Fairytale illustrations: Vladislav Yerko

[alexandral]

I was looking for some fairytales for my daughter. One of my forever favourite fairytales is "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen; it is my special winter holidays story. We used to watch it as children, year after year and never get tired of it. I was searching for an English translation of this story and I found one Here, with breathtaking and thoughtful illustrations by Vladislav Yerko, a famous Ukranian illustrator.

Vladislav Yerko was born in Kiev in 1962. He graduated from Kiev's Polygraphic University. He is famous for his outwordly beautiful illustrations to fairytale books but he is known to be a quiet man who avoids media attention. Vladislav received the main "Book of the year 2000" award for his illustrations to "The Snow Queen".

My favourite illustration from "The Snow Queen" is below. It captures the essence of the character of The Snow Queen for me, her beauty, cold and emptiness.





"The Snow Queen" illustrations. All my favourite characters are there!

Kay and Gerda in the Snow Queen's palace:


Kay and Gerda, happy friends:



The Snow Queen abducting Kay:



The old woman sorceress



Robbers:



The Lapp woman and Gerda on Bae-the-reindeer:



Gerda, Kay, their roses and their books:



The Snow Queen:



Kay and Gerda's city:



The Snow Queen's palace:



The Raven



The Prince and the princess:



Illustrations from children's "Tales of Foggy Albion" book. 0

"Foggy Albion" is the way Britain is called in Russia. :D This is because it was named like this in one of Pushkin's poems but I may be wrong. The correct translation of the book's title is : "British Knight Tales". Many knights and ladies whom I don't recognise at all. The guy with a green clover leaf in his hand must be St. Patric, I guess.. It would be great to know who the rest of the knights are, if anyone has any idea I'll be eternally grateful. I am particular mesmerised by the green-faced lady with a big dog..























Illustrations from children's "Ukranian fairytales" book.

Similar to Russian fairy tales humour and satire play a big part in the traditional Ukranian fairytales. And big mighty warriors, of course!












I have made some icons, preview:

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They are free to share but please credit the artist!


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..17 ..18 ..19 ..20


Credits:
http://logrys.net/Map.htm

http://illustr.narod.ru/html/queen.htm

http://nataly.nnm.ru/hudozhnikillyustrator_vladislav_erko

Comments

[dr-shinigami.livejournal.com]

Awww... He's definitely one of my favourite artists...)))

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

One day I hope to see books with YOUR lovely illustrations.. :D

[winterspel.livejournal.com]

What splendid eye-popping images! Thank you so much for sharing all of this beautiful artwork.

I also love Andersen's "The Snow Queen" - I love a lot of his stories.

And icons! *glee* They're all so pretty!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you like the illustrations! I also like Andersen very much. His fairytales are often unusual and almost proverb-like..

[lage-nom-ai.livejournal.com]

Wow, those illustrations are just stunning. Now I'm going to have to dig up all of my old fairy tale books!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I want to oder this book, after Christmas when everything will quiet down.

[ancarett]

These are lovely. I adore the texture of Kay's knitted cap in the close-up of the Snow Queen. Also have to admire the shout-out to Renaissance equestrian art in the horses of the second set, (particularly the last large illustration). Great sources for icons, you're right, and you produced an amazing set!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I adore the texture of Kay's knitted cap in the close-up of the Snow Queen.

Isn't it so woolly? I love the way paper's texture adds to the texture of the images.

And thank you!!!!

[bzoppa.livejournal.com]

Pretty pictures! You've re-inspired me to try and find the Bridget Fonda version of Snow Queen that was on tv a couple of years ago.

Off-topic: Is it you who really likes Sean Bean and is really into one of his series? Was it Sharpe's?

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you like!! I haven't seen this version , I must find it!

I looooooove Sean Bean, but I first noticed him in LOTR and BBC adaptation of "Clarissa". But Sharpe is wonderful, I totally rec it!

[trystan830.livejournal.com]

oh wow!! very lovely illustrations!!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am so glad you like - I adore the colours and the textures!

[mr-kit.livejournal.com]

Spectacular!

They're like Hieronymus Bosch became a children's illustrator.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Indeed! This what I thought too - they are influenced by Bosch's art!

[kiaforrest.livejournal.com]

I love the castle in the tree image (of course)
Wowsa ... these are just ... WOW!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

YAY! I can make an icon for you, if you would like. ;D Let me know if you need any text..

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Those are fabulous illustrations, really the best artists these days work with children's literature. Thanks so much for sharing.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you like! Children's books are so wonderful!

[savepureness.livejournal.com]

These are simply stunning, my dear! Thank you so much for sharing the love with us - I admit never have seeing these works before, though many of my childhood story books have been brought by my late grandfather from Moscow, and hence illustrated by many Russian/Ukrainian artists.

I love Andersen's works, too, and this story is so sad ... it always made me cry, if only by imagining how might one feel while having a shard of that wicked mirror planted in his/her heart!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you like it!!!

I love Andersen's works, too, and this story is so sad ... it always made me cry, if only by imagining how might one feel while having a shard of that wicked mirror planted in his/her heart!

This story is very deep, but it always was the happy ending story for me. I can't say the same for the original Andersen's "Little mermaid".

