On March 2, 2012, at 10:50 a.m., exactly 10 years before the publication of this post, the first e-mail arrived from Zwierciadło publishing house with a proposal for cooperation.
It all started with... a failed cover design for two small calendars included in the magazine. However, I learned that everything happens for a reason. Soon, an commission for my first illustration arrived, and it worked so well that for ten years, I've been drawing for Zwierciadło every month, and recently every other month.
A small digression here. The editors I work with have had to get used to my way of working. I don't like to spend time on precise sketches, because they're literally just outlines of an idea, a phrase in my head (that's why what I do is often called conceptual illustration – a strong idea, a concept, is paramount). The final drawing can vary significantly, yet retain the original idea. And sometimes the final drawing doesn't satisfy the editors because it's too dark, the color is wrong (for example, there's also "something yellow" on the adjacent page). While I sometimes insist on my opinion, I know it's better to listen to other voices, because something better than planned can emerge from this chorus. These turbulences sometimes result in... two drawings.
Above is the good example of a sketch followed by final illustration. Two flows meets to create something new – just like our parents created us.
See "Origin".
I was "assigned" to interview Wojciech Eichelberger, and I feel very good about it. I have my "male side" in a women's magazine. There were various series, for example, "body." We worked through all the sections, even the embarrassing ones, and created funny drawings. Because how do you depict a penis or erectile dysfunction in a 50-plus age group? You have to look for metaphors.
Importantly, the texts are wise, they touch on important issues of the body and mind, explain how our emotions work, and this gives me great satisfaction already at the reading stage, which is a significant added value to the texture.
To date, nearly 100 illustrations have been created (counting continues) and the tenth anniversary is a good moment for such a summary.
I have a number of Polish and international titles in my portfolio, but collaborating with Zwierciadło is something special. It's simply a valuable lesson from "the other side of the mirror." How to view the world and yourself with humility, not just through the prism of the male self.
And for these (first) ten years of our shared adventure, I would like to thank the entire editorial team, headed by Magda Sobotka (photo editor).
First illustration for Zwierciadło, called by me "Mr. Hobby".
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