the worldwide picture book illustration competition
In this catalogue we proudly present the winners of the 2024 international picture book illustration competition Picture this!, with entries from South Africa, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands/Belgium, Germany and, for the first time, Italy. This year we also included an International category featuring artists from the USA and Taiwan.
From the many entries, juries in these countries chose the three most talented, new and unknown illustrators. The result is an impressive demonstration of the versatility and originality of the picture book all around the world.
Picture books have become a worldwide art form at which many try their hand, from newcomers to more established artists. And with good reason, as picture books are now a cherished part of many a child’s and parent’s world. And in children’s day-care centers, reading picture books is becoming a regular activity, which often inspires all sorts of further activities.
In short: the picture book is here to stay!
Nevertheless, getting noticed and finding a publisher often remains a challenge for recently graduated illustrators. That is why publishers, academies and other cultural institutes banded together in 2014 to launch the Picture This! competition: as a platform for upcoming talented illustrators to demonstrate their ability. That means this is our 10-year anniversary!
To bring the winners’ work to attention, this catalogue is shared online with picture book publishers, art institutes and academies worldwide. Additionally, exhibitions of the work by the winning illustrators will take place in art institutes and libraries in the participating countries. With even an exhibition in the Bilderbuchmuseum Burg Wissem in Troisdorf (near Cologne), which fills our hearts with joy!
On behalf of the juries of Picture This, Lemniscaat Publishers / The Netherlands & Belgium, Protea Publishers / South Africa, Camelozampa / Italy, Walker Books / United Kingdom, Paula Peretti Literary Agency, Fischer Sauerländer & the Bilderbuchmuseum Burg Wissem in Troisdorf / Germany, we wish you much enjoyment and the artists every success!
Jean Christophe Boele van Hensbroek
PREFACE BY THE PUBLISHER
the worldwide picture book illustration competition
and the winners are…
THE NETHERLANDS & BELGIUM
Marlene Rebel
Femke Rutgers
Elisa Stolwijk
Sydney Vercammen
THE UNITED KINGDOM
Abi Bi
Ales Chen
Tr ista Yen
SOUTH AFR ICA
Jesse Breytenbach
Nicola Fouché
Elmien Gresse
ITALY
Giordana Rega
Liza Rendina
Miriam Viola
GERMANY, SWITZERLAND & AUSTRIA
Mandy Dziubek
Susanna Koglin
Marc Ramage
INTERNATIONAL
Sarah Hand
Chichi Huang
Lin Wei-Ting
the netherlands & belgium
enne’s party
Pen and ink on paper
MARLENE REBEL
Achild named Enne receives an invitation to a party containing a balloon. When he inflates the balloon, it rises and floats through the air until a big bird punctures the balloon. Fortunately, there is a soft landing in a haystack, but the mice who are celebrating at the haystack are startled by Enne whom they mistake for a real cat. They take flight. Thinking the mice will show him the way to his feast, Enne follows the mice through a dark underground passage. But instead of arriving at the feast, each time he ends up in a situation where he is an unwanted guest, where he does not belong. Successively, he ends up in an alley where a gang of stray cats frighten him, he accidentally disrupts a theatre performance of penguins dancing Swan Lake, he falls into the water at a pond where aquatic animals are playing games and, at the end of his quest, he finds himself at a jazz club of big felines, where, despite the thunderstorm, he is thrown out of the door without a pardon.
All alone, Enne walks through the rain. Until the raccoon, who sent him the invitation, finds him and brings him to the party where he is welcomed with open arms by a motley crew of animals.
MARLENE REBEL
Drawing has always been part of my identity although there have been long periods in my life when I have not held a pencil, pen, brush or sketchbook. After studying psychology, I started an evening course at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague in 1992, specialising in graphics and illustration. After the second year of study, work, family and my partner’s work proved impossible to combine with the course. Although I secretly dreamed of a career as a children’s book illustrator, being a writer more or less by chance came my way. Together with Lucinda Vos, I worked for years as an educational author. In 2018, we ventured into fiction writing. Our venture was successful, as 2020 saw the publication of our debut Lion with Stripes, a historical children’s book for children aged 10 or older. This was followed by two more historical children’s books for the same target group: Our Long Voyage with the Head in the Suitcase and Titanic and the Riddle of the Great Omar. The immense pleasure of telling stories in words sparked a desire to take up drawing again and also tell stories in pictures. I enrolled in the children’s book-making course at MK24 in Amsterdam. This resulted in a plan and sketches for a textless picture book starring a child in a cat-onesie. A story about not belonging anywhere grew from this, and for Picture This! I submitted three elaborate drawings to accompany this story.
www.facebook.com/marlene.rebel.5
MARLENE REBEL - Enne’s Party
JURY REPORT
Marlene’s fine and bright pen and ink drawings are absolutely joyful. It is promising to see that this illustrator has already really mastered her own style. The story, full of confusing situations, already appears to be a more complete concept, in the provided description, so it could already work well as a picture book.
Maybe even without text?
