Olga Popova

All

Animals

Cartoon & Humour

Character Design

Children

People

Zoom

Find similar

Colorful dinosaur village with playful dinosaurs and a marketplace by Olga Popova

Zoom

Find similar

Family walking dog by yellow house with child on scooter by Olga Popova

Zoom

Find similar

Children watching shadow puppet play inside a warm cozy room by Olga Popova

Zoom

Find similar

Elderly woman doing daily tasks like tea drinking and plant watering by Olga Popova

Zoom

Find similar

Cozy illuminated treehouse at night with tire swing and toys by Olga Popova

Zoom

Find similar

Cartoon animals including pig, giraffe, and others dancing, by Olga Popova

Zoom

Find similar

Circus performer on stage with an audience of different animals by Olga Popova

Zoom

Find similar

Olga erzählt in detailreichen, inklusiven Szenen mit einem Blick für das große Ganze.

Ein illustrativer Stil mit szenischer Tiefe, erzählerischer Vielfalt und klarer Farbführung, der ideal ist für Kinderbücher, die visuelle Komplexität und Offenheit verbinden.

Olga excels when it comes to wide-angle settings with plenty of participants – human and animal – and there’s always plenty going on. She creates people of all cultures, backgrounds and abilities – nobody is forgotten and everyone has their own unique charm. Based in Cyprus, but originally from Russia, Olga trained as an architect but today uses her creative talents to illustrate children’s books. She is inspired by the real world – the people and places she sees daily, out walking through town or by the sea. Clients feel comfortable working with Olga – they can tell she loves what she does, she dives deep into the stories she illustrates and respects deadlines.

Approach

“Sometimes, the magic happens in my head. I read the text and the illustrations appear in my imagination. But usually, it takes a lot of work – gathering information, making mood boards, sketching and immersing myself in the topic,” says Olga. Working digitally on her tablet, she brings physicality to her work with shading and texture, sometimes adding pencil outlines and hatching by hand to complete the image.

Style

Light-hearted and with contemporary themes, Olga’s images convey a playful sense of wonder, full of positivity and possibilities. Bright, saturated colours support this, with light and shade bringing depth and atmosphere to every work.

Languages

English and Russian

Impressions

Interview

Send Enquiry

Interview

What led you to become an illustrator?Over 10 years ago I got a commission for a comic book, I was studying to be an architect and didn't plan to be an illustrator at all, but then I realised with excitement that what I love to do could become a job. I came to illustration much later, but ever since then the dream of becoming an illustrator has lived in my head.Did you study illustration in college?I trained as an architect and spent many hours doing academic drawing, now I'm thinking about an education related to illustration, I love to learn.Where did you grow up?I grew up in a small town called Tver, which is between Moscow and St. Petersburg.Do you have a childhood memory relating to art that you hold dear?My favourite memory is when my mother sat me down at an easel that she had made herself from a chair and a board, gave me paints and I painted our family portrait. I was about 5 years old, which is probably when I started to love drawing.Where do you live now and what drew you there?Now my husband and I can be called real digital nomads, in the last year we have lived in two beautiful countries and we are not going to stop, my big dream is to buy a motorhome and travel to many places on our beautiful planet. Very happy that our professions allow us to be anywhere in the world.Describe your studio for usMy studio fits in my suitcase, I take my favourite books, sketchbooks, materials with me everywhere, it's the first thing I take with me, but I can also say that my studio is me and my iPad.Do you have a studio pet?Oh yes, I love animals very much, I have three, a dog Rhea and two cats Belyash, (named after a meat pie) and Lionel - like Lionel Messi.Who or What is your biggest inspiration?My children, when I draw something I always imagine the moment when I show them the finished work, they are my favourite critics.If you were funded for a dream artist residency, where would you go, and what would you create?I would open my own creative studio. It would be a big cosy space where anyone of any age could come and try to become an artist. There would be all available materials for creativity, you could take anything and create.What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?I love cooking something delicious and watching Disney cartoons, walking in the park with my dog, going out with friends, hiking, and being outdoors.What’s your most prized possession and why?My grandmother once gave me a collection of 4 volumes by Herluf Bidstrup. There are many memories with them, how at family holidays my Dad and I used to look at his comics and laugh. I am always warmed by these books and hold them with special care.What causes are you passionate about?I love to do something with my hands, I love sewing, knitting and adore ceramics. My dream is to learn how to be a ceramicist and create a plate set for my family.Do you adopt any environmental habits to be more sustainable?I don't take plastic bags in shops, I try to use a shopper. I am a coffee lover and have recently purchased a thermal mug. I also recycle things, I like it when things have a second life.What is the first record you bought?I think it was Michael Jackson, I was about 6 or 7 years old and I remember dancing on the table like a stage while no one saw me.Who is your art hero? Kazimir Malevich.If you were not an illustrator, what would you be?I would become a mountaineer and climb all the mountains that are above 8,000 metres, there are 14 of them.If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? I would touch a whale in the Pacific Ocean.Have you any hidden talents? I like to play the ukulele.How would someone who knows you well describe you?My husband says I'm incredibly positive and creative, funny and kind and I'm always making up some storiesWhat is your go-to comfort food?Nutella and a fresh baguette.What movie can you watch over and over?Harry Potter! I'm so looking forward to watching it with my kids, from the beginning, again.What is the last show you binged?'Wednesday', I was impressed and I'm looking forward to the sequel.What is your favourite book?Notre Dame de Paris.What is your favourite quote?'Even miracles take a little time'.Is there any random thing you consider yourself an expert on?I can hold my breath underwater for more than 4 minutes. I learned this in freediving classes!What career advice would you give your younger self? Draw at every opportunity, every day.Is there a work lesson you’ve had to learn the hard way?Yes, listen to yourself and express your opinion when necessary.

Favourites

{"playlistTitle":"","playlistUrl":"","metaTitle":"","metaDescription":""}