Violeta Dabija. Childrens Illustrator in Eastern Europe
Violeta Dabija is a freelance children’s book illustrator from Republic of Moldova, Eastern Europe.
She has a strong art background (a BA degree in Fine Arts/Graphic Design) and 5 years experience
as a children’s book illustrator for a major local publishing house. In 2005 she decided to go freelance
and promote her own work.
She says, ” My focus is on producing magic pictures, whimsical and unique environments
for my characters. I keep my work simple and clear but I pay meticulous attention to detail. I work in
both traditional and digital media and I also love combining more familiar and computer techniques
whilst retaining the traditional feel of the illustration”.
I think there is a beautiful dream like quality to her work and a great sense of escapism
for children’s imaginations. Violeta has illustrated over 25 books, some of which you can see here.
Fishink . Head in the Clouds
Time and time again,when I look back through photographs I’ve taken, I see a pattern emerging.
It’s a trend of observing clouds and taking photos to remind myself of how spectacularly beautiful
they can be. I’m so glad I still do this, because not only can I see them again, but I can also show you.
Sometimes a little colour helps me notice clouds.
Sometimes a little manmade or natural architecture, will alert my eye.
Sometimes it’s the shapes they make themselves.
Or just the sheer size of them !
But often it’s just the raw beauty, the real deal, no elephants or fluffy fish sightings….. just cloud !
Tell me about the small things you notice, when you’re head’s not in the clouds.
George Birrell trained at the Glasgow School of Art. He taught art and design in Scottish schools
between 1970-80, starting painting full time in 1980. He lectured in art, design and photography from
1985 until 1998. Since then George has taken part in regular joint and group art exhibitions at many
Scottish galleries particularly: Central Art Galleries including Edinburgh Art Galleries, Glasgow Art
Galleries, and Fife Art Galleries. He has also exhibited his art abroad.
George produces beautiful Architectural paintings and Landscape paintings featuring familiar Scottish
images and scenes. The East Coast Scottish towns and fishing villages of Fife hold a special fascination
to him. I’m immediately struck by the bold use of strong colour and stylized compositions.He describes
this as an emotional response to memories and atmosphere of these special places so often depicted in
paintings shown in a number of Lothian art galleries . Vigorous handling of colour, a bold palette and
strong design are all themes in his work. Even his earlier paintings follow these ideas.
Occasionally you can also come across pieces that show a coastal scene where the Haar or mist takes
over the landscape and tones and hues of the same colour are all you can make out.
Typically Georges’ paintings and prints are clear and well constructed compositions. Using bold and
effective use of colour to create an emotional impact. The contrasting colours create areas of light and
shade, drawing viewers typically into the image of a small Scottish village or building. 
As well as a vibrancy of colour, I feel that there is a great sense of peace and serenity in his work.
As a regular visitor to Edinburgh, I’ve been fortunate to regularly see Georges’ beautiful work up close
and believe me it’s well worth the wait !
Nolan Pelletier Connecticut Illustrator of cats and collecting
Nolan Pelletier is a recently graduated Illustrator from Connecticut, currently living in Toronto.
His work has recently appeared in the New York Times and Fantasy Camp Press.
He really like cats, and his other favorite things are the 1939 NY Worlds Fair, his View-Master camera,
collecting strange old photos, Shelley Duvall, and riding his green Schwinn bicycle !
I feel his quirky style is also reminiscent of many 1950’s artists, what do you think ? These two images
are Nolans’ idea regarding events in Cat History. Great ideas.
I contacted Nolan and he kindly answered a few questions to give us a greater insight into his work.
Fishink… I’m assuming you must be about 22 as I saw on Pikaland that you’d just graduated and I see
that you’re style is quite reminiscent of 50’s illustration, is that an intentional style or just the way that
you naturally draw ? What got you interested in that era ?
Nolan… Yes I am 22! Good detective work. I really enjoy modern illustration from the 50s and 60s,
and it definitely influences my work. Throughout high school I was a big ephemera collector,
and I’ve always been fascinated with old graphics. In University I looked to wonderful old Graphis
Magazines from the 50s and 60s for inspiration. The colonial, folk, and naive art featured in those
early Graphis volumes is also a big influence, as I’m sure it was to the illustrators I admire.
Fishink… Can you describe the way you go about creating / constructing an image, the materials you
use etc … ie the processes involved, (drawing, scanning, recolouring for example)
Nolan… Me and my friends are always doodling. I don’t keep a sketchbook, but usually have piles
of loose leaf paper lying around. For finals, I start with a thumbnail of the idea, then go straight
to inking. I try to add a ton of detail in the inking stage to keep it loose. For the color, I overlay a
second sheet of paperand roughly fill in blocks of color with gouache. I combine them, and
separate the colors in Photoshop, then add a subtle print texture I grabbed from an old
Charlie Brown book.
Fishink… So whats’ the fascination with Cats all about ?
Nolan… Lol I’m an only child and had a giant furry Maine Coon Cat named Twinkle
for as long as I can remember. She was the first thing I drew, and all my old pre-school drawings
are pictures of the two of us. I guess the unhealthy obsession has just continued!
