Each illustrator has created
two original postcard designs based on the theme of Mythical Creatures. There are 22 different characters from myths,
legends and folklore as well as some characters which have been created
especially for the book.
The Mythical Creatures
book cover is unmistakably the work of Kristyna
Baczynski. It has all the characteristics of her unique style;
beautiful hand drawn lettering combined with illustration and pattern. She has
decorated the cover with a selection of icons which give clues to some
of the Mythical Creatures inside and the tales with which they are associated. As well as Kristyna, other new contributors to Girls Who Draw
are Esther Mcmanus, Lee May Foster-Wilson, Mina Braun and Sandra Dieckmann.
There are also plenty of familiar names including Beth Morrison, Currentstate
(aka Jane Anderson), Gemma Correll, Karoline Rerrie, Kate Hindley, Ruth Green
and Yee Ting Kuit. The illustrators are joined by an array of weird and wonderful creatures including a flying fox, a wear-wolf,
bigfoot, a gnome and a unicorn, some trolls, several sirins, a selkie and a kelpie,
a firebird, Pegasus and a mermaid, to name but a few.
As well as including a variety
of characters Mythical Creatures has
been curated to encompass a wide range of illustrative styles from paintings to
intricate drawings and from screen prints to digitally created images. The
contributors also have different areas of expertise including children's books,
graphic novels, greetings cards, printmaking and design. Many have been brought
together through participating in self-publishing fairs and events, and through
creating their own fanzines, artists' books, comics and graphic novels. But all
of the illustrators involved in Mythical Creatures design, make and sell their own range of products
be it stationery, prints, textiles, jewellery or even ceramics.
Over the last few years Girls
Who Draw has grown from a small group of illustrators to a larger network of
contributors. They collaborate in order to publish a postcard book once a year
and each new book is accompanied by an exhibition. Alongside the Mythical Creatures postcard book there will be at least one exhibition as well as
a number of smaller spin off projects and collaborations.