It is striking that the drawings are deliberately styled, without becoming over styled as a result. On the contrary: the compositions are full of movement and expression. And by deliberately omitting colour, the illustrations have actually become even more legible. The cheerful child in the lead role is always depicted
in his recognisable cat suit. And that is a smart move, because in this way the child can be found easily in the sometimes busy scenes of the story.
The almost ‘etching’ drawing technique deserves extra praise and attention, not only because of the amount of work, but also because of the skilful use
of contrasts, as was so well done in the case of the ballerina, in the beam of light. Children (and adults) will love the drawings and the story. As do the judges.
MARLENE REBEL - Enne’s Party
the music bicycle
Etching, printing, watercolour, acrylic and digital
FEMKE RUTGERS
Elephant is very musical. Besides being incredibly talented, he is also huge, because of course he is an elephant. Music he can certainly make, he can honk like the best with his own trunk. But there is no instrument he can play.
He would so like to be smaller for a violin, have fingers for a piano, or have hands for drumsticks. He also blows too loudly for a trumpet, is too strong for an
accordion, and an elephant with a recorder is just silly.
2. ‘I have tried all the instruments, but nothing is right for me,’ says Elephant sadly when he arrives at his best friend Squirrel’s house.
Squirrel is just as talented as Elephant, but not in music, she can make and craft anything. She has every kind of tool imaginable. ‘How inconvenient for you, Elephant! I’d love to help you but I can’t do anything
with music at all,’ Squirrel says worriedly. Squirrel and Elephant sit in silence, thinking. ‘But that’s it!’ they shout at the same time, Elephant, gather all the instruments you have and bring them here!’ says Squirrel enthusiastically. Together, they start piecing together their great idea.
3. After a few days’ work, there stands the most beautiful thing they have ever seen. The Music Bicycle!
FEMKE RUTGERS
I am Femke, an illustrator and independent artist. I am currently studying Illustration Design at Artez University of the Arts in Zwolle, and I am in my third year. In the upcoming semester, I will be taking the minor Creating Creativity. At the moment, I am focused on illustrating and writing picture books. I enjoy exploring different materials and am still in the process of discovering new things. My use of materials is diverse, I particularly enjoy creating autonomous paintings with oil paints. For my illustrations I often use watercolors, collages, graphic techniques, and like to experiment with various mediums. My work has a dreamy atmosphere and fairy-tale quality. I draw inspiration from my own fantasy world and usually aim to portray something surreal, absurd or whimsical in my creations.
www.femkerutgers.nl
@femke.rutgers
‘It’s finished!’ they say to each other. Nervously, Elephant takes a seat on the bike and starts pedaling. All the instruments start making sounds as if a whole orchestra is playing. ‘It’s really beautiful Elephant!’ says Squirrel. Elephant can’t stop pedaling and now he even starts to...
JURY REPORT
It is a pleasure to look at - and keep looking at - Femke’s sweet and dreamy entry. These three illustrations tell a very clear story that could well serve as the basis for an entire picture book. The musical bicycle is a funny and clever find to show that everyone has a talent, and that if you combine those talents, you often come up with the most beautiful solutions.
The use of different techniques is very successful: this creates a clear background and a legible foreground. This shows that the illustrator thinks carefully about what works best for the story. This entry also shows a love for applying analogue techniques, including fingerprints!
The use of colour is also very well done. Although each plate is blue, they are still different because of the additions of small colour accents and jokes, such as Elephant’s striped trunk. The illustrations are both fragile and crude. This creates a pleasant composition with lots of contrasts.
If you can do this at the age of 21, you should be proud of your talent and your work. That bodes well for the future.
the magic hat
Acrylic gouche, watercolour crayon, pencil and digital
ELISA STOLWIJK
Elektra is not like the other witches. She doesn’t like black and she finds her black witch’s hat boring. She longs for a bit more colour. ‘Why do witches always have to wear black?’ she wonders. ‘Black is just part of us,’ say the other witches. ‘That’s how it is and that’s how it will always be.’ Her cat Kwibus
is the only one who seems to understand Elektra (he would also prefer red).
One day, Elektra and Kwibus discover an old hat shop. Elektra cannot resist the temptation and steps inside. The old hat maker lets Elektra try on a hat. Not just any hat. No! A magic hat! What will the
other witches say when Elektra comes home with this hat? Does Elektra dare to show the hat to the other witches?
The Magic Hat is a story about nurturing desires, about daring to be yourself and making your own choices.
ELISA STOLWIJK
As a mother of two daughters and a primary school teacher, Elisa Stolwijk is often surrounded by young children. Their imaginative outlook on life is a huge inspiration to her. She lives with her husband, children and cats in the beautiful centre of Leiden. Elisa studied Graphic and Typographic Design at the KABK in The Hague, graduating in Graphic Design. She worked briefly as an image editor, but then made the switch to education, causing drawing to take a back seat. For the last few years, her love for drawing has blossomed again and she dreams of a bookcase full of self-made books. Her illustrations are a mix of different techniques: gouache, Indian ink, chalk and watercolour, but she also enjoys working digitally, although she always strives for a manual look. In addition to drawing, Elisa also enjoys devising and writing stories. Important to her is that the viewer is touched by an illustration because he or she can recognise themselves in it in one way or another.
www.elisastolwijk.nl
@elisastolwijk
JURY REPORT
Elisa also entered the competition last year: then she was challenged by the judges to enter with a more analogue entry. She did, and with verve! Because this funny story about witches was made with acrylic gouache, watercolour crayons and pencil (okay, and a little post-processing in Procreate).
