“My artwork is generally whimsical, magical, and a bit oddly weird,” says Duairak, an illustration graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2020 and currently based in Los Angeles. Part of the charm of his work lies in the way he defies clichés, the awkwardness being communicated by strange long-nosed beasts that roam the landscapes wearing pants and pearls or spend their time curling up in a butter dish.

“I took inspiration from the natural form and the environments I have been in, so a lot of the time you can see my work change a bit depending on where I am at any given time,” said Duairak at Creative Boom. The strength of her aesthetic, however, lies in the fact that she can draw inspiration from her nomadic life without getting lost in it: “I like to wear the same style and the same theme in all my works, whatever the medium.

Working in many different mediums including traditional watercolors, digital platforms, sculpture and many more, Duairak’s art is a creative and joyful explosion that seems to have one foot in our world and another in a field. legendary and surreal all its own. Sculptures of dancing sardine automatons cut from aluminum stand alongside illustrations of creatures that only appear in dreams. Still, the whole collection comes together in a way that seems strangely cohesive.

She adds, “I really like making funny pictures that would either make people laugh or feel happy watching them.” For us, they certainly do. And if you are also in love with Duairak’s style, his designs are available for purchase from his store as specially ordered patches, calendars, and even rugs. (Our eyes are on the angry cloud.)

Illustrative content of The forgotten garden, A box, Many hearts, Swish’s winning smile, Eurasian hoopoe in migration, and The Mysterious Flower have all been recognized for their superior visuals which uplifted the stories to create a memorable published book.

Books are generally judged by industry experts, including other publishers, publishers, authors, and designers. Winners and finalists are determined on the basis of high quality written material coupled with an excellent presentation of the final published product.

Illustrations are judged on creativity, uniqueness, style and their effectiveness in highlighting the essence of the text. HBKU Press pays special attention to the match between the author’s vision and the illustrator’s unique artistic style in order to produce memorable books recognized by industry professionals.

HBKU Press first-time illustrator Zahra Amini was delighted to hear that her work on the latest book by HBKU Press author Shaikha Al Zeyara The Mysterious Flower, received an honorable mention in the category of best illustration at the 2021 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards.

His imagery was primarily abstract and symbolic with the aim of bringing the author’s imaginary world to life.

“I was inspired by the lyrical beauty that the author conveyed in the story through the text, so I used very mystical colors in my drawings like blue, gray, white and light green. . The colors also reflect the different moods and tone of the story: when the story was intense and at the height of the conflict, the shading was dark and touching; and when the conflict was resolved I switched to warmer tones in the same color scheme.

“As the story was set in nature, I also really tried to personify and bring the characters to life by taking inspiration from their surroundings: the mysterious flower character was inspired by a flower with a human body and its appendages made from flowers and leaves. She herself is not beautiful the way we think about the beauty of a human, but hers is a beauty inspired by nature and its wonders – the curve of a delicate petal, the texture of a stem. solid. I really love this character and I am so grateful that my efforts have been recognized by professionals in the industry in this award!

The book is Amini’s fourth illustrated children’s book and she hopes to continue the working relationship with HBKU Press which she described as “highly professional and a pleasure to work with”.

Author Al Zeyara, who has previously published three books with HBKU Press, recognizes the value Amini’s illustrations have added to his story.

“This story is unique to me because it is not like the others that I wrote – it is very abstract and I created a fictional world that does not really exist – so work with an illustrator who is able to conceptualizing this world was essential. The result, the book finished and now a reward, is incredible. It is always an honor to have your work recognized by others in the industry. This means that all of your effort and hard work is appreciated and considered to be the best of the best.

“I’m grateful to HBKU Press for committing to these awards – that’s what sets them apart from other publishers. I have had a successful working relationship with them in the past and look forward to much more success together.

Overall, and in addition to The Mysterious Flower, the illustrative content of The forgotten garden, A box,Many hearts, Swish’s winning smile, and Eurasian hoopoe in migration have all been recognized for their superior visuals which uplifted the stories to create a memorable published book. The HBKU Press catalog of works is available in bookstores in Qatar, as well as through the Snoonu, Rafeeq and Purplebox apps.

-Ends-

For further information and press inquiries, please contact Rima Ismail (+974 55564198/[email protected]) or Ghenwa Yehia-Malaeb (+974 44542436/[email protected]).

ABOUT HBKU PRESS

Hamad Bin Khalifa University Press (HBKU Press) launched its program in 2010 as a world-class publishing house founded on international best practices, excellence and innovation. HBKU Press strives to be the cornerstone of Qatar’s knowledge economy by providing a unique local and international platform for literature, literacy, scholarship, discovery and learning. HBKU Press aims to promote the love of reading and writing by helping to establish a vibrant scholarly and literary culture in Qatar and the Middle East.

