Usborne Farm Activities

I finally fot my samples of the Usborne Farm Activities Wipe Clean Book. So excited! I really like how it turned out, it indeed was a wonderful cooperation and I hope to do some more books with Usborne in the future.

 

New Project!

I was finally able to start working on the sketches for the next project with the wonderful guys at B4U Publishing. Last few days, you could have found me buried in papers and the copyright law, which was not as fun as doodling and sketching, really. So I am really happy now to be working again. Will post more soon!

Easter Illustrations for Slunicko Magazine

From time to time, I just really love it when a short-term job comes in. I can fully focus on just the illustration part for a day or two and enjoy working, because there is usually less administration and emailing involved :-) Such case is always a very lovely cooperation with the Czech magazine Slunicko. This time they asked for a cover with Easter theme (already!). Loved it!

Big Book of Jobs at the Printers

Happy! The big book of jobs is at the printers already! Great cooperation with the Axioma publishing from Prague, many thanks to the wonderful Ivana Kocmanova, who wrote and designed the book! It will soon be available in Czech republic and Slovakia.

Click here to see more from the book:
http://marianeradova.blogspot.sk/2014/06/work-in-progress-book-about-all-kinds.html
Or here:
http://marianeradova.blogspot.sk/2014/06/the-little-dreams.html

Space Illustration

For the past couple of days I have been working on a space illustration for Focus Pico magazine, in cooperation with my wonderful agent Ines from Illustopia agency. I just loved the theme! Tried to pick colors that would support the whole colorfulnes (is that even a word? haha) of the galaxies and planets and spaceships. Here is a little sneak peek - made a few shots of the whole illustration. Moving on to the next project!

Snow!

Had a few minutes today to make a little personal piece! It's snowing outside! Hope all you guys in the US are safe!

Bugs and Bees

In December, I thought I will have another slow winter this time. How wrong was I! I have been working since right after the New Years and it seems I have not stopped since. But hey, it's been fun! Here is a sneak peek of a board book I am currently working on with the wonderful folks from B4U Publishing - lots of bees, bugs and flowers. I'll keep you updated!

Montreuil Book Fair 2014

I know, I know! It's starting to feel like I am doing a Tour de European book fairs this year (I actually might be doing it as I think about it, haha!). Anyways, I've been really busy last few weeks and then right after I met all the deadlines I had to, I jumped on the plane and together with my wonderful illustrator friend Daniela Olejnikova (check out her work at www.daniole.com) we took on to Paris (ah oui...). Daniela was actually invited by the Literary Centre to take part in some workshops with children and to present her work in front of quite a few publishers who seemed interested in what she does. I decided to go ahead and join her, because I always feel I learn a lot when I travel, meet new people and try to do the illustration business outside my own country.


As for the Montreuil book fair (http://www.salon-livre-presse-jeunesse.net/), I have to say I really liked it and enjoyed it. For an illustrator, it just feels more welcoming than Frankfurt Buchmesse, although I still think Bologna Book Fair offers the most opportunities of all the European fairs I've been to. Montreuil is aiming purely on the children's and young adult market. And it does so with the help of illustration, so it seems like the right place to be for an illustrator. However, the approach is a bit different from the others. You register on the website to get a professional admit and then somehow, you're supposed to sign up for the meetings with the publishers (note: there are only French publisher available for appointments, but they do speak English, so don't be shy, heh), which are scheduled really tight. Now, I might sound a bit dumb, but I really was not able to figure this out. I could not even find an English version of the site, aaaaaah. Well, I do realize that sometimes it is not that easy to get around France (and French) without any knowledge of their language. I do have some knowledge, but it seems like it still wasn't enough. Anyways, now I know what Mice is, be sure you look for that when you enter the website and don't speak French. Watch out for the registration date for the publisher appointments (I've spoke to some illustrators while waiting in line and was told the site fell down immediately after the reg started) and hope for the best. Have some knowledge on what you're aiming for. Know the publishers. Don't be depressed if you did not get a spot with Thierry Magnier, when your place might rather be with Milan. Montreuil book fair will still be a great experience, even though you might feel that the market competition is just overwhelming (the place for publisher appointments really looked like a speed-dating spot). Just have the courage, grab your books and portfolio and go. It's fun! And it's in Paris! Ha!

Before I finish this little blog, I would really like to thank the wonderful people at the Ecoles de Conde in Paris. I was able to be a part of the conference they held for Daniela and another great young illustrator from Lithuania, Karolis Strautniekas (http://strautniekas.com/) and it just felt so welcoming. I would like to thank especially to the professors, Francois and Isabelle (sorry if I misspelled the names, aaah) who invited us for dinner in their own home. Thank you!






 



Here is a blog they keep at the school: http://condeciap.blogspot.sk/2014/11/daniela-olejnikova-karolis-strautniekas.html

Oh and one more thing - or rather a tip - if you ever find yourself going to Paris and are on a budget - be sure to check out a charming little hotel called Hotel Stella - http://hotel-stella.voila.net/, it is in the heart of Paris with lots of restaurants and cafes around and you won't spend a fortune staying here. It really is a great little place!

Zona Bez Penazi Promo Banner

A friend of mine asked me to do a promotional banner for a nice event they do every year here in Slovakia - they call it "Zona bez penazi". People can just come and exchange things they don't need anymore, that someone else might find use for. There is more info on their website in case you'd like to check that out: http://www.projekt-zivot.sk/zona/

The assignment said it needs to show things people usually bring - like books, clothes, toys etc. And I was allowed to make it look childish :-) So here I come! I thought you might like to see some sketches as well, so I am showing those this time, too. Let me know what you think! Speak soon!

Happy Halloween!

Just a little Halloween personal piece! Hope I get to take a break a little tonight and have some Halloween fun as well! Trick or treat!