A common comment among the judges was: ‘This really is a “classic” picture book’. Picture and story work well together and so the whole thing is great for reading to children, supported by the cheerful illustrations. The story is told very clearly and amusingly in rhyme, which makes reading aloud even more fun.
The protagonist is an engaging character and her cat as a companion also adds something extra. Colour and being allowed to be ‘different’ are of course central to this story. These are good subjects for a picture book. The three drawings submitted therefore make us very curious to see how this witch story ends.
ELISA STOLWIJK – The Magic Hat
fishing for clouds
Acrylic gouche, watercolour crayon, pencil and digital
SYDNEY VERCAMMEN
Every morning very early, Luke gets on his boat. Luke is a fisherman. And to catch the best fish, you also need a lot of patience....
While Luke waits for the fish to bite, he watches the clouds.
2. Later that morning, Luke treks to the market. Three loyal friends follow him closely.
Luke is cheerful because it is a beautiful day. The sun is shining, the sky is blue. He is over the moon!
3. At the market today, Luke is selling lots of fish. He also likes to tell about the clouds he saw from his boat that morning. He can predict the weather, he tells a woman.
People think Luke is just an oddball. But the
morning after, he just does it all over again. Because every day comes with new clouds, and new stories.
SYDNEY VERCAMMEN
Hi! My name is Sydney. I was born and raised in Belgium (1999), and developed a passion for drawing at a very young age. My mom sent me to the academy of visual arts in Mechelen, every Saturday from the age of 6. I had a total blast there making very ugly drawings, throwing clay around and then going back home with my face and pants covered in paint. But mainly, I found a passion that will stick with me for the rest of my life: making art and telling stories with it.
I got a master’s degree in communication sciences at the KU Leuven. Right after that, I signed up for the Visual Development course at IDEA Academy in Rome. At the moment I’m drawing and making all my art from my hometown in Belgium again. I speak Dutch, English and French. I mainly love to entertain people. Through my art I will always have a way to pursue that goal.
Hope you enjoy my drawings! :)
@itsmoo99
JURY REPORT
The warm atmosphere and attractive colours in Sydney’s entry struck the judges as very positive, and there is a nice amount of story to discover in these three illustrations.
The somewhat messy-looking fisherman goes out to sea with his friends Cat and Sheep to catch fish. The fact that a sheep joins them at sea is immediately funny . And the fact that the fisherman
is also a self-proclaimed cloud specialist makes you want to know who this weirdo really is.
Despite the digital technology - something the jury is generally not too keen on - this illustrator has managed to create warm, humorous and unique prints. The jury finds that very clever. The jury is also very curious to see what Sydney might be able to do with analogue materials; the drawing talent
and eye for composition are obviously already there.
The well-chosen perspectives and facial expressions in Sydney’s work are pleasant to look at. They make the plates lively and pleasing to the eye.
A surprising and talented winner with a style all her own.
the united kingdom
It’s Swing Time is a playful 32-page picture book that brings the magic of different animals swinging to life. From family to friends, and from day to night, each page unveils a new swing adventure. Experience the excitement of a ride on a banana swing or the romance of a lantern fruit. Aimed at children aged 3 to 5, this story fosters creativity and appreciation for diverse relationships through whimsical scenarios.
ABI BI
Abi Bi (Xinyi Bi) is an illustrator and picture book creator based in the UK. She holds a BA in Visual Communication Design from the China Academy of Art and has contributed to the publishing and editorial sectors. Recently, Abi graduated with distinction from the Cambridge School of Art with an MA in Children’s Book Illustration. She is passionate about using artistic language in children’s books and explores various artistic disciplines. Her work is imaginative, metaphorical and deeply connected to nature.
www.abibiart.net @abi.bi.art
JURY REPORT
Fizzing with energy, Abi’s vibrant artwork in Swing Time is exciting and fresh. With the playful characterisation of the animals – from the monkeys on the banana trapeze, to the cat patiently watching the mouse as it hovers tantalisingly above it – Abi exploits composition and negative space to create pages that are bursting with colour and fun. The jury particularly liked the use of bold line and the watercolour-like splashes of colour.
miko ALES CHEN
Gouache, pastel and coloured pencil
Miko is the story of a little cat who often wears a grumpy face and makes trouble wherever he goes. People are confused and annoyed by Miko’s behaviour. But is there a reason behind Miko’s mischievous antics? The answer might just be found during an unexpected trip to the eye clinic!
