Juliana Penkova - Editorial & Middle Grade Illustrator

Berlin-based artist Juliana Penkova is an illustrator who takes the handmade aesthetic to another level. Her technique involves creating rich images of her characters and objects in pastel, cutting out the key elements, then assembling them to form tactile compositions which she photographs to complete the piece. It’s a million miles from the synthetic, clinical feel of CGI and AI-generated imagery.

Originally from Bulgaria, Juliana trained as an architect and spent 10 years visualising buildings. Architecture’s loss was illustration’s gain when she developed her unique approach to image making and became a fulltime children’s book illustrator. Perhaps that structural feel to her work – complete with shadows where the cut paper elements overlap – owes itself to her architectural background. Clients love working with Juliana. She brings something fresh to the practice of book and magazine design, and they praise her communication skills, collaborative nature and – above all – her creativity. She studied Architecture at the The Bauhaus Universität Weimar and continues to take inspiration from that profession, but equally loves a walk through a misty pine forest.

Approach

Juliana’s unique approach gives her artwork a physical, tangible feel that others just can’t replicate. Elements are drawn on paper using colourful pastels, then cut out and arranged to form compositions that are carefully planned to chime with the feeling of the book she’s illustrating.

Key software

Procreate for finishing.

Style

With their layered elements, Juliana’s images have a sculptural feel. Her compositions are imaginative, and she has a talent for finding the perfect balance between positive and negative space – which is ideal when a book’s text is part of the design.