Tablecloth design

Here are a few photos of a quite unusual commision I worked on earlier this year. Lupo&Olimp is a company selling coats for dachshunds and they commissioned me to create a tablecloth design that would feature fifteen dachshunds making an apple strudel. Every dachshund-chef included in the illustration was based on a real dog and got reference photos, names, characteristics and a back story for each of them. The main challenge was to show every dog and every stage of making an apple studel (which is a quite complicated process. I know that because I made it myself as part of my first hand research) and fit it all into one big scene.
The final design was later screenprinted onto a linen tablecloth. You can buy it here. 
It was probably the weirdest and in the same time the most fun commission to date. And definitely Lupo&Olimp is one of my favourite clients ever!

photo credit: Lupo&Olimp.

Cycling in the Outer Hebrides

So this year I headed to the Western Isles for my solo cycling and camping trip. I think this have become a little bit of a tradition by now. At some point in the summer I pack the paniers, take my camping gear and I go cycling somewhere up north. I get to spend a week surrounded by the nature, cycle through stunning scenery and defy a few gender stereotypes. I don't know what it says about me but these are definitely the best and most relaxing holidays I can think of (although I am not sure if 'relaxing' is the right word).

This time I took the ferry to the Isle of Uist and the plan was to cycle round both Uists and South Harris. The weather was really bad (winds at 30mph and rain, I guess nothing unusual in this part of the world but not the best weather for cycling, especially the wind) so unfortunately I have never made it to Harris. The good thing was that I could explore the Uists more instead of rushing through it so I don't miss the ferry.

I didn't make many sketches as most of the time I was too tired, my hands were not cooperating after a long cycle or it was simply imposible to take out the sketchbook because of the strong wind or the rain approaching (and I was more concerned about getting the next camping site dry and in one piece rather then creating artwork). The sketches don't really capture the spectactular sceneries of the Outer Hebrides but I think they are more true to the nature of the trip (note that most sketches is from the train or the ferry).

New picture book out soon!

Great news! A picture book I illustrated for Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry in Poland is out soon. You can see a preview here.  The story, written by Ewa Madeyska, is about a 4 year old girl who doesn't like to wear glasses as she is being teased by other children at the nursery.
It was a fun book to illustrate (I fell in love with the main character and her world first time I read it) and I was happy I could work with Dwie Siostry as it is one of the best Polish publishers and every book on their list is just great.
Just a few pictures for now. I will post more illustrations and maybe some sketches when it is published.

sketches from Warsaw

I went to Warsaw a couple of weeks ago and efor some reasons I didn't feel like sketching at all so I only made a few rather lazy sketches. Mostly of people in the airport staring at their smartphones and tablets and toddlers who have better things to do that staring at the smarphones.
Also, it turns out that when I don't spend my holidays sketching obsessively I read more. And this is probably a good thing.

an update

Last couple of months have been very busy with illustrating and teaching I had to do and I haven't had much time to blog.

The Clairvoyants exhibition was on show at the Warsaw Book Fair. And here is my picture book character Ada enjoying the fact that so many people came to see her. I was very happy with the format Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry chose for the exhibition, printing the artwork on huge posters and exhibiting it outdoors for people to enjoy and engage with it, instead of the traditional exhibition.
Here is more photos from the exhibition.

 

photo credit: Katarzyna Ławecka

photo credit: Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry

clairvoyants competition

Good news!!! My artwork have been shortlisted in the international competition for the picture book project Clairvoyants 2014. The competition was organised by a Polish publishing house Dwie Siostry and the winners and shortlisted artwork will be exhibited in Warsaw and Krakow soon.

As you can see Ada and her dragon friend are very happy to be included on the list of finalists. And I am as excited as they are. This was first time I wrote a picture book script in Polish, my first language, and I very much enjoyed being able to play with the words that way I cannot really when I write in English (even though the text has only two words per page - my new record!).

Ada rides a skateboard, builds constructions, searches for a hidden treasure and rules her own kingdom. She is an active and creative girl, sometimes a little bit naughty. The book is all about the empowerment, being able to create your own world, do whatever you want and be accepted for who you are (no matter what is your gender, age, race, nationality) . I guess I feel very strongly about the message it gives and this is why I am super excited about the shortlist.

For the results and to see the winning entries click here.

Congratulations to the winners, honorary mentions and other finalists!

lioness

I created this one a while a ago and I have no idea where it came from nor what it means.

rain sketches

 

 Some quick character development sketches I made using paint drips I found in one of the studios in the art college. What I love most about the character development is that it is so unpredictible. The characters slowly come to life and they start making their own decisions that you wouldn't expect them to make. This little girl was supposed to be quite annoyed with the rain but she looks like she is having a good time. She might do a little dance on the next page. Or jump in the puddles.

Le Immagini della fantasia 32

We are not even half way through January so I thought I would post something summery and cheerful. Just to distract myself from what is happening outside of my studio window at the moment.

I have already blogged a sneaky peak here.  A tematic secion of this year's edition of Le Immagini della fantasia was dedicated to Scotland and a part of it was exhibition of illustrations for a poem by Vivian French - 12 Months of Scotland. 12 illustrators were invited to create an illustration for each mont. My month was August so it involved capturing the Edinburgh festival atmosphere with all the music, colour, movement and crowds of people on the streets.

Other illustrators involved in the project: Anine Bösenberg, Laura Clark, Laura Darling, Hannah Foley, Jonathan Gibbs, Alexander Jackson, Cate James, Amy Johnston, Philip Longson, Kate McLelland andEilidh Muldoon.

And more details about the project and Le immagini della fantasia.

from the sketchbook