I have been in Paris for many times, but unfortunately never had been to the Pompidou Center. And this is a story why you should go there, not in the Louvre.

Actually, it was quite a fun experience: I had only two days in the city, and decided that I MUST visit Louvre (though I've been there), and that probably, may be I will go to some museum I've never been to. Of course I've heard about Centre Pompidou, but never knew what it is about. So I decided that I will will go to Louvre and decide on the Centre later. And it was terrible! The Louvre was super overcrowded, very sultry, it was so difficult to navigate through the crowd, and the overall user experience was driving me crazy. Probably because the building was not meant as a museum and the collection is huge, there is no logic in navigation, there were Egyptian art halls on 3 different floors in different wings of the building, and I wasn't able to find any of them. So I suppose it is only possible to go there with an experienced guide, who will take you through the mess and crowds, who will tell you something interesting (because otherwise you will just float around through millions of sculptures, trying not to step on someone's shoe). Uh! After 2 hours I just cried and run to the "Exit" sign as fast as I could. 

So after that day I didn't want to go to museum anymore, but I couldn't let myself give up. I went to the website of the Centre Pompidou, looked through the collection, saw Matisse's works, and decided that it is a good reason to go.

I bought tickets online, got a little bit upset that I missed an opportunity to register for a guided tour in English (every Saturday at 11.30, but there were no tickets, as I was looking for them on Friday evening), and prepared headphones as I found some podcast on their website. I wasn't sure it is going to work, but still.

Is it possible? Our little swallow landed in the Saint-Petersburg Puppet Theater!

The premiere was today and I wish I could visit it, but still it is a big dream to be a part of the play in a real theater. If you are in Saint- Petersburg, you can buy tickets here: https://puppets.ru/spec/165

I was really glad that the director of the play read the book exactly with the idea we put in, here is a desricption of the play:

We are born free beings, we can fly wherever we want! Children and birds share an incredible sense of freedom. "Swallow's Diary" is a story about how important it is to keep that feeling, how through difficult decisions, difficulties and obstacles to continue, to keep flying!

It is a very important message right now and I hope to bring it trough my art.

_________________________________

Pavel Kvartalnov and Olga Ptashnik

Director – Ksenia Pavlova
Artist – Daria Lazareva
Light artist – Ksenia Kozlova
Videoart – Daria Pika 

Performer – Ekaterina Lozhkina-Belevich

В 2020, после начала карантина, Простая школа провела цикл интервью с художниками. Дима Горелышев, арт-директор школы и мой учитель, поговорил и со мной. Два часа болтали про то, как меня вообще занесло в рисование, какие у меня любимые упражнения и вообще за жизнь.

Почему-то я ужасно серьезна.

Инжой!

Запись лекции в Институте бизнеса и дизайна, Москва, 2019 год. По-моему, очень полезная штука получилась,  пересмотрела и сама для себя открыла заново забытые моменты.

Спасибо институту и Маше Титовой за приглашение.

В издательстве "Самокат" книга "Дневник ласточки" вышла в мае 2021 года. С тех пор книга получила награду XIV Международного конкурса книжной иллюстрации и дизайна «Образ книги» в номинации «Иллюстрации к Non-fiction».

In Russian the book "The diary of a swallow" had been published by the "Samokat" in 2021. Since then the book has been recognised by national competitions and festivals.

На Папмамбук вышла статья, посвященная нашей книге: https://www.papmambook.ru/articles/5018/

Видео обзоры https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmN86L85yIA

The Diary of our Swallow had been published in Germany by Insel Verlag and the books are already in the beautiful bookshops of Germany.

I am very grateful to have the opportunity to be published in so many countries!

Translated by Kathrin Köller.

'Diary of a swallow' is published in Italy! By publisher Caissa Italia, translated by Tatiana Pepe.