ALES CHEN
Ales is a Taiwanese visual storyteller and picture book maker currently based in the UK. Recently graduating from the Cambridge School of Art with an MA in Children’s Book Illustration, she has been honing her craft with a playful and experimental approach, incorporating various media to infuse her work with warmth and wit. A keen observer with a great sense of humour, she weaves amusing interactions from daily life into her stories, aiming to create narratives packed with fascinating details that offer new discoveries with each revisit. Providing a unique and uplifting reading experience, she seeks to comfort and inspire people through her art. When not drawing, Ales enjoys photography, cooking and anything that warms the heart. Spending leisurely afternoons with friends is her favourite way to unwind.
JURY REPORT
The jury liked the character of Miko the grumpy cat – and the soft, chalky palette that conveys a wealth of emotion. Ales Chen’s work is filled with tantalising and quirky extra details, and unexpected characters that will delight children, from the ghosts at the eye clinic to the skipping mouse in the playground. A visual feast.
the girl and the unicorn
Acrylic on canvas
TRISTA YEN
The Girl and the Unicorn series began during Christmas 2022. Alone in a foreign country, I decided to paint a unicorn to keep me company during the lonely festive season. I have continued to create this series throughout 2023 and into the present, finding it a journey of self-discovery that has
evolved with each painting. The girl and the unicorn set out on adventures, experiencing different places and emotions together. They are two characters, yet they also represent different aspects of ourselves.
TRISTA YEN
Trista Yen is an illustrator and sequential designer from Taiwan. After completing her Masters in Sequential Design and Illustration at the University of Brighton in 2015, she began a fulfilling career in children’s book illustration. Passionate about education, psychology and mental health, Trista uses art as a tool for self-expression. She loves illustrating animals, particularly bears and foxes. Besides children’s books, Trista explores greeting cards and surface design. Recently, she combined digital and traditional techniques in her work. In 2021, she launched her brand, Miss Noproblem, to expand her creative reach. Discover more at tristaillustration.com or on Instagram @tristayen_art.
www.tristaillustration.com @tristayen.art
TRISTA YEN – The Girl and the Unicorn
JURY REPORT
The festive girl and the unicorn delighted the judges. The story is set in a richly imagined dream-like forest and the figures glow against the rich blue background. Trista uses scale and landscape to convey their sense of isolation and loneliness. The jury loved the textural paint technique, and the vibrancy of the colour. The composition of the final piece, where the winding road pulls the figures home, works particularly well
TRISTA YEN – The Girl and the Unicorn
fox goes to school
Digital, using a Wacom tablet and Krita software
JESSE BREYTENBACH
FJESSE BREYTENBACH
Jesse Breytenbach is a freelance illustrator with an MFA in printmaking and comics. She loves drawing naughty children and well-behaved animals.
lorence Fox grows up in the forest with a family of foxes, but when she turns six she has to go to school. At first she struggles to fit in, but eventually everone comes to appreciate her peculiar foxy talents.
Text for illustration 1: Florence didn’t mind – her early years were wild and happy.
Text for illustration 2: She played wonderful games in the woods with her brothers and sisters, and she loved to explore the big city at night.
Text for illustration 3: One Monday morning, an excited Florence got up before sunrise and arrived at the school gates nice and early.
JURY REPORT
Jesse combines confident line-work with sensitive colouring to create digital illustrations that do not succumb to the generic or highly commercial visual language often associated with the medium. Her quirky and animated characters, contrasting settings and well-considered palette result in a whimsical narrative of which we are curious to see the outcome!
Pen, acrylic markers and watercolour paint on watercolour paper
Hi! My name is Sam. I am a five-month-old Dachshund and I live with my human Mommy and Daddy. I get up to many, many fun things during the day. Like eating yummy leaves, chewing Mommy’s shoes, digging in the dirt and running with my dirty paws through the house. My Mommy and Daddy love me. Even though most of the time I don’t know what they are saying. My Mommy wrote this book for me. I don’t know what she is doing most of the time. But I love her. Okay, bye.
Image 1: I like eating tiny, tiny snails and leaves and grass.
Nicola Fouché gained a BA degree in Visual Art (Fine Art) in 2015 and has since lived, worked and travelled to various cities across Asia. She currently lives in Vietnam with her husband and fur-baby, Sam.
www.nicolafouche.com @studionicolafouche
NICOLA FOUCH
NICOLA FOUCH É
Image 2: But I hate eating kibble. Ewwwwwww! I only eat it when my Mommy and Daddy add some chicken, peas and carrots. And then I only eat the chicken, peas and carrots.
Image 3: Oh and I love eating apples! But only if my Daddy peels it and cuts it into tiny pieces for me.
JURY REPORT
The artist has very good drawing abilities. Her quirky compositions are out of the ordinary and there is an element of surprise in each illustration. She combines her black and white line drawings with sensitive watercolour detail. Her work is ideal for books aimed at visually more literate children.
NICOLA FOUCH
how to travel with your avocado
Watercolour and Digital
ELMIEN GRESSE VAN SCHALKWYK
Andy is a boy who refuses to give up on his dream no matter the obstacles he is faced with. After growing his first avocado tree from a pip he hears the news that they will be moving soon and that his tree might not be able to go on the moving truck. He is heartbroken and comes up with fantas-
tical transport plans, which in turn, leads him to his own fail proof ‘Avocado-tree-carrier-contraption’ design. Perfect for the move. In the process he learns that you can always take your dreams with you, all you need is creativity and imagination!
