keep drawing every single day, even on the days when you look at your work and feel like it isn't good enough. Especially on those days, actually. Progress is happening even when you can't see it yet.
What do you like about Pixabay?
What I love most about Pixabay is its accessibility. Great art is available to everyone, completely free. In a world where so much is locked behind paywalls, it's genuinely generous and beautiful.
And the ‘two truths and a lie’?
Statements 1 and 3 are true. Statement 2 is the lie. Milena has actually only lived on three continents (North America, Europe, and Asia), not four. But hey, three continents is still pretty remarkable!
Thank you, Milena, for sharing your work with us!
Find Milena on Instagram: @sakuralemondesignstudio