Davide Cali, writer for many wonderful books translated for 20+ languages, asked us with Pavel Kvartalnnov, the author of the 'Diary of a swallow' about the book, our first meeting and about the nowadays life as a russian citizens. I am grateful for the opportunity to be heard. 

Read in Italian or use google translate here: 

https://www.frizzifrizzi.it/2022/03/30/diario-di-una-rondine-intervista-doppia-a-olga-ptashnik-e-pavel-kvartalnov/

On the photo Tatiana Pepe with a book at the Bologna Childrenbook Fair 2022

the book in Italian here: https://www.caissa.it/378-diario-di-una-rondine-9788867291335.html

Hi everyone, it is Eraserexpertise vol 11.

I found these Playcolor art gouache solid paints at kids section in artstore. Something new and unusual, let's check!

Meet Lena - a ceramist, maker and Spanish speaker.

Lena's ceramics is bright and seems to be minimalistic, but I was really surprised to realize all the layers of personal thoughts behind. Combining gentle flowers, simple shapes and aunt's jokes in an old family house, Lena going really fast from yesterday student to professional artist.

Lena believes she is a lucky person and it is important to be lucky in ceramics because of all the factors of technology.

He everyone, it is a second part of series of posts about Comic continent residency for illustrators in Germany.

You can read the first part here: http://olgaptashnik.com/blog/comic-continent-1.

Though everyone was overwhelmed with a lot of work to do, we were excited about Berlin day. As you remember (may be) the residency itself was located in small town on the border with Poland. So there was a special day at the residency when we were visiting some important places for illustrators in Berlin:

1. Jaja publishing house

2. Modulor shop

3. City library visit with Sarah Wildeisen 

5. International Children's bookstore in Berlin

Also I will include review of another art store in Berlin called Boesner.

Hi everyone, it is Eraserexpertise vol 10.

This time I compare precise mechanical erasers from Tombow and Factis.

Hello everyone.

I didn't post for a long time, but it was worth waiting for this text: I will tell about residency for illustrators in Germany!

So make yourself comfortable, it will take at least four posts to try to describe great atmosphere and results.

1. General information

2. Berlin day

3. Exhibition day

4. My work

5. Surprise post

Meet Nastya Smirnova - illustrator, art challenger and morning runner.

Nastya is the second person to let me into her wonderful house to talk about illustration, life and all around. Thanks, Nastya, for being so generous on your experience!

Nastya’s work is full of light, it is bright and gentle. Everyday sketches or book illustration - full of life, motion and color. Nastya says that her nickname is krasiver and when translated into Russian it means a person who creates beauty. I totally agree.

Hi everyone, it is Eraserexpertise vol 7.

Have you ever used masking fluids?

They are claimed to be useful in watercolors and gouache, even inks.

One can use fluid as masking material: apply fluid as paint on the surface you want to mask. It can be clean paper or already painted piece one wants to stay as it is. So artist can add layers. 

Let's try!

Hi everyone, it is Eraserexpertise vol 6.

Derwent Inktense. Seems to be another set of watercolor pencils. 

What are they for? What is the difference?

Let's see!

Once I changed career of blood-researcher to illustrator, there were some life-changing differences. For example, no one seemed to be in sports anymore. When you are a physicist, you are told to do sports not to go insane. I wonder does anyone tell this to illustrators.

Meet Tanya Ivankova - artist, illustrator, printmaker.

She lives in a fairytale house near Moscow with her family and I want to show you place where this artist creates.

Hi everyone, it is Eraserexpertise vol 5.

Magic watercolour sponge eraser - what is that? Eraser for watercolour? No way it works!

Hi everyone, it is Eraserexpertise vol 4.

It is written it is "general purpose cleaner for Inks, Dyes, Pigments, Acrylics and Watercolor.

Doesn't harm metal pen parts

Non-corrosive non-toxic. Dip or soak pen parts and tip."

Let's try!

Hi everyone, it is Eraserexpertise vol 3.

Winsor and Newton Pigment Markers.

What is it? What it is for?