ELMIEN GRESSE VAN SCHALKWYK
Elmien Gresse van Schalkwyk is 43 years old and has been drawing since she can remember. She studied art and design and is a graphic designer by
@elmiengresse_illustrations
ELMIEN GRESSE VAN SCHALKWYK – How to Travel with Your Avocado
JURY REPORT
Elmien’s work showcases her ability to imagine and create a believable children’s book character.
Her unconventional illustration style is impressive, displaying a sense of humour and a playful element that’s ideal for children’s books.
ELMIEN GRESSE VAN SCHALKWYK – How to Travel with Your Avocado
s arah’s garden
Digital illustration with Procreate
GIORDANA REGA
Once upon a time, in a small village surrounded by flowery hills, there was a little girl named Sarah who deeply loved every form of life in her garden. With her small hands and curiosity, she took care of plants and flowers, creating a refuge for butterflies, bees and small birds.
2.One day, the summer sun became so strong and the sky so clear that not a drop of rain fell for many weeks. The soil dried up, and Sarah’s flowers began to suffer thirst. Seeing her pollinator friends in difficulty, Sarah decided to act.
3.Every morning and every evening, Sarah collected all the droplets she found, also teaching the other children in the village how to take care of the plants. While the village observed, Sarah’s garden was flourishing, transforming into an oasis of beauty and life. Sarah’s wisdom demonstrated to everyone that even the smallest of efforts, if made with love and dedication, can bring about great changes.
GIORDANA REGA
I am Giordana Rega, a graduate in Communication Design from the Academy of Naples. My passion for drawing and creating imaginative illustrations has always accompanied me. I love telling stories through images, transforming words into visual worlds. During my academic career, I have explored different techniques and styles, overcoming my limits to perfect my art. Each illustration is a part of me, an expression of my vision and dedication. I am extremely motivated and always looking for new challenges to stimulate my creativity. My goal is to continue to inspire and excite through my works, communicating in a unique and engaging way. I dream of one day publishing my own picture book, combining words and images in a work that can touch people’s hearts.
www.behance.net/giordanarega
GIORDANA REGA – Sarah’s Garden
JURY REPORT
A beautiful interpretation, with a clean and personal sign.
The colour combinations are carefully studied, with an unusual and lively palette. The illustration succeeds in convincingly interpreting the themes of the story and expanding on them, showing its strong narrative potential, while at the same time
the wealth of small details is an invitation for the reader to linger on the images with calm and curiosity.
GIORDANA REGA – Sarah’s Garden
grandma dadà LIZA RENDINA
These illustrations are created from shapes cut out based on preparatory drawings. I then glued the shapes onto the fabric, cutting out the various parts in the fabric and assembling them again. I painted some details (shadows, eyes and other details), for some elements I used paper or wire, leather and eco-leather. Some parts were assembled completely by hand and scanned, for other compositions I used Photoshop. The
fabrics I used are part of a small collection of mostly vintage fabrics, many of which have stories to tell, collected over about 15 years of work.
Grandma Dadà is very nice. Even though she is old for many things, she is not too old to play with me. Grandma collects everything, in her house everything is art. Every now and then we improvise shows for her friends,
but for the rest of the time we prefer to be alone, her and me. Grandma teaches me things in life that only those of a venerable age can know. That sometimes life can be a nice cake with cream, sometimes a slice of rotten apple tart, but it must be experienced to the end anyway. I love my grandmother, her cooking, her passion for art and her wisdom. I love Grandma, that’s all.
Table 1: “I only eat vegetable soups, but for me there is
LIZA RENDINA
After graduating in painting (it’s been a few years now...) I started experimenting with sewing, partly because I didn’t have an atelier where I could paint, and partly because I connected floral fabrics, velvets and tulle to my memories, to my summers spent at my grandparents’, to the miniature dresses sewn for a porcelain doll of my grandmother’s, to the freedom of childhood. Over the years I have created characters out of felt, vintage printed cottons, leather scraps. Then I tried needlework on wool, to make portraits of real dogs and cats. I worked with an Italian illustrator designing and building the protagonists of his books; this collaboration gave me the opportunity to get closer to the world of children’s literature, which I was already following as an enthusiast. The need to better understand editorial illustration, to return to using drawing as an expressive and design medium led me last year to take the Advanced course at the Ars in Fabula school. Now I experiment by mixing drawing, painting and fabric collage.
@lizarendinacreations
always spaghetti. I love the cuisine of Grandmother”.
Table 2: “but for the rest of the time we prefer to be just the two of us”.
Table 3: “If nostalgia comes, it’s only for a short time. Even sad things can be funny.”
LIZA RENDINA
JURY REPORT
The technique used is very interesting and original: the illustrations are made from parts of fabric, cut out on the basis of preparatory drawings and reassembled again on paper; among the materials used are wire, leather and eco-leather. For the author, this technique is very personal: the fabrics used are part of a small
collection of mostly vintage fabrics, many of them with stories to tell, collected over about 15 years of work. The composition of the images on the page is also interesting, with a strong narrative potential.
