Vladimir Stankovic’s illustrations are the very meaning of whimsical. Based in Sydney, Australia, his work often displays a variety of animals and bizarre creatures—a refreshing take on the animal kingdom that will delight both children and adults (and indeed, Stankovic’s illustrations have been published in various books and publications).
Using traditional tools such as watercolors, colored pencils, and gouache, alongside digital tools, Stankovic strives to combine visual elements in such a way that the final design communicates his ideas clearly.
“Usually, I make numerous very rough and unimpressive sketches, and after I see the potential in one of them, I then start to develop it further on,” he explained about his creative process in an interview with Barrington Stoke. He then added that he also enjoys the effect of hand-drawn illustrations.
With common themes throughout his work including science, nature, and fairy tales, his inspiration comes from a variety of sources, both realistic and fantastic: “I grew up reading folk tales and fantasy stories, watching horror movies and TV shows, so I guess it all kind of fused inside my head and is a source of inspiration still,” he admits.
Describing his style as both subtle and bizarre, Stankovic’s work is based on research and observation: “The ‘detailedness’ is perhaps the result of hours spent looking at tiny insects and seashell forms and their patterns with a magnifying glass,” he says.
Inspired by vintage scientific illustrations, and sticking to washed-out, pastel oriented color palettes, the result is often imaginative and dreamy.
