Petra Stefankova's Writing Blog

Drop me in the Sahara

admin — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:53:17 +0000

From articles I’ve written for BOND Magazine Autumn 2011:

“These ‘iconic’ people are usually very intense, obsessed or, I would say, possessed artists, scientists,or saints. Their lives are not the ‘normal’ people’s lives. They live in the ninth degree of intensity in their minds, sensibilities, so their life styles are determined by that intensity. It’s their normal state. Even if, as in the case of many musicians, that intensity has to be sustained by some kinds of outside substance, a good example being Amy Winehouse. For the muses to enter us and to do their work through us, in the arts, very often the body must be eliminated, and all of the doors must be opened.” Jonas Mekas, The God Father of American Avant Garde Cinema

”RITE OF SPRING is about a girl who creates digital worlds which she more and more merges with until she becomes completely absorbed. It is not a sacrifice for the upcoming spring, like in Stravinsky’s ancient concept, but rather the immersion of the ‘chosen one’ in virtuality, her fusion with music and space, as an up-to-date ’sacrifice’ for uncertain future. A metaphor for deliverance and for the anticipation of the eternal happiness, which are promised by new technologies and old religions.” Klaus Obermaier, Choreographer, Composer and Media Artist

Clerkenwell Design Week

admin — Fri, 27 May 2011 13:00:54 +0000

Thanks to my London based illustrator’s agent Phosphor Art I got a chance to present some of my work during Clerkenwell Design Week at House of Detention between 24 and 26 May 2011. Forbo Flooring presented my work on their vinyl flooring pieces during the event as well.

Creative Review Handbook

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:26:40 +0000

Awesome news approached me at the end of last year when I was selected to design a cover for Creative Review Handbook. I was given a brief called simply “collaboration” so my reaction was very character based, fun and contemporary to express my views on leadership. The book was launched in April 2011.

I produced many other works and sketches, it looks like my style is going through some transformation.

Click for portfolio of 3D illustrations here.

I have also worked with courses producer lynda.com on their DVD packaging and web illustrations.

Click for portfolio of 2D illustrations here.

Slicing the Chain to the Future

admin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 19:28:30 +0000

From BOND magazine issue 2 / 2010 where I’ve written interviews with three amazing creative business leaders:

“Society pushes us to label ourselves but you don’t have to do it. As soon as we define ourselves we make borders and limits. I don’t think we are happy the next day with the self-definition. I am not a designer, I am not a programmer, I am not a businessman and I am not a cook and I am not a driver and I also don’t have a company and I am not owner of anything. I am a man on this planet and of indefinable activity.” Juraj Andrascik, online game development company owner famous for multi award winning games across the globe

“Children are our future so the more care we take about their engagement with new technology and the more we research the impact the better. Complex psychological and sociological analysis would be very useful to predict situations so we can act according to results.” Marian Ferko, game development business owner well known for 3D action and strategy games

“The mainstream is films that are “amusement park thrill rides”, lacking any deeper content, packaged harmlessly around a popular message such as world peace or environmental responsibility. Screening in a cinema is insufficient because it’s framed as transient entertainment value. There needs to be a will to discuss films with a deeper social content.” Ondej Svadlena, digital animation film maker

Time for illustration to have personality

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:32:48 +0000

Memories Book (Fighting Cancer)

Who is the person who made this picture? What feelings did she have? What is her opinion on the matter? Does she relate to the topics she illustrated? How? What is her intellectual possession or qualities?

All this and more can be reflected in a single picture. Illustrators are media people, they work in message delivery. The message however has to be individual. It has to reflect the person who created it. Maybe she experienced something what others haven’t had a chance to yet. Or maybe she has something to tell and the greatest thing to do is to share the story. She doesn’t have to use words. She can use pictures to start a conversation.

Every person has a number of valuable thoughts and experiences, sure, illustrators have them too. They have also been given a chance to speak aloud using advertising and publishing worlds as mediums for impact. It would be a shame not to use such opportunity and extraordinary potential. In popular terms visual art is another form of social entrepreneurship and visual journalism that uses communication of emotional level.

Personal value of the illustration can cause that you’ll be starring at the picture for hours with no need to read accompanying text. And you will always return to it for the strength of the message that the picture sent you. Imagine powerful personality illustrations to communicate through world-selling publications. They can both be emotionally and intellectually distinct, they stand out from the crowd of meaningless plainly entertaining or decorative visuals. They engage with the audience in the same way the singer does with a song.

Of course it increases the requirement for illustrators to be fully active in the happenings and knowledge flow around them. It needs them to care, be informed and interested, which means to grow and learn on a wider level. Illustration is aesthetics, illustration is technical execution and craft, but illustration is also a meaning, in which illustrators transform what they see through own perspective and pitch it to a discussion.

Such illustration is matchless. Such illustration is individual. And there’s no other on this planet who can create the same because it’s unique to the creator. Only her. Her – him, it matters.

More 3D illustrations by YetAnotherFace

Self-belief evolution

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:35:54 +0000

My latest press involvement in Prague raised a topic around young ladies and their dealing with stress, building confidence, self-picture and belief. I am glad that I had the opportunity to share my experience through a mass media channel. I really went through all kinds of these things. In the past when I had to experience life changing situations it took me something like two years to get used to the new position and challenges and feel good enough and easy in it. I had to test my skills and my potential to fully believe that I am capable of doing things. Even though teachers used to tell me that I would never be an artist and despite some people sending me e-mail messages advising me to fuck off from the creative industry and do something else. My first public speech made me frozen and shaky. Although I was perfectly prepared as if doing an exam for life.

With time, everything got much easier. From introverting artistic position I got slowly to loving public speeches and socializing, meeting new people and talking a lot. I have done a lot of presentations for companies, universities or conferences. Although I still have stuff to learn, I don’t feel like talking on every topic of this planet when I don’t feel the need to and there are situations when I am still stressed, the more I do these things, the less tension I have, more relaxed and confident I am. Most recently I met this extraordinary woman during Women’s Social Leadership Awards in London, her name is Dr. Rachel Armstrong, who became my great example for showing the inner personality power to the world. Amazing public speaker with passion sending her message all across the room. She inspired me a lot so I tried to apply similar energy when I was giving advice to aspiring illustrators at Futurising in London. And it worked perfectly! Passion and confidence inside me was transferred to people I was talking to. They got excited themselves and I believe they took me for an example in similar way I took Rachel. The event appeared very successful to me after such experience. It was quite a journey.

So, let’s believe in ourselves more, it gives us energy and passion to create great things which we are made for.