Kate Gleyzer
Children's Illustrator
How and why did you decide to pursue illustration as your career?
I've always loved books, ever since I was a child. Book stories inspire me, and the illustrations provide an opportunity to make the world and characters that the author created even more palpable. I love that it can ignite an interest in reading in children. I've loved drawing for as long as I can remember. Already at 11, I enrolled into an Art School, hoping that it would be my job in the future.
Who or what have been some of your major artistic influences?
As I grew up in the USSR, behind the Iron Curtain, I only had an opportunity to see the works of Soviet illustrators. Many remarkable artists among them would become my main inspirations. Early on, the work of Victor Chizhikov and Viktor Pivovarov were the most influencial on me. Later, I also discover another insporation in Gennady Kalinovsky
Do you offer more than one style, if so – talk us through the different approaches and the audience you are targeting for each.
Yes, my illustrations vary in style. That's because I love to experiment and try something new. When choosing a style or a technique for a new work, I consider different factors, such as the book's target audience, the writing style, the setting, and the characters.
Which 4 words would you use to describe your illustration portfolio?
Diverse • Emotional • Dynamic • Eye-Catching
