It’s World Poetry Day today and less than a week ago I decided to make yet another stressful appearance in the inboxes of my fellow illustrators. In a sugar rush, I asked 5 friends if they were interested in making some super quick drawings inspired by… poems.
5 poems I love recently landed in the magic-making hands of 5 local illustrators. Wanda, Dragoș, Anna, Andreea and Daia hosted the poems in their hearts for a week and now we're sending them into the world as delightful illustrations.
"Well, sir, there was an old woman up in her years whose only companion was a beautiful pear tree. It grew at the door to her cabin. But when the pears were ripe, the neighborhood boys came and taunted her and stole the fruit. They were driving her to the end of her wits.
Physically, Heimat is a Cabinet of Wonder. A Wunderkammer. A collection of wonderful drawings, handwritten diary-like entries, old photos, postcards, official documents - all interlaced to give birth to a flawless visual performance.
Typically Belgian, this city has a special place for street art in its heart. We didn't get to hunt for specific murals, but we enjoyed some majestic casual encounters.
Dominique's memoir, "Pretending is lying", happened to be on the shelves of the bookshop a couple of days ago. Vlad put it in my arms. I was feeling tired and worried and not-in-the-mood and I-don't-have-time-for-anything-right-now. But I opened it and then I couldn't leave without it.
Back in September, I was part of an audience interested in listening to the most cherished Dutch graphic designer - Irma Boom, discuss about books with a couple of wonderful guests.
Slowly stepping over to the weird side of the isolation sketchbook. Don't judge, be silly.
I guess this is who we are now....

Naftalina