LIZA RENDINA
heartless bluebe rry
MIRIAM VIOLA
Mixed technique that involves digital painting and hand retouching with pencils and gouache
Mir’lla wakes up one morning and realizes that she no longer has a heart. In appearance she seems to be well, even better than before! Yet, something is wrong and Mir’lla will have to reach the kingdom of the god, dreams to find her emotions
again. An adventurous and magical story, a journey through emotions and dreams. Emotions are sometimes scary, other times confusing, but is it worth getting rid of them?
MIRIAM VIOLA
My name is Miriam, but they often call me Mimì. I have always been making up stories (I once put my daddy to sleep when he came to my room with the task of putting me to sleep, by telling him stories; I was four years old) and I have always drawn with the same passion.
After high school and university, I studied illustration at the Nemo Academy of Digital Arts in Florence. In Bologna I attended creative writing courses under the guidance of authors such as Paolo Nori, Gianluca Morozzi, Michele Marziani and Wu Ming 2. They were all exciting and enriching experiences. I love recounting the magic that lurks in everyday life, especially conveyed by nature. I love stories about fairies, gnomes and woodland spirits and I am very interested in the themes of child and adult psychology, to be told through writing and illustration.
My desire is to write or accompany stories that make those who read them feel understood and part of a special world.
www.miriamviola.com
@_miriamviola
MIRIAM VIOLA – Heartless Blueberry
JURY REPORT
Illustrating requires first of all having heart, being able to ‘feel’ the story. This transpires in the work of Miriam Viola, who knows how to create a special atmosphere, suspended between dream and reality, and truly transport us into a little girl’s room, in the middle of the night, when she meets the spirit of beautiful dreams. The stroke is also interesting, in
the way it manages to combine the richness of detail with the delicacy of the mark. The original colour palette and the choice of particular shots in turn support the dynamism of the story.
MIRIAM VIOLA – Heartless Blueberry
GERMANY, SWITZERLAND & AUSTRIA
lily’s big encounters
Digitally drawn in Clip Studio Paint
MANDY DZIUBEK
Having just moved into a new neighbourhood, Lily is decidedly bored while her parents are still moving the boxes into their new apartment. After the suggestion from her mother to take the delicious plate of creampuffs Lily herself baked beforehand and deliver them to their new neighbours
as a gift, she excitedly agrees. But already on the first flight of stairs her previous excitement of sharing her creations turns into worry. What if her cream puffs aren’t good enough? What if her neighbours won’t like her? Anxiety kicks in and Lily stops in her tracks while she imagines meeting intimidating monsters
instead of humans as neighbours, each bigger and scarier than the last. First a frog, then a crane, then a crocodile, all rejecting her gift in their own way. Terrified, Lily breaks down back in reality, not wanting to deliver anything anymore. Suddenly, a neighbour kid shows up, who offers to share them with
MANDY DZIUBEK
My name is Mandy Dziubek and I’m currently a student at HSD, working on getting my bachelor’s degree in communication design. This would be my second Bachelor of Arts degree, as I received my first one in social work just last year. I was born in Duisburg, North Rhine Westphalia in Germany and have stayed there so far for the most part of my life. Currently, most of my experience work wise is in social work, specifically in retirement homes. I do hope to be able to get more experience as an illustrator in the future, as the only publication featuring my art is the newest edition of the Kapsel Magazin, where several students of the university had the opportunity to illustrate parts of Chi Hui’s new stories. My goal in life would be to one day be able to make art at least my parttime career, be it by illustrating stories of others or maybe even one day my own.
@mintysammy
the other neighbours together. With the other kid’s support, Lily gathers enough courage to go through with her delivery. Having gained a new friend, Lily has learned that sometimes to overcome your own anxiety, it’s okay to accept a helping hand.
MANDY DZIUBEK – Lily’s Big Encounters
JURY REPORT
Moving Day! Whilst her parents unpack the boxes, Lily is supposed to distribute biscuits to the new neighbours in the house. But a new house is also a new environment. And a new environment can be scary. Especially in a child’s imagination. What if the neighbours aren’t nice at all? What if terrible monsters live behind the doors?
When Lily walks through the stairwell, you feel like you’ve been transported to the set of the film “The Cabinet of Dr Caligari”. It is dark and the neighbours’ doors are huge.
Mandy Dziubek takes the colourfulness out of Lily’s fantasy worlds – apart from the cool blue of Lily’s clothes – and lets us feel the menacing mood in
black and white and a cold grey. Expressionist rooms and surreal-looking animal neighbours who speak in blood-red speech bubbles; eerily beautiful. The protagonist is an engaging character and her cat as a companion also adds something extra. Colour and being allowed to be ‘different’ are of course central to this story. These are good subjects for a picture book. The three drawings submitted
therefore make us very curious to see how this story ends.
