Two names (and a pseudonym):
Milena Radeva
Introduce yourself in a few words:
Illustrator of children's books for twenty years and counting, chairman of the "Union of Bulgarian Illustrators" and creator of the website "Bulgarian Illustration"
What did you graduate from?
NUII - Iliya Petrov, majoring in graphics, and then the National Academy of Arts - bachelor's and master's degrees in "Book and Printed Graphics", and then a defended doctorate on the topic "Bulgarian Artistic Illustration 1944-1989".
What is your professional experience so far?
Over the past 20 years, I have been dealing exclusively with illustration and can boast of working on over 400 illustrated books, several participations in exhibitions, several award-winning publications and clients from all over the world. I worked for many years as a freelancer for various publishers from all over the world, then 5 years for a publishing house. Education according to the new programs (they are already old) of the Ministry of Education, then I created the publishing house "Bulgarian Illustration" and we already have 10 books with the logo of the publishing house. We go, we push the stone up, it slides into the mud, but we push.
Tell us more about your work (style, technique, interests, way of working):
Everything is by hand! Yes, the old classic technique with a pencil and a brush, watercolor and paper. I did not learn to draw on a tablet, for me it is like the difference between riding a bike and a car. It is not the same and I admire my colleagues who can do both. I would say that whether I draw now in the 21st century or in the 19th century is the same for me - I have not changed anything except that after the drawings are ready, I scan them and do not give them to an engraver. Then the printing house knows, I do not interfere there.
Exhibitions/participations/performances/awards:
God, I don’t know if I can list them… really… Maybe besides the personal ones, I am most proud that my works were also presented in various general exhibitions during the Leipzig Book Fair, in Finland, Korea, the USA. But for me, the “Biennale of Illustration” as a participant and organizer will forever remain the greatest achievement.
Illustrated works:
Oh, wow… Okay, I will name my favorite participation and my favorite personal achievement.
- Anniversary edition of “Alice in Wonderland”, in which 150 artists from all over the world were selected
- “Forest Letters for Christmas” – my personal project, which saw the light of day in 2024 and its rights were bought by two foreign publishers
Who is your favorite illustrator?
I will always say Libiko Maraya – I grew up with him and learned from him.
What is your favorite illustrated book?
Beatrix Potter – “Peter Rabbit” – I loved it as a child, I still love it today.
What book do you dream of illustrating?
As a younger artist, I used to say “Andersen’s Fairy Tales”, because back then we didn’t have a good edition on the domestic market. Now I think I’ve outgrown them and I increasingly dream of illustrating my own projects, ideas and books.
Website:
https://www.milena.seimenus.com
Facebook/Instagram/other:
https://www.facebook.com/MilenaRadevaArts
https://www.instagram.com/milena.r.radeva/
And here are some of Milena’s works...
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