We are preparing for you a special book that will continue the "Library of Adventures" series - it is "The Little Princess" by Frances Burnett. Today we would like to introduce you to the artist who illustrates this book. Meet Lena London!

Tell us a little about yourself. How and when did you decide to become an illustrator?

It happened gradually. I worked for a long time as a fashion designer, and I gradually received orders, but I I was still engaged in fashion illustration and more and more orders for illustration appeared. Then I worked for a year and a half a textile designer, and even then I made the final conclusion that I wanted to do illustration.

What style do you work in? In what technique? What would you like to learn?

I work in mixed media (first it's digital, then I scan my drawings, watercolors, textures, pencil, acrylic, gouache). I like to mix and match so that it is not visible that the work is written on a computer. But I would like to learn do more expressively, more vividly, much better than I do now)

Which character was the easiest for you to portray, and which was the most difficult in "The Little Princess"?

The easiest is Sara, I immediately saw her as soon as I read it. In general, this book was easy for me, everyone characters, as soon as I started thinking. There was nothing that I could not see and feel.

What inspires you, and what, on the contrary, kills any desire?

I can't draw when I'm nervous. For example, when someone in the family is sick, it is very difficult for me to draw, I am constantly in these experiences It is very difficult to work with people who do not care, who kill any initiative, who themselves are nothing they want and they don't care. Better/worse - they don't care.Because I'm such a person "Come on, come on, let's..." and they don't need it at all - I have a hard time with that. Of course, with age I have learned something to distance myself, but it affects me. But when a person, on the contrary, is interested, I connect very quickly, of course, it's the ultimate pleasure when that happens.

It is ideal to work in nature, I am inspired when I sit and the surroundings are so beautiful. It's good to work in a coffee shop. Here I am there is not enough light at home due to the fact that I have a standard apartment where all the rooms go through the balcony, because of this very much it's dark and nothing can be done about it). Sometimes there is a feeling that there is not enough air. Light and beautiful interior — I am motivated when everything can be laid out.

Of course, when there is a lot of memory on the computer, it also motivates, not when everything works slowly. Works motivate other artists. The environment as well.

Who are your idols? Who do you focus on in your works?

There are no such idols, there are illustrators whose work I follow. I really like Manon Gauthier, she is wonderful colorist, that's why I don't try collage, because I suspect that if I start, I'll end up copying something. She is simply stunning and the main thing is how it works with light.I like Jorge Gonzalez - he is a Spanish illustrator, very impressive like him looking for characters as he finds them, he rarely illustrates children's things, mostly graphic novels. Very it is interesting how the artist works with light and composition. He's a stunning artist, it's totally addictive when any line he has is professional.

I also love Lisbeth Zwerger. I like it when an artist knows how to work with negative space and it's difficult - that's what bribes in Japanese art. How Lisbeth Zwerger balances composition, how she works with color, with the relationship, what is darker, what is lighter, how she finds the composition, all the characters, all these nuances, as she decides.Me close to her line with a pencil, plasticity of heroes. We still find illustrators with whom we have something in common, or something we really want

Have you always followed the work of these illustrators? Or have preferences changed over time?

The better I know myself, the more selected this circle is. Since I did not study to be an illustrator and therefore, perhaps I would get to know it in the process. I really like Serhiy Maidukov, I follow his work, I wonder how he is jobs change. Maria Mykytyuk's watercolor - I really like it, she is an amazing colorist.

Remember your favorite scene from "The Little Princess".

I really like the moment when Sarah tells stories to Becky. I read this moment several times in a row. First once I read it, I saw it very clearly, I am touched by such very personal things. I very well imagined how Becky felt herself in this house, as it was for her.There was no television then. I remember when it hit me impression as the teacher told us what were the traveling exhibitions for that time, because people had nothing, they saw nothing, we are spoiled by the visual range, they had nothing, for them it was a big event.

And imagined, as for Becky, that for her it is a carnival in one person, not to mention that she is completely devoid of any warm, she had to be lonely and scary. When she meets Sarah, how warm she is, such a small miracle.

I think that the most important thing in this book is not that girls can be little princesses, but what happens to another a person needs very little. Sarah was able to give her a little joy, this could be the straw that saves her a person The border is in such darkness.

What would you be doing if not painting?

Scenography and costuming. I still know how to embroider, but it is also related to art. I think with practice I would I did the repairs very carefully, I feel that way. If I remove the art at all, I could do it neatly, there paint the wall.

What book would you dream of illustrating?

"The Endless Story" by M. Ende.

How do you find customers? Do they find you?

I came to you at Arsenal. In general, 90% are recommendations. I am very lucky to have good people in my life, and yes it turns out that there is some chance meeting. Especially I have many acquaintances left from the time when I worked I am a fashion designer and they recommend me, but this 10% is when I take the initiative and write, for example, in our the "Illustrator" group, where there is a vacancy when I am interested; or to do the kind of technical work that I know I am I will quickly make and earn money.

I understood that when you work on a book, it is a serious thing, you live it and it is easier to do something simpler at the same time and mechanical, something that you don't get involved in (I drew it, handed it in and don't worry about it), like for example for computer games

Describe your ideal day?

So that no one from relatives gets sick. It probably sounds trite, but I can't work if someone is sick. Any another day is heaven in your life. You can draw, you can do anything.

What place, country do you dream of visiting?

I really wanted to visit Japan, but somewhere in small villages, something like that is completely abandoned. On the islands, probably. Nature is interesting. It is possible to visit places of some touristic temples, but nature is for sure! Mountains are perfect! I like to walk really, really long, it's awesome.