New Title Ahead!


Recently, I've been working on a new title - I have finally been assigned a project where I can fully develop these huge seeking illustrations. The title is about jobs and things that people do. The publisher has given me wonderful topics and themes to work with and I can't wait to see how it will come out. Yay!
Click on the illos to enlarge.

Omaľovánky obrázkov z knižky Jak velbloud potkal ťavu na stiahnutie





Práve sa chystám na cestu do Prahy na knižný veľtrh Svět knihy. V nedeľu doobeda o 10 hod. budeme o knižke v stánku vydavateľstva Albatros besedovať a workshopovať. Aby nebolo ľúto všetkým, ktorí sa nemôžete prísť pozrieť osobne - tuto hľa zopár obrázkov na stihanutie a vytlačenie pre všetky šikovné labky na vyfarbovanie! Teším sa v nedeľu!

The Olympics!






A little help for children learning how to count - animal olympic sports! I actually got quite confused when I automatically made a 3 mice kayak and then I realize - wait - have I ever seen 3 people in a kayak at all? Had to google it. Relief! It does exist! :-) Haha, oh yees, work overload!

Who Lives in Pineapple... oh wait!



 A couple of weeks ago I've been assigned a nice little project - illustrated activity book for little kids who go on a vacation with their parents and might get a bit bored on the plane :-) (the client was a travel agent). This is how it turned out. What do you think?

 

 I actually quite like the crocodile at the talent show! Guess who the judges are!




The Book Launch!


My very fist book "Jak velbloud potkal tavu"was launched Yesterday in Maritnus bookstore in Bratislava. It was a very lovely evening, we shared some good laugh and I think everybody had a good time. I can't say how much I'd like to thank the great girls, Lucia Hlubenova from Albatros publishing house and Jana Slinska from the Martinus bookstores, who took care of this lovely event! I am also very happy that Pista Vandal and Dado Nagy agreed to be a part of the launch, they did such a good job on entertaining the crowd! Hope to do this again sometime! Thanks for coming everyone!

My Book is Out!


 

 Yesterday I finally got my very first book - one that I have both written and illustrated. There's lots of funny illustrations, lots of colours. I had the honour to cooperate with the wonderful and talented Martina Rozinajova, who did the graphic design of the book. Check more of her work at www.rozinajova.sk. I am also very grateful for being able to have the book published by Albatrosmedia - it was a great cooperation, thank you! The book will be sold in both Czech republic and Slovakia, so in case you would like to get one, there is no easier way than browsing the web - you can buy one for instance here.

Spring Illustration for Focus Pico

 

Oh this was so much fun! I really enjoyed working on such a lovely spring illustration, picking all the bright colours! I hope to do more in the future. Click to enlarge the image and enjoy all of the funny details!

New Puzzle Books


It was really awesome seeing these titles that I've created for the wonderful folks at B4U Publishing at their stand in Bologna. All three of them really looked lovely!

Bologna Children's Book Fair

 
The entrance hall to the Bologna Book Fair.

Hello everyone! I finally have a bit of a time to sit down and write a few lines about the Bologna Book Fair. This year was my second time at the Book Fair and I was able to spent two great days at the Fiera. I think I magnaged to prepare myself better than the last time I went and I really hope this post is going to help other illustrators, just like I’d found the posts of Miriam Bos or Genie Espinosa helpful before I'd set off.

Illustrator's Exhibition  - great selection of work! I was in awe!

Firstly, Bologna Book Fair is a huge event. You’ll see for yourself once you arrive at the location – there is the entrance hall with the Illustrator’s Exhibition and the Guest of Honour presentation, 4 pavilions full of publisher’s stands and also a few talk corners (like Illustrator’s Café, Author’s Café etc). It’s better to purchase the ticket online before you go (you can print it out on your printer at home), this way you can easily avoid the queue at the entrance to the Fair. If you can, try to arrive early on the first day – you’ll be able to get a better spot at the illustrator’s wall to post your posters, postcards or business cards. I had four A3 posters and four little boxes to carry postcards. I got at the Fair 10 mins before opening and it seemed to be enough for me to put all of these in place without any rush. My tip is to use both-sided tape to stick your promotional materials to the wall – this way, you can stick the tape on the posters and cards before you go and don’t have to carry around tapes and scissors (trust me, there will be lots of things to carry around).

My poster at the Illustrator's wall (it wasn't this empty at the end of the day).

