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March 28th 2023
Sometimes, words are superfluous. The story of this book is so telling that I wanted to create a quiet book that would convey this important and terrible story for every Ukrainian with only illustrations and emotional content. It is also a format that will allow those who do not have this terrible experience of war to empathise with what every Ukrainian feels on one hand, and to feel hope and peace, on the other. For me personally, this is an emotional book.
The colours, in my opinion, best convey and emphasise the stages and development of the story in the Yellow Butterfly. Black conveys tension and devastation, to illustrate the anxiety, fear and confusion of the book’s protagonist. This simple combination of black and white does not distract from the essence of the story and emphasises the emotions. Where hope for the good and light arises, yellow appears, which is the colour of bright butterflies. Towards the end of the book, there are colours that are dearly beloved by every Ukrainian: blue and yellow. These are the colours of freedom, life, peace and hope.
These are completely digital illustrations created with brushes that imitate a pencil with a scratchy texture. I've used minimal tools and techniques to create a harmony between the illustrations and the story itself.
When the full-scale invasion began, commissions for illustrations were coming, and there were words of support and offers of help from foreign customers and publishing houses. This gave me strength. There was, and still is, an interest in illustrations and posters created by Ukrainian artists like myself that highlight the events of the war. Who other than Ukrainian illustrators can accurately convey the entire spectrum of emotions and attitudes to war? We live in these realities, we are participants in today's news, and thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, friends, and partners of Ukraine, we are able to continue drawing.
Oleksandr's poignant black-and-white illustrations incorporate colours from the Ukrainian flag to symbolise freedom, life, peace and hope
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Why this book makes the perfect class readMaria Nae, former SEN teaching assistant1) Without the potential language barrier, children can focus on emotional responses, further strengthening emotional understanding and management 2) The message behind this story is inspiring as it encourages children to look for hope even when they feel anxious – something that unfortunately an increasing number of children experience 3) This book is a great learning tool – the back pages are full of ideas for fun lesson plans and incredible, important conversations to have with children. Every school should have it!
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Discover Oleksandr Shatokhin's latest releaseYellow ButterflyOur expert team was touched by this story, which provides visual metaphors for readers to consider as they travel from the devastating effects of war to a place of hope for peace and the future. They said: "Powerful illustrations portray a complex and demanding topic. It's relevant to a wide age group; with adult guidance this would be a useful tool to spark discussion and further interpretation." |
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