MANDY DZIUBEK – Lily’s Big Encounters
the town musicians of bremen
SUSANNA KOGLIN
Pencil and watercolour
Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten,” or “The Town Musicians of Bremen,” is a classic German fairy tale collected by the Brothers Grimm. The story follows four aging domestic animals – a donkey, a dog, a cat, and a rooster – who, feeling neglected by their owners, individually set out to pursue a new life. They coincidentally meet on the way and then continue their journey together with the dream of becoming musicians in the town of Bremen. Along the way, they encounter a cottage occupied by bandits. Through cunning and teamwork, the animals scare the bandits away, claiming the house for themselves. Following this, the bandits' attempt of reclaiming the cottage isn’t successful so the animals end up celebrating their victory, newfound home and friendship. They like it so much there, that they decide to stay. The tale highlights the theme of friendship and the idea that despite being old and weak, together they can still achieve anything. In my interpretation of the story, I modernized the setting and turned away from the typical depiction of bandits and replaced them with a diverse female group. Furthermore, I gave the animals stronger human features, so they could exhibit a greater range of emotions.
SUSANNA KOGLIN
My name is Susanna Koglin, and I come from the beautiful city of Hamburg. From a young age, I enjoyed drawing in my free time, a passion that continued throughout my school years. After graduating, I wanted to pursue an artistic degree to turn my hobby into a profession. After some deliberation, I chose to study Communication Design in Trier, where I am currently in my sixth semester. During my studies, I delved deeply into the field of illustration for the first time and quickly decided to focus on it. I created work using various media and discovered many facets of drawing. On one hand, I enjoy drawing playful, childlike depictions, but I also like to express myself boldly and with contrast using pencils or other media. In general, I prefer working analogue and love hands-on creative processes.
JURY REPORT
The story is familiar: Donkey, dog, cat and rooster are looking for a new purpose in life after their old owners have given up on them. They come together by chance on their way to Bremen... because that's where they want to fulfil their dream and become musicians! As if drawn in a sketchbook with two or three coloured pencils and a few colours,
the scenery seems almost naïve and peaceful at first. But it is by no means harmless... because the characters are sharp in detail and expression right from the start. Then, with the change to comic-like storytelling, things shift up a gear – and the witty image sequences don’t even make you wonder why there are no classic bandits squatting in the kitchen here, but rather a modern-day women's flat-sharing
community having a good time. As in the Grimms version, the four wanderers hatch a plan to get their hands on the delicious food – but the change of gender in this telling creates fresh curiosity about a fairy tale that praises teamwork and cunning for a good cause in black and white and a cold grey.
SUSANNA KOGLIN – The Town Musicians of Bremen
bright gray and darkly colored
MARC RAMAGE
Combination of collage and digital painting
They scuffled wildly, scratching loudly and screaming shrilly, but Mia and Bub just stood still in-between. Which side should they choose? Where to push? Where to hold on to? Where to be? These are the questions that the two main characters from this book deal with to try to solve their parents' quarrels.
Domestic conflicts are often difficult for children. Mia and Bub get lost between sides when their parents argue. Nevertheless, cranky neighbor Auntie Maud shows up with her strange cat, and with the help of her three wish-granting quills, she brings
some color into the dreary everyday life of the Rauch family.
In my own childhood, I used drawing to create a place to shelter myself, and to this day, it helps me process problems, understand them, and find solutions. This process motivated me to face my child-
MARC RAMAGE
Marc Lewis Ramage began his journey to become an illustrator as a media designer. In addition to his freelance work as an illustrator, he studied a B.A. in Integrated Design with a focus on illustration at the Muenster School of Design (Germany). The next step was Cologne, where he now works as a designer and illustrator for various clients such as agencies, museums and organizations.
In his work, he often deals with social aspects, which he translates visually. The topic should be as approachable as possible, for which he uses analogue and digital media equally. For him, illustration is a fantastic language with which you can tell any story.
@marc_ramage
hood. With the help of this story, I want to share experiences and look for something colorful in a gray world.
JURY REPORT
We look into the Rauch family's room and are shocked by what we see. At first it is the father's anger, then the quarrel between the heavily intoxicated parents that affects the two children. The colour red reflects the aggressively charged mood, which expands from picture to picture into the children's living space.
Through this colour language and the clever combination of collage technique and digital painting, Marc Ramage succeeds in confronting the worlds of children and adults and showing the children in their helplessness. Light symbolism, perspective cuts and exaggerations intensify the threatening situation and make it abundantly clear
to the viewer that the children are terrified in their home. Marc Ramage's work is a powerful artistic portrayal of domestic violence – an important but still highly taboo subject in our society.
MARC RAMAGE – Bright Gray and Darkly Colored
the wind in t he willows
by kenneth graham e SARAH HAND (USA) Painting, drawing, collage and stencil
The childhood classic book of the woodland adventures of Mole, Rat, Toad, and friends in the English countryside. Boats, swimming, picnics, and adventures fill their days, and forge their friendships.
Illu 1: “The afternoon sun was getting low as the Rat sculled gently homewards in a dreamy mood,
murmuring poetry things over to himself, and not paying much attention to Mole. But the Mole was very full of lunch, and self-satisfaction, and pride, and already quite at home in a boat….”