I really like Louis Wain, and Kliban Cats, and wouldn’t mind being the next “guy who draws cats”.
Many thanks for the extra information Nolan. Superb Cats !
You certainly have my vote as the next cat illustrator extroadinaire lol
Aurelie Guillerey and Akemi Tezuka Childrens’ Illustrators
Today, you lucky people, I bring you not one, but two illustrators, who both create with children in mind !
The first is Aurelie Guillerey who has a fun, colourful style, which is perfect for a children’s illustrator.
She has a vivid imagination and her characters are always happy, her work reminds me in style a little
of Alain Gree, another french artist from the 1960’s and 70’s.
Even her dragons don’t feel too menacing….. but then again it is still light outside !
There’s a greater insight into Aurelies’ life in this translated interview here.
Akemi Tezuka is a similar Illustrator from Japan, whos’ work is even more like Alain Gree.
She has cleverly cornered the market for picture dictionaries for both Japanese to English and French.
Great work, colouration and style.
Allan Sanders. Cartoon Style Illustrator
Allan Sanders was born in a small grey shipbuilding town in the North West of England.
After a brief career in computer programming he came to the conclusion that it would be more
interesting to make drawings for a living.
Since studying illustration at Manchester Metropolitan University and the Royal College of Art
in London, Allan has had the good fortune to work for clients includingThe Economist,
The Guardian, New Scientist, The LA Times, Vodafone and Penguin USA.
His illustrations have been used in magazines, newspapers, books and advertising campaigns both
at home and abroad. His interactive & animation work has been featured in exhibitions at the
Science Museum in London and on the official website for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
More info, sketches and illustrations from Allan on his flickr and blog site.
Vivien Moir. Folky ceramics with style.
As an illustration graduate from the Duncan of Jordanstone University in Dundee, the ceramic work of
Vivien Moir I feel, has a definite nod to the traditional Staffordshire Figures made in the 1800’s.
Her work is obviously more contemporary, folky even as it often has text and is more likely to be
blue and white rather than the often gaudy and multi-coloured work produced some 200 years earlier.
There is humour here too and a stoic feel to her busty ladies, with painted titles like ‘Ever Onwards’ and
‘Queen of the Garden’, we can see themes which repeat themselves involving both nature and animals.
Her work is very reasonably priced at just £35 for a plate above and available from the Just Art Gallery.
Grab yourself a bargain before she’s selling for much higher prices.
We’d love to see more of Viviens’ work and more information about the maker herself too.
Fishink Drawings
Here’s some new drawings that I’ve been working on. I’ve put some onto Etsy
to vary the style and range of work I have on there. See more information here.
They have been drawn with charcoal pencil and then painted with watercolours.
I’d like to try some painting onto ceramics too. Any thoughts about these pieces ?
Fishink in Cornwall 2.
A few more moments to share with you from my holidays in Cornwall last week.
These well preserved Alms Houses built in 1875, are now listed buildings and some lovely finds
in the gallery shops of Padstow.
Then off to Port Issac, where the TV Series Doc Martin is filmed, you can walk right past his house.
I came across a fabulous company called Hooper and Shaw.
The brainchild of Daniel and Nicole, two artists with a clear vision of showcasing their own and
other UK artists’ work who work with traditional skilled techniques such as screen printing,
woodblock print, bookbinding, knitting, sewing and drawing.
Such a beautiful gallery shop and Daniel and Nicole are so friendly you’ll soon feel at home.
Please do pop in, mention that you saw their place on Fishinkblog and say a hello from me !
They do lovely cut outs too like this disneyesque creepy house, more work on their site.
Finally a few last memories of my great week away. Picking Blackberries for a pie, childrens’ toys, of the
couple of friends we were staying with, sea related items etc and a childs’ memory of their best day out.
Priceless !
Fishink treats, tweets and new ceramics.
A mixed bag today as I’ve just a few items that I’ve been meaning to mention for a while.
A lovely idea for all you budding songwriters and poets would be joining Ben Watt from my fav group
Everything But The Girl. He will be giving two, day seminars in Virginia Woolfs’ Summer house
‘Charleston’ in on the 24th and 25th of September, sounds idyllic, details here.
I imagine tickets priced at just £95 per day (including lunch) will sell quickly.
Secondly, I’m totally in love with a Glasgow band I went to see by happy accident in Manchester the
other week called Laki Mera. Their new album ‘The Proximity Effect’ is a perfect mixture of 80’s synth
and clear, melodic vocals. Anyone who likes The Cocteau Twins and Kate Bush should listen here and
treat themselves to a beautiful new piece of musical escapism.
Also I’ve just added a range of vases and plates to the Craig and Tone range of Ceramics on Etsy.
They’re all individual one offs so please have a look and pass the link onto your friends through Twitter
and Facebook, don’t forget they make wonderful gifts and beautiful surprise presents too !
Finally, Tim from New Zealand messaged me yesterday to ask if he could use one of my drawings
for his twitter icon. I was happy for him to do this and he left a tweet to let everyone know
where the bird had arrived from. I think it looks rather good sitting there. Happy Twitterings Tim !
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