Let's Talk Illustrators #375: Olga Fadeeva

I am excited to share my interview with Russian author-illustrator Olga Fadeeva today! She most recently created Sound, translated be Lena Traer, a fascinating look at the concept and history of sound (you'd be surprised at what you can learn about something most take for granted!). Enjoy a closer peek at this book! 

About the book:

Do you ever wonder about sound--what is it, anyway?

How do we produce and hear sound? How do birds, dolphins, and humans use sounds to communicate? What does life look like without sound? How has the sound of music developed over the centuries? How are sounds sent across thousands of miles? How has technology--phonographs, cassettes, radio, computers--changed how we share sound? Can sounds even affect our health?

Let's talk Olga Fadeeva!

LTPB: Where did the idea for Sound come from?

OF: After the books Wind and Water, I realized that I like to explore multifaceted themes that are connected to very different spheres of life. In exploring the theme of Sound, I was also interested in trying to express sound through illustrations, to see sound. That is how this theme appeared.

LTPB: How closely did you work with the publishing team to design space for the text in your illustrations? Did you consciously curate space for the text to look different?

OF: I hardly collaborate with the publisher during the work process. I come up with each spread myself, decide how much text there will be and how it will be arranged. I really love this part of the work. I like to make the text part of the illustration. Sometimes it feels like a game, and sometimes like a super task. I think that such interaction of text and illustration allows for a better understanding of the text, especially in non-fiction, where the text can be quite complex.

LTPB: What did you find most difficult in creating this book? What did you find most rewarding?

OF: For me, the most important tool is always drawing diagrams, graphs, and complex technical things so they look clear and organic. Despite the complex topic, I am not drawing an encyclopedia, but a book, where most of the spreads should look like independent and very expressive pictures.

I really like the Sounds of History spreads. Each era has its own sounds, and I want readers to travel through the eras with the help of illustrations and sounds. I myself found it very exciting to take such a journey during the work process. And the most fun was working on the spread with animal sounds. It was amazing to learn how differently sounds are heard in different countries. And this spread always amuses children when I conduct meetings on the book.

 

LTPB: What did you use to create the illustrations in this book? Is this your preferred medium? How does your process change from book to book?

OF: I used the same technique as for the Wind and Water books. It is acrylic, collage, and finishing in Procreate. I really love this combination. Collage is like a game for me. Every time I ask myself, what materials can I use to convey texture, image or mood? In Sound, I used foil for the first time to depict knight's armor. And of course, the already familiar and beloved newspapers, cardboard, lace.

LTPB: What are you working on now? Anything you can show us?

OF: I am currently finishing work on a collection of New Year's stories for the little ones, Seven Wonders for the New Year. I like to alternate nonfiction projects with fairy tale books, books for those who are older with books for the little ones.

LTPB: If you got the chance to write your own picture book autobiography, who (dead or alive!) would you want to illustrate it, and why?

OF: I would be happy if one of my favorite illustrators did it. Maybe it would be Victoria Semikina or Mark Janssen.

Sounding off a big THANKS to Olga! Sound published this summer from Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Special thanks to Olga and Eerdmans for use of these images!

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