For a recent assignment for The New York Times, Madrid-born London-based artist Jose Mendez was tasked to create an illustration for an article on how the brain stimulates hunger. His playful interpretation of the scientific article featured a character stuffing his face with one hand, while writing an essay with the other, pizza boxes stacked on top of textbooks, and a spilled In-N-Out shake on the desk. The drawing perfectly illustrated the article, but Mendez’s individual style—which includes wiggly lines and a passion-fruit palette—was also evident. “There is always a conflict between what you do to satisfy yourself as an artist, and what you are asked to do in commercial work,” Mendez explains. “I always try to respect both at the same level—that’s what makes this career challenging.” In addition to The New York Times, Mendez has also created illustrations for GQ, Facebook and Lucky Peach, among many others, which range from a crocodile with road rage to a woman riding a giant hot dog. “It’s a mix of things that I find interesting in everyday life,” Jose explains in the following interview. “Human behavior can sometimes be really funny to observe.” – via THE HUNDREDS

Jose Mendez’s artwork is available for viewing at .Site co-working space.