Illustration

“I enjoy creating unique, memorable illustrations. I always use the fundamental approach in my work - I study history of the time and culture of the people I draw. It allows me to get the precious insight and feeling of the stories I illustrate.“

A CONCEPT VINYL ALBUM

Two musicians Marko Haapamäki and Asko Ylinen have recorded an album, my task was to visualize their idea and my own perception of their music and songs

'A DESCENT INTO THE MAELSTROM'

by EDGAR ALLAN POE

This work immerses us in a world of intense emotions, where the main character finds himself face to face with the forces of nature, making a decision that will determine his life. This step, with no possibil ity of turning back and trying again, creates a colossal tension that permeates the entire story. In my illustrations, I have tried to convey this sense of chaos and dynamism. The movement of the harsh northern sea, the splashes, the enormous waves, and moments of desperation become a visual expression of the character's inner turmoil. My goal is not just to create a book, but to offer a new perspective on Edgar Allan Poe's work and to capture his unique style.

'CHILDHOOD'

by LEO TOLSTOY

Publishing: Labirint, 2024

The task was to create a series of illustrations and pop-ups. This is fiction book and also an encyclopedia and it includes information about the era, people, clothing of the 19th century. This book is part of a series of interactive editions with detailed historical and everyday-life commentary placed in the margins and interactive elements. You need to lift a picture, unfold a folded page, or pull a special tab—and you’ll see explanatory text, a drawing, or a photograph. This is story about Leo Tolstoy’s childhood—his first joys and experiences, about memories of family, friendship, and loss.

I have created about 15 full-page illustrations and around 30 additional drawings for pop-ups and their backgrounds.

'THE CALL OF THE WILD'

by JACK LONDON

and stories 'The Master of Mystery', 'The Great Interrogation', 'Like Argus of the Ancient Times'

Publishing: Labirint, 2023

This project is an engaging dive into Canada's history during the Gold Rush era. The book, crafted with love and meticulous attention to detail, features several tales by American writer Jack London.
An interesting fact about the author: in 1903, after the publication of his story "The Call of the Wild," Jack London woke up famous - the first edition of the book sold out in one day.
"The Call of the Wild" tells the remarkable story of a dog named Buck. Buck was kidnapped, taken to Alaska, and sold to gold prospectors. The story touches on themes such as survival of the fittest, civilization and nature, fate, freedom, and to some extent, violence, especially against animals.
When creating the illustrations, I didn't just gather historical facts, search for Native American and gold miner costumes and tools, but also immersed myself in the era, filling the book with atmosphere and authenticity.

Miserable and disconsolate, he wandered about among the many tents, only to find that one place was as cold as another
..as Curly and he looked at receding Seattle from the deck of the Narwhal, it was the last he saw of the warm Southland
..he was king,–king over all creeping, crawling, flying things of Judge Miller’s place, humans included
He discovered the mistake too late, when Thornton was abreast of him and a bare half-dozen strokes away while he was being carried helplessly past
They stopped by a running stream to drink, and, stopping, Buck remembered John Thornton
When the long winter nights come on and the wolves follow their meat into the lower valleys, he may be seen running at the head of the pack through the pale moonlight
When the last silver moonlight had vanished beyond the world, Scundoo came among the people huddled about the house of Hooniah
..the steering oar cut the black current sharply, and the boat swept out into the night
..past the over-hanging and ever-threatening glaciers to the Scales, and from the Scales up the steep pitches of ice-scoured rock where packers climbed with hands and feet

'TWO DIANES'

by ALEXANDRE DUMAS

https://www.labirint.ru/books/824692/

https://www.nigmabook.ru/dve-diani-diuma.html

Publishing: Nigma, 2021

The Two Dianas is a historical novel published in 1846–47 under the name of Alexandre Dumas but mostly or entirely written by his friend and collaborator Paul Meurice. The "two Dianas" of the title are Diane de Poitiers (the mistress of Henry II) and her supposed daughter Diana de Castro.
This project of creating the book "Two Dianas" by Alexandre Dumas with my illustrations was an engaging immersion into the history of France. I studied the biographies of notable figures of that time and historical portraits to create illustrations that immerse the book in the atmosphere of the era. Paying attention to details such as costumes and settings, I aimed to authentically capture the spirit of the time and captivate the readers' imagination.

