8 minute read
Katsiaryna Dubovik
© Katsiaryna Dubovik
Ur: Skattjakten i Mundu Onak, Susso, E. & Susso, J. Ill av Dubovik, K. Bonnier Carlsen 2019
Bazar Masarin: Barnkonventionen
Katsiaryna Dubovik
Intervju: Susanne SandströmWho is Katsiaryna Dubovik?
I’m an illustrator, graphic artist originally from Minsk. In 2013 I graduated from the Belarusian State Academy of Arts. I mainly work with children’s book illustration. When I have some free time I work with printmaking and personal art-projects.
How did it all began...how and why did you start making art/ illustrations?
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember myself, so it wasn’t hard for me to understand what kind of professional I should be. I passed the entrance exams and started at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts and on the 4th year of studying I realized that I
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want to work with llustration and book design the most.
What does your (creative) working process look like? What techniques and tools are important for the process?
I always try to find a new approach for a new book. I don’t like using the same techniques or the same color schemes and compositions. So in the beginning of my working progress I make lots of sketches. I start with main characters design, and then proceed with figuring out the compositions for the first illustrations. It usually takes some time – in the beginning everything takes more time than at the end of the project.
© Katsiaryna Dubovik
Ur: Skattjakten i Mundu Onak, Susso, E. & Susso, J. Ill av Dubovik, K. Bonnier Carlsen 2019
Bazar Masarin: Barnkonventionen
As all my illustrations are analogues, I need to make over some of them quite often – sometimes I mess up with the technique, and sometimes while working with analogue I come up with a better idea for the same illustration. For me it’s a natural process, I don’t worry when that happens and despite of this working style I’ve never overdued any deadline yet. Regarding the technique – I always work with gouache and ink. I’m very comfortable with these materials, but I do love working with them because they have almost unlimited potential in my opinion. They are also “my” materials, I don’t have to “fight” with them. I think it’s very important for an artist to find a technique that doesn’t resist you.
Where do you get inspiration from? What, whom are you influenced by?
There are many things which inspire me: nature, books, artists and work itself. My favorite artists inspire me with their creative strength, with their different ways of thinking, doing their work on the highest level and their courage of being themselves in spite of anything. I really admire them and they support me, even if we don’t know each other in real life. When I work with children’s books I look for
inspiration in the text. Texts are very different as well as the authors who write them, and you can feel the author through his or her story. And if I’m tired the best thing for me is to walk in the forest – it clears my head and reloads me immediately.
Challenges? On an individual and Market level - Which are they?
My greatest individual challenge is to avoid repeating myself, make an effort and find something new and surprise myself and others. In the beginning of a new project there is always a temptation to stay in your comfort zone, make everything without any risk. In that case you don’t change anything in your technique, style and your ways of thinking in general. It feels safe, but there is no challenge, and by trying not to take any risks in your work you risk to simply get stuck. So trying to make every new project a bit differently is my greatest and most important challenge. On the market level finding a balance between your personal artistic vision of the product (a book for example) and something that would be clear and accessible for the target audience isn’t an easy task for me. I’m still learning how to do this.
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Ur: Skattjakten i Mundu Onak, Susso, E. & Susso, J. Ill av Dubovik, K. Bonnier Carlsen 2019
© Katsiaryna Dubovik
© Katsiaryna Dubovik
Ur: Skattjakten i Mundu Onak, Susso, E. & Susso, J. Ill av Dubovik, K. Bonnier Carlsen 2019
Ur: Skattjakten i Mundu Onak, Susso, E. & Susso, J. Ill av Dubovik, K. Bonnier Carlsen 2019
© Katsiaryna Dubovik
Bazar Masarin: Barnkonventionen
Which books from childhood/youth do you remember? Why this specific book/author/illustrator, do you think?
I remember and still have some of my favorite childhood books. Like Belarusian folk tale Widow’s Son with illustrations by Valeryi Slauk. His black and white illustrations captured me with details, a bit scary but with a truly fairytale atmosphere. The interesting thing is that years after he was also my teacher and my graduation project supervisor in the Academy. He is one of my favorite artists to this day, as well as Erik Bulatov and Oleg Vasil’ev. I’ve got Cinderella and Puss in Boots with their illustrations. They have bright, colorful watercolor illustrations – pure masterpieces. As a child I liked looking at characters and their dresses, I loved the color, these illustrations seemed really beautiful to me. And now as an adult I can totally understand why.
Do you have a favourite illustrator/artist?
I really love Klaus Ensikat, Adolf Born, Shaun Tan, Simon Vaeth, Sergey Alimov, Gennady Kalinovsky, Benjamin Chaud, Miroslav Sasek, Juliette Barbanegre, Kirsten Sims, Marta Zuravskaja, Stasya Sokolovskaya and more.
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The best and the worst when it comes to being an artist/illustrator?
As for me the feeling when you have finally figured out a way of working with a book and caught the wave is the best feeling in the world. I can’t compare this feeling to anything. For me it is worth all doubts which I suffer from every time in the beginning of the project. The worst part of being an artist for me is that often you don’t know if something you do will work out or not. At first it was a very hard feeling, but now I’m used to work like that. I just carry on and hope for the best.
Dream assignment – what would it look like?
To be honest, I never know how to answer this question. I love working, and I’d love any work where I can realize my creative potential on fair conditions.
How did the collaboration with Eva Susso and Madi Susso begin? What did it look like ?
I met Eva a few years ago in Minsk on the presentation of Eva’s book Bigfoot in Minsk. I took part in a competition for being an illustrator for this book, I made one illustration and Eva picked my work among the others. So when the book was ready we met and it was the beginning of our friendship.
© Katsiaryna Dubovik
Ur: Skattjakten i Mundu Onak, Susso, E. & Susso, J. Ill av Dubovik, K. Bonnier Carlsen 2019
Bazar Masarin: Barnkonventionen
Concours and awards:
Last summer Eva called me and said that she got a job for me. I was really happy and excited to get a chance to work with her again. She told me everything about her and Madi’s new book and I started working immediately. Working with Eva, Madi and Bonnier Carlsen Publishing House was really comfortable. I’m really happy to be part of this project.
What are you currently working on?
During the past few months I managed to finish another book – it’s a picture book, Belarusian folk tale. I made the book prototype long time ago and finally it found its publisher. The book is coming out in September. Now I’m working with few personal projects and also with a picture book written by a Dutch author.
NAMI Concours, 2019– Distinction for illustrations for Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
Ciotka Award, 2019– The annual award given for the best book (in any form of literature: prose, poetry, dramaturgy) for children and young adults written in Belarusian and for the best illustrations in a Belarusian children’s book
The 2nd Little Hakka International Picture Book Award, 2018 – Most Popular Award for the book Why Mesha Does No’t Have a House by N. Yasminska
The Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition, 2017– finalistwith illustrations for Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There by L. Carroll
Ciotka Award, 2015– The annual award given for the best book (in any form of literature: prose, poetry, dramaturgy) for children and young adults written in Belarusian and for the best illustrations in a Belarusian children’s book
National competition “The Art of Book”, 2015 –The Best Illustrator Award
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© Katsiaryna Dubovik
Ur: Skattjakten i Mundu Onak, Susso, E. & Susso, J. Ill av Dubovik, K. Bonnier Carlsen 2019
