Alexandra Yvette’s Women Belong in Old Movies (and on Your Moodboard)
- Ana Beatriz Reitz
- May 21
- 4 min read
The artist on her inspirations, heritage, beginnings in the craft, and what beauty truly means.
Known online for her whimsical, vintage-inspired portraits in pastel and pen, Los Angeles–based Puerto Rican illustrator Alexandra Yvette finds beauty in all things. Her drawings often depict an elusive, wide-eyed woman with an almost mystical quality. With her prominently colored cheeks, all of Yvette’s girls exude an air of mischief and effortless charm that makes her a complete enigma. Details such as hair color and lip hue, as well as what these intriguing characters are holding, all come down to the clients' specifications.
But underneath it all, it doesn't matter what they're holding, how they're styled, or whom they represent across the globe. One thing always remains: a certain nonchalant air and timeless attitude that hails from old Hollywood movies, roaring ‘20s jazz clubs in Paris, and now your mood board.
As her drawings take over more and more corners of the feminine visual realm, one day at a time, HALOSCOPE sits down with the artist to discuss all things portraiture: her beginnings in the craft, her inspirations, her heritage, and her musings on what beauty really means.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Ana Beatriz Reitz: Growing up, were there particular images, magazines, cartoons, movies, celebrities, or artists that shaped the way you saw faces, art, and beauty?
Alexandra Yvette: I loved Y2K beauty product packaging, it was so fun and whimsical and made being a woman seem exciting. I always was drawn to unconventional, quirky beauties like Helena Bonham Carter. Ever since I can remember, I noticed people’s features and unique quirks and took note.
ABR: Before starting to sell your portraits, what did your early drawings look like? Were you always drawn to portraiture, or did that interest emerge over time?
AY: My early drawings didn’t look too dissimilar from what I create today. I was always drawing portraits of girls. Women [and] girls have always been my favorite subject. The bones were always there; I just refined my style to better align with my vision.
ABR: Do you remember the feeling of the first portrait you ever drew? And when was the first time someone wanted to buy one of your portraits? What did that feel like?
AY: My friend had asked me to draw her profile picture for Instagram, and I felt so honored. Re-sharing that portrait started my commission process, and I was excited to see how many girls wanted one of their own and resonated with what I was creating.
ABR: I see that you are from Puerto Rico. I wonder how your Puerto Rican heritage shaped the way you see art? Are there any cultural memories or family traditions that find their way into your artistic process and illustrations?
AY: My Puerto Rican mom always had colorful, vibrant pieces of art scattered about my childhood home, so I grew up around art that centered women and our culture. I’d say that my paintings are really where you can see the Puerto Rican influence at play. I’m constantly homesick for the island that was never really my home. Lots of tropical themes of women enjoying life. I also love to draw different women [who] reflect how diverse Puerto Rican heritage is. We really do come in all shapes and colors.
ABR: When you begin drawing a face, what are you most attentive to first: the expression, the mood, the color palette, or something more intuitive (like the energy behind it)?
AY: I look at the eyes and mouth! My work is obviously quite abstract, but I’m always focusing on those features to really highlight a woman’s unique beauty.
ABR: Do you think of the women in your illustrations as characters with stories, or more like emotional portraits from the photos customers sent you?
AY: I draw a lot of my own characters [whom] I assign stories and personalities to, but commissions are definitely more emotionally charged with the descriptions my customers give me. Whether it’s a commissioned piece or something I create for fun, I like to think all my girls exist in the same whimsical world.
ABR: Regardless, there is always a romantic quality and a classic charm running through your work, not just in the imagery but in the feeling evoked. So, how do you define romance and timeless?
AY: For me romance and timelessness is displayed in colors like burgundy and classic red. I love adding gold accents and pops of contrasting colors. Add a glass of red wine or a coffee cup and we’re forever timeless.
ABR: In a time when beauty is often hyper-perfected online, what does it mean to you as an artist?
AY: I don’t subscribe to beauty standards or limitations to what is beautiful. I find beauty in every single woman; we are all unique in our own ways, features, personalities, style — that is what I define as ultimate beauty.
ABR: What kind of emotional space do you hope your work creates for women?
AY: Safe & celebratory.
ABR: After all these years [of] drawing so many portraits, what keeps it exciting for you?
AY: Each person is unique, and I love meeting and illustrating new people. They inspire me with their stories and perspectives. There is nothing more exciting than heading to a live drawing event and not knowing who I’ll meet! I always learn something from my conversations in the artist chair.
ABR: As you look ahead, what kinds of stories, moods, or visual worlds are you curious to explore next?
AY: I love the little whimsical world I’ve created and am looking to expand that world by creating more products with my art and pursuing more collaborations with like-minded brands and artists.🌀
Ana Beatriz Reitz Gameiro is a Brazilian freelance journalist covering fashion, entertainment, beauty, and culture. Her work has appeared in publications such as FASHIONISTA, V Magazine, Polyester, Teen Vogue, and Business Insider. She is also the voice behind The Devil Writes Fashion (previously For Fashion’s Sake), a weekly newsletter where fashion is dissected, celebrated, and occasionally roasted with humor, heart, and just a little bite.