He was forbidden to speak; but this terrible and piercing gaze spoke for him... Gabriel, rooted to the spot, neither moved forward nor back, but stood there transfixed by those blazing eyes; he could not get away from them, and at the same time a thousand confused and unutterable thoughts were whirling through his brain.
“Monseigneur sees that I was not mistaken. The letter addressed to the Cardinal de Guise is from Car- dinal de Caraffa, as that wretched courier was simpleton enough to tell me." “Read it, then, by the crown of thorns ! ” cried Anne de Montmorency. Master Arnauld read as follows...
Under cover of nightfall he and Martin-Guerre left the town by the least carefully guarded postern without hindrance. Wrapped in long dark cloaks, they a.ided into the moatlike shadows, and thence by the breach in the wall into the fields.
“Do you really think that I ought to take it ill of the Comte de Montgommery that he has as good taste and as good eyes as I have ?”
He looked about, and seeing that he was quite alone, drew near the smoking lamp, unfolded the note, and read, not altogether unmoved, the following words...
She drew a gold ring from her finger, and took from a chest the nun's veil which she had worn at the Bene- dictine convent at St. Quentin. “ Listen, Gabriel,” said she...
.. as soon as he saw Vicomte d'Exmès, gave a sudden start, and after seeming to hesitate for a moment, stopped suddenly and said very cautiously, “Gabriel, my friend !”
When he had explained the purpose of his mission and had placed a bag filled with gold upon the table, the Englishman asked, - “Did Vicomte d'Exmès simply instruct you to hand me this money, and add no message for me ?”
One by one, and in absolute silence, the bold adventurers mounted the ladder from the boat, and without stopping at the excavation, continued clambering up the cliff, using both their feet and hands, and taking advantage of every inequality in the face of the rock.
By the light of the torch a form could be distinguished in a corner stretched upon a heap of foul straw. Gabriel threw himself upon the body, drew it from the corner, and tried to restore it to life, crying, - “Father, father!” Monsieur de Sazerac fairly shook with horror at that cry. The arms and the head of the old man fell back inert and lifeless under Gabriel's caressing hands.
I need not tell you, friends and brothers, that Monsieur de Montmorency obeyed the king's orders. Dubourg and Dufaur were seized and carried away while occupying their seats as councillors of parliament, and we were left in utter consternation.
However, she dismissed the page and her maid with a gesture, and they were left alone. Then they approached, and their hands met in a cordial grasp.
As he rode along at a gallop, the shaft came in contact with Henri's head. The visor of the casque was broken by the force of the blow, and the lance pierced the king's eye and came out at his ear.
Master Arpion came softly in while Monsieur de Mouchy was speaking, and whispered in his master's ear. "Aha!" cried the lieutenant, triumphantly. "Very well! Arpion, introduce Lignières at once. Yes, while Monsieur le Grand Inquisiteur is here; for is he not one of us?"
An hour later Gabriel began his journey, accompanied only by André. But he hardly foresaw the extraordinary and terrible alternative by which his loyal soul was to be confronted.
"You propose, then," said Gabriel, pale and dejected, "to allow the others to go on with this fatal design, and to go on with it yourself?" "Yes, Monsieur le Comte," responded Castelnau, whose words had a firmness in them that admitted no argument..
"Long live our good king, Charles IX.!" "Our fortunes are at an end now!" said the cardinal, gloomily, to his brother...
Catherine de Médicis at last had him in her power. It was by treachery, to be sure; but what mattered that? Charles IX. was dead; and pending the return of Henri III. from Poland she was queen-regent and omnipotent.

'CHILDREN OF THE NEW FOREST'

by FREDERICK JOSEPH MARRYAT

Publishing: Labirint, 2023

The Children of the New Forest is a children's novel published in 1847 by Frederick Marryat. It is set in the time of the English Civil War. The story follows the fortunes of the four Beverley children who are orphaned during the war, and hide from their Roundhead oppressors in the shelter of the New Forest where they learn to live off the land.

FOR MAGAZINE 'THE ABYSS'

Publishing: Association of Speleologists of the Urals

'DOCTOR SKRIPKA'

by MAYA LAZARENSKAYA

https://www.nigmabook.ru/doktor-skripka.html

https://www.labirint.ru/books/860289/

Publishing: Nigma, 2023

Creating a book for toddlers with my illustrations turned into an exciting adventure into the world of animals that have real-life counterparts. To breathe life into my illustrations and capture children's hearts, I began inventing characters, their world, personalities, and amusing dialogues, adding those nuances that are not present in the text.
It was akin to casting for a movie: I sought out the perfect "actors" among my friends with animals. With us even having a Sheltie dog, I'm well acquainted with their mannerisms. I even felt compelled to sculpt a few characters out of clay to infuse them with even more life and emotion.
Delving into the minutiae, I aimed to create illustrations that were lively, detailed, and bursting with personality.

'MOM FOR LITTLE CLOUD'

by IRINA ZARTAYSKAYA

https://www.labirint.ru/books/956610/

Publishing: Nigma, 2023

FUNNY ANIMALS