Illu 2: “They disembarked and strolled across the gay flower-decked lawns in search of Toad, whom they presently happened upon resting in a wicker
garden-chair, with a preoccupied expression of face, and a large map spread out….”
Illu 3: It was still too hot to think of staying indoors, so he lay on some cool dock leaves, and thought over the past day and its doings, and how very good they all had been.”
SARAH HAND
I’m an artist, illustrator, papier mache sculptor, teacher, and author. Making things is my favorite pastime, and I’m grateful that it has been my job for the last 20 years.
I’m a self-taught artist with a lifelong passion for making up stories and characters. I find inspiration in color, folklore, old dolls and toys and so much more. I’m always on the lookout for senses of wonder or mystery or emotion, and new ways to convey them in my art.
I work mostly traditionally because I enjoy paint, paper, colored pencils, and all the tactile qualities of making art non-digitally.
I’m the author of two books: Art Makers: Papier Mache, and The Happy Book of Little Gifts to Make, and in them I share my passion for papier mache sculpture, and making small delightful things out of simple materials. My work has been in galleries, magazines, and private collections.
I live in Richmond, Virginia in a small house with my partner and our handsome cat.
www.sarah-hand.com
SARAH HAND
Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
JURY REPORT
Sarah Hand ‘s illustrations are very joyful — evoking a smile from the reader. The use of collage and mixed media in the pictures is brilliantly composed and playful. The illustrations with their charming characters are engaging and could be also inspiring to any child (or even an adult!) who would like to pick up a pencil, glue and scissors and have a go at storytelling themselves.
SARAH HAND – The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
green dreamland
Acrypencil, watercolor, digital media
CHICHI HUANG (TAIWAN)
The magical journey of a little boy who loves to travel.
Illu 1: The little boy didn’t know where he was. He felt as if he had come to a fantastic fairyland, a beautiful mountain world. Here, it seemed like magic had been cast; the wonderful and colorful flowers were larger than humans and unlike anything
seen in the real world. Among which, one gigantic, magical flower bud enclosed the little boy, who was trapped and very scared.
Illu 2: The little boy looked up at the hillside and saw the blue bird that had caught his attention earlier (the blue bird had turned into a Birdman with arms and legs), along with its companions, joyfully
having afternoon tea. They waved in a friendly way, as if inviting him to join them.
Illu 3: As the night fell, the twilight descended, and the fireflies twinkled like blinking eyes. The chirping of insects and birds could be heard. The animals knew how to enjoy themselves. They danced and reveled in front of the warm campfire.
CHICHI HUANG
Chichi Huang often uses little girls, birds and little animals as subject matters using simple lines and rich colors to build and paint the world of fairy tales. With drawing compositions full of imagination and warm interactions between characters, her drawings always make people smile in delight.
www.behance.net/chichihuang
CHICHI HUANG – Green Dreamland
JURY REPORT
Chichi-Huang manages to capture the imagination with colourful illustrations that move confidently between fantasy and reality. With a combination of traditional drawing and painting media and techniques, the illustrator created vivid and believable characters engaging in a small fantasy that is rooted in reality … as child’s play often is.
CHICHI HUANG – Green Dreamland
a little stone LIN WEI-TING (TAIWAN)
Iused digital tools to create this picture book. The entire book uses only three colors to depict the scenes. I overlapped colors to portray various shades of stones. I intentionally blended colors and overlapped them on the main character, making it appear to be another ordinary stone at first glance, but it is also composed of various colors.
A Little Stone is a story about finding oneself and self-identity.
The story begins with a little stone lacking confi-
dence; his greatest fear is that nobody likes him. Yet, in trying not to be disliked, he becomes less and less himself. Being tossed around frequently, his body is covered in all sorts of scars, from which moss grows, gradually obscuring his view of the world.
Until one day, he is picked up and placed in a beautiful garden. The person who picks him up tells him, “You don’t have to be extraordinary; you don’t have to be perfect; you just need to be the unique you.”
At that moment, the little stone finally understands that the only one who should love him the most is himself.
Throughout life, everyone experiences being loved, abandoned, forgotten, and even getting hurt to some extent. You may have already been scarred, have lost hope in the world, but there is always someone, somewhere, who simply loves you for who you are. Just like every stone has its own unique texture and shape. Perhaps you just haven’t discove-
Drawing and creating picture
@22r_abbit
red your strengths yet, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. You may not be the most special or perfect, but you are unique.
LIN WEI-TING
Hello! My name is Lin WeiTing, and I’m a designer and children’s book illustrator based in Taiwan.
I was born in 1987. After graduating from the Department of Fine Arts at National Taiwan Normal University in 2011, I have been working as a children’s book editor and illustrator ever since.
books have always been the source of my happiness.
JURY REPORT
Lin Wei-Ting created a clever story in which an inanimate object — a humble little pebble — is the main character, who endears the reader as they come to realise their own worth. The technique, reminiscent of risograph and stencil print as well as the hybrid picturebook-comic form, demonstrates a very mature understanding of contemporary picture book making.
THE COMPETITION IS SUPPORTED BY: Lemniscaat Publishers (nl)