Based in Doha, Qatar, HBKU Press publishes a wide range of texts, including fiction and non-fiction titles, children’s books, collections and annual reports. In addition, HBKU Press publishes peer-reviewed scientific research in the natural and social sciences through academic books, open access reference papers, and conference proceedings. HBKU Press consistently follows international best practices in its publication procedures, ethics and management, ensuring consistent production quality and dedication to excellence.

© Press release 2021

It is then a surprise to learn that Jason is not a professional illustrator. “I’m more of an amateur who uses illustration as a means of therapy,” he told Creative Boom. If this is Jason as an amateur, we would love to see what he would be capable of as a professional. Her illustrations carefully combine vibrant hues with a designer’s eye to create engaging stylized compositions.

Whether they capture a flower-strewn foot dipping a toe into a river, a boy with a green pencil studied by his classmates, or a woman taking time out for a quick smoke on a sofa, Jason’s illustrations capture the little moments of life which are all too easy to ignore.

Jason explains, “I treat the act of illustration as a therapeutic getaway from my everyday life. And a recurring theme in my work is that I treat everything like an abstract selfie because the choice of style or palette reflects where I was. emotionally at the time of creation, whether it is a moment or an extended period. “

The bio on her Instagram page adds to this by revealing that “every photo is a self-portrait”. With that in mind, it’s tempting to read in his footage of a woman swirling a glass of wine near a shelf or a man wondering if he should throw a paper plane. How did Jason feel in those moments? And in turn, how do you feel as a spectator?

As for his artistic influences, Jason credits his youth. Growing up, he moved around a lot and experienced a multitude of cultures, including South Africa, Indonesia, the United States and of course Taiwan. “My creative and stylistic tastes are very nomadic, and maybe that’s because of the constant trips I made in my upbringing.”

In her Cozy Box, Chi animated illustration series, AKA ChiChiLand has flipped the locked life settings locked on their heads. Rather than being boundaries, the boxes now frame cheerful household activities like baking cakes, as well as those times when we all felt connected to other people despite living far away in separate houses.

Inspired equally by nature, urban culture and folk art, Chi is always fascinated by new media and the experiential arts. In Cozy Box, she created “soft, joyful worlds filled with characters and patterns that reflect my hope for a better society,” she told Creative Boom. “A place where we live in harmony with nature and all living things.”

She adds: “2020 has been a difficult year. Between the global pandemic, inequality, political tensions and a whole host of other issues – most of us have spent most of the year locked up, in our own spaces, separated from each other. .

“Cozy Box was born out of a desire to find beauty and solace in this strange new reality – to remember all the little things that bring us joy and to keep them close – in our own little boxes.”

The set looks suitably original and surreal, but doesn’t rely on obvious visual cues to get its point across. And as if that wasn’t impressive enough, Chi managed to find an eerily reassuring angle on the bizarre world of post-pandemic life.

Her characters are full of life and color, and while they aren’t traditionally stylish or attractive, it’s clear that she has a great deal of affection for them. “I mainly deal with characters and situations,” Ploch told Creative Boom. “I have a rather chaotic, expressive trait that characterizes me. I like flashy, colorful combinations and intrusive personalities. I get to the heart of the matter with a lot of irony and humor.”

It is this impertinence that gives Ploch’s work an attractive rough edge. “I love anything imperfect and beyond the norm and I support all kinds of self-acceptance,” she adds. “And things that aren’t perfect for most people can be weird at times, but it’s always a matter of observation and I like to leave that open to the viewer. In my illustrations, the characters always stand on their own, even though they’re eccentric. And that gives me joy. I also find that people can be very rude when they don’t feel like they’re being watched. “

When it comes to inspiration, Ploch finds that “daily observations” combined with his own imagination can be enough to imagine his “vile” characters. “I like to observe people, then imagine what they are like, then place them in a very individually created context,” Ploch explains. “But apart from observation, I also like to put myself in situations that are new to me and I like to get out of my usual bubble to get to know different guys and just to listen.”

Born in 1991 in a small German town, Johanna went on to obtain a design degree during which she mainly focused on stop motion films. She then obtained a Masters in Illustration in Hamburg. She now works as a freelance illustrator for clients around the world.

“I would say that my work is motivated by the feeling that I can get while drawing,” Ploch continues. “I like to look for the characters in my head while I draw them. And it works in very individual circumstances. With good music, for example. Sometimes a character only becomes good when I hear the same song twenty times. imagine he is celebrating exactly that song. For example, when I was doing the illustration with the two bikers taking a break and eating fries, I would quite often listen to the song ‘Highwaystar’ by Deep Purple. I haven’t been able to hear it since then either without thinking about both. “

Looking closely at the often absurd accounts of his work, like a bustling pig cafe, merry cows drinking milk, or some sort of ‘dress like a tiger’ party, Ploch’s illustrations also remind us not to take life too seriously. “Have fun, be exactly who you are, don’t take yourself too seriously and do exactly what you want and accept when others do too,” she says. “And trust your process! “

For more beautifully grotesque characters and fun observations, follow Ploch’s latest work on his Instagram. Or visit his portfolio at johannaploch.de.