Once I was done at the Illustrator’s wall, I moved on to the publisher’s stands (don’t forget to pick up a map at the entrance). Even though I was trying to arrange meetings with art directors before my arrival, I only got a handful of replies – although positive ones – saying the art director wouldn’t be attending the fair, but to keep sending updates. That meant I had to rely on arranging the meetings on spot. I was really surprised by how many publishers were willing to set up meetings with young illustrators. As I began asking around right after I came on Monday morning, most of the publishers still had some free time to fit me in and I was able to get a fair amount of portfolio reviews. I can’t say how much I appreciate a feedback – and not only a good one – there is a bunch of professionals who can give you a good criticism if you’re willing to listen. Needless to say, you probably won’t be able to get this many professional opinions on your work during the entire year. Therefore, it’s really a great advantage to arrive prepared and ready. Here is my most recent post on my own preparations: http://marianeradova.blogspot.sk/2014/03/before-bologna-take-off-tips-on-how-to.html I carried a backpack and packed:

  • 2 portfolios, size A4 (I give all my respect to the people who carry around these huge cases with their work, but from my experience – it’s good enough to have a folio no larger than A3)
  • 1 published book for publishers who would be interested in seeing any published piece (but I suppose it’s fine to bring a mock-up, too)
  •  business cards
  •    60 A5 booklets with my work and contact details to give out to the publishers – again I would recommend having something no larger than A4, as the art-directors will have to file it somewhere after you give it to them
  •   Post cards (but most of them ended up at the illustrator’s wall)

I also had a notebook to jot down all the useful feedback. I took pictures with my cell, not only of things that I liked, but also from the names of publisher’s stands that I wanted to check out later on the web in case I wasn’t given any contact. Also, I found it helpful to have a bottle of water on me and a quick bite to eat.




Although I was able to attend quite a lot of portfolio reviews, there were publishers who didn’t take in illustrators at all. In this case, I usually asked if I could get the art-director’s business card or their contact details. I also left a sample of my work (the booklet) that could be passed on to the art person. I was able to collect a number of useful contacts this way.

Th Illustrator's Exhibiton

At last, but not least, don’t forget to enjoy the fair! It’s a huge inspiration, there is a great amount of beautiful books and lots of nice people to meet (publishers, authors, fellow illustrators). Wear comfy shoes, buy a lot of gelato and nice books and enjoy yourself! Hope to meet you there next year!

Bologna Book Fair Day 1

 

First day at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. I'm totally exhausted, so I'm not going to be able to write much, but here is a description of what you can see in the picture (at least):
*We're alive!
From lefto to right: the entrance hall at the Bologna Childrens Book Fair, me (at the beginning, still smiling), my friend Martina at a portfolio interview, Martina and me, the winning illustrator's work (wonderful btw!), my most-recent book project at one of the publishing stands. 
Will keep you posted!

Before Bologna Take Off / Tips on How to Present Yourself at the Bookfair

Before I leave for the Bologna Children's Bookfair http://www.bookfair.bolognafiere.it/home/878.html I wanted to show some of the promotional materials I made to take along. As I have visited the Fair last year, I tried to take into consideration what the publishers appreciated and what not. Not every one of them has the time to sit down for a portfolio interview so is't always good to have something with you to leave around for the art directors - they can get back to you after they return to their offices. 

That's why I decided to print out these booklets. I printed out 60 pieces to leave to the publishers either after
the interview or only to take home to the art-director. Last year I had a package - a few samples of my work in a white envelope with a couple of stickers on it, and I think the envelope is not as good idea as it seems (not much to catch one's eye and trouble with opening and taking out all of the goodies). I believe this is a better option :-)




Of course, I made a couple of postcard designs. I printed 60 of each and plan to give these out and leave some at the illustrator's wall on Monday morning, together with a poster of my work. Which I haven't printed yet, aaaaah!






And at last, but not least, I made a portfolio. Actually two of them, as I didn't want to mix up the two illustration styles that I do. These are just plain A4 formats bound in a wonderful book-workshop here in Bratislava. Nice ladies, they always do such a wonderful job! 


 


 


Hope this helps! Good luck everyone and maybe see you in Bologna!

My Very First Book Went off to Print


I am so excited - my very first book (I am both the author and illustrator this time!) went off to print Today. It is a Czech-Slovak picture dictionary for children called "Jak velbloud potkal tavu". The book should be published on 7th of April. I really enjoyed the cooperation with the publisher - Albatros from Czech republic. Everyone was very nice to work with. Special thanks to a patient graphic designer Martina Rozinajova at www.rozinajova.sk
Yay!

Before Bologna Take Off







Before leaving for the Bologna Children's Bookfair (I will do a post on my preparations Tomorrow!) I really tried to get all the things that needed to be done, done :-) Here are a few illustrations of the most recent project I've been working on. I really enjoyed it as the publisher gave me total freedom in deciding what I want to draw and what not. So next thing on the list is Bologna (so excited!) and than moving on to a couple of new projects, one of them will be an encyclopedia for children, will keep you posted!

Children's Theatre

It's just so nice to finally hold the actual book project in my hands. Children's theatre is finally moving on to see the world! Keeping my fingers crossed!