[dianora77.livejournal.com]

Firstly, The Snow Queen was my absolute favourite fairytale when I was little. It was the fairytale my mum had to tell/read/reenact to me every night before I went to sleep, or any time during the day when I was upset. It was the only thing that would sooth me.

As for the illustrations, their style reminds me of Anne Yvonne Gilbert's amazing illustrations for the fairytale The Wild Swans (or The Seven Swans), which is also one of my absolute favourites (something about weaving nettle shirts with bare hands always fascinated me... hehe).

Anyway, thanks for this stunning collection of images, I'm saving this post to memories.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Firstly, The Snow Queen was my absolute favourite fairytale when I was little. It was the fairytale my mum had to tell/read/reenact to me every night before I went to sleep, or any time during the day when I was upset. It was the only thing that would sooth me.

Oh, what a wonderful story! "The Snow Queen" always makes me feel better and raises my fighting spirits.. It is incredibly inspirational!

The Wild Swans (or The Seven Swans), which is also one of my absolute favourites (something about weaving nettle shirts with bare hands always fascinated me... hehe).

I know this one! I used to love it as a child. It is so romantic and mysterious!

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

These are just stunning! :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am so glad you like - you have such an excellent eye!

[jennisis.livejournal.com]

I take it those other two books are in Cyrillic only?

Absolutely stunning!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I haven't tried to find the other books yet, if I find an English translations I'll let you know..

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

These are such lovely pictures :) Very appropriate for the holiday season. Thanks for sharing!!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

IS Christmas celebrated in your country? I am curious because in Russia we have Christmas on 7 of January..

[gobi-rex.livejournal.com]

Oh, these are gorgeous. Thanks so much for sharing them and for reminding me about this terrific story. I'm so tempted to reread it now. I used to be obsessed with this fairytale when I was younger. OMG, and the Russian cartoon is so mesmerizing and a little scary, too! I remember I was afraid The Snow Queen would be peeking into my windows, so I'd walk around and close all the gaps between curtains :)

Also, I'm taking no.3 and 8. Thank you!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you liked! We have Russian "the Snow Queen" cartoon at home on video and Sasha liked it too, even though she can't understand too much!

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

These are absolutely gorgeous. Now I adore the Snow Queen - it is one of my favourite fairytales - but I think the pictures of the knights are my favourites here. I just love the textures and the clothing- the the hairstyle on the fourleaf clover knight.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so fascinated to find out more about the knight tales, they look interesting!

And EEEEEE! I am so glad you liked!

[richlayers.livejournal.com]

Wow! They are stunning... just gorgeous.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you liked! "The Snow Queen" is so proverb-like that it is fascinates me even now, in my "older" age.. :D

[teh-haley.livejournal.com]

I'm very curious about this tale, I think I might have red it when I was a kid in our school library (yes, I was a geek even when I was a kid, hehe) and I wanna check it out to see if I'm right! Btw, I love those illustrations, and I took many of your icons :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

The story is very deep and proverb-like. I wonder what you'll think now that you are older! I am so glad you liked the illustrations!!!!!

[elirrina.livejournal.com]

I have and love these books as well, and periodically thought about making icons! They're lovely!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

These illustrations are so amazing in every single little detail!

[seeitbloom.livejournal.com]

So, so lovely. Thank you for sharing! :D I've saved a couple and will credit you when I upload them.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so in awe with these illustrations - every singe detail is so intricate!

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

Absolutely gorgeous! Both the pictures and the artist. Thank you for introducing me to him :)

Also, I'm British, but I don't know who any of the knights are either. Sorry!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am so glad you liked the illustrations - I am so much buzzing with the feeling of "OH! I found something great" too..

There are some really good suggestions in this comment:

http://alexandral.livejournal.com/166285.html?thread=3208845#t3208845

[himmapaan.livejournal.com]

Absolutely enchanting. Simply breathtaking - what might I give to be even as fractionally good as him some day? Thank you so much for sharing those.

Others have already remarked on the Bosch influence, I think you can see many Northern Renaissance influences there, as well as that of Frederic, Lord Leighton, especially in the second set. The third picture there of the couple may well be Tristan and Isolde (or Tristram and Iseult, whichever you prefer - there are other variations too!). There is a portrait of Dante in that illustration which is a clear reference to Leighton. :)

Oh, and I may as well be that mermaid of Andersen's, allegorically...

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

He is such a great inspiration, isn't he?

I love all your suggestions (especially about mermaid who looks sad but not particular evil), I think you are very close to the truth. I'll try to find the books when i am in Moscow next time..

[emotionalwench.livejournal.com]

Those are some of the most beautiful illustrations I've ever seen, and I love your icons. ("The Snow Queen" is one of my favorite fairytales of all time.)

Thanks so much for sharing those -- I'll see if I can make some icon space for #7. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I love this fairytale too and it is quite unusual in it's theme of friendship rather than love.

[theirea.livejournal.com]

wow! so very awesome!!!!!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Isn't he great?? Every detail is so thought-through!

[(Anonymous)]

Yerko's The Snow Queen Book (in English!) plus video:
www.snowqueen.us

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!