Ukrainian illustrator Anna Kharchenko: In these times, my mission is to bring people joy by fulfilling their dreams

Anna Kharchenko is a Ukrainian illustrator who, just two years ago, was building a career as an architect  Her life changed by chance when she came across a friend's writing . This inspired her to create drawings that later became part of a Ukrainian writer's story collection. Anna boldly experiments and helps bring authors' dreams to life. Anna shared her wartime creative journey with Drive Music Media and how illustrating books led her to discover the remarkable diversity of Ukrainian literature in our feature story.

Interviewer: How did Anna's path as an architect lead to the emergence of Anna the illustrator? How did it all begin?

Anna: It happened completely spontaneously. During the period of regular power outages, I was scrolling through Facebook when I came across my friend's texts. After reading one of them, a vivid image formed in my mind and stayed there for several days, so I decided to draw it. Fortunately, I had an iPad that could hold a charge for several hours without power. I sent the drawing to Renata. She responded very warmly and suggested creating an illustrated collection. That's how it all started. We were planning to self-publish, but Natalia Vasylieva, a publisher at "Vidkryttia" Publishing House, noticed the collection and took it into production. Later, Natalia trusted me to design her poetry collection "Gostre tsvitinnia kvitiv viiny" (ed. – "Sharp Blooming of War Flowers").

Interviewer: What captured you about Renata Litynska's books that made you decide to create illustrations for them? Do you identify with any of the characters?

Anna: First and foremost, I was impressed by how these short texts could completely immerse you in a story. They broke through my usual layer of cynicism. There is a character in the book who found her sanctuary amid chaos. For me, the book "Renata chasom pyshe" (ed. – "Renata Sometimes Writes"), which I illustrated, became my little island of stability and inspiration.

Interviewer: Does fine art influence your creativity, inspiration, and illustration style? If so, how?

Anna: Yes, of course. I draw inspiration from artists and analyze techniques that interest me. However, my illustrations are more influenced by the texts I am illustrating, as all elements need to coexist harmoniously. In some projects, illustrations complement the text and are perceived equally – in such cases, the drawings can be filled with their own symbols. Some texts are rich with metaphors and meanings, so the illustrations serve more as a background, like a frame. Here, it is crucial to control the influence of fine art on the final result to ensure the drawings do not clash with the text.

Interviewer: What is the most original commission you have received in your career?

Anna: It turned out to be most original during the process. Anastasia Veles, the author of "Estuarii" gave me complete creative freedom in designing her poetry collection.I came up with the idea to create animation. If you flip through the pages quickly, the drawing starts to move.

Interviewer: What challenges do illustrators face but do not talk about? Are you familiar with these?

Anna: It is very individual and depends largely on the illustrator's working conditions. Generally, there is often a desire to create something new, brilliant, and unique, which risks falling into procrastination, especially without a clear deadline. Personally, as a freelancer, I struggle with time management. Time management can be difficult because some periods bring many orders, blurring the line between workdays and weekends or any basic daily routine. Currently, my real challenge is regulating my daily schedule and sleep pattern.

Interviewer: Which stage of creating illustrations is the most difficult or perhaps even your least favorite?

Anna: Choosing the color palette – so much depends on it. There are also many technical nuances in printing. You have to work really hard to ensure the planned color turns out the same in print. Unfortunately, this is not always entirely in the illustrator's control, especially with offset printing.

Interviewer: Projects created during the full-scale war: which project was most memorable? What do you see as its value?

Anna: All my projects were created during the full-scale war. The book "Renata chasom pyshe" (ed. – "Renata Sometimes Writes") made me an illustrator. These are short essays about various life situations that leave you with a pleasant, cozy feeling. While drawing covers for the audiobook online radio station "Slukhavka", I rediscovered our Ukrainian classics in a new light. It turns out Ukrainian literature can be not only sad but also funny, ironic, or even erotic. My freshest impressions are from the notebook "Ukrainkoiu ia narodilasia" (ed. – "I Was Born Ukrainian"), which I created for Murynska Liudmyla, focusing on notable women of the 19th-20th centuries. There are famous figures and forgotten ones, and it was their stories that impressed me the most. Such projects help preserve the memory of people important to Ukraine.

Interviewer: What project do you dream of? Do you have plans to launch your own project or expand into the international market?

Anna: I dreamed of illustrating children's books, and now I am working on three. That is how much I wanted it. Currently, a new author has offered me co-authorship, and perhaps this book will have the potential to enter the international market.

Interviewer: What word would you associate with your creative work?

Anna: "Diversity".  I love experimenting. Currently, I do not have a single style, and I base my approach on project requirements. That is why I have both realistic illustrations and graphic drawings. When you work in different directions, there is less chance of burning out quickly.

Interviewer: What do you see as your mission as an illustrator?

Anna: I have been in this field for only two years, so I do not think in such global terms yet. Nevertheless, during this time, I have developed a clear sense that I am involved in making authors' long-held dreams come true. Wanting to publish a book is like wanting to become an actor, singer, or astronaut – people around you might often be ironic or openly laugh at such desires. So when an author dares to take this step and trusts me with their ideas, a "sacred" process begins – their drafts transform into a real book. In our current circumstances, making people a bit happier by fulfilling their dreams is probably my mission for now. And in turn, the authors' books give readers pleasant emotions or food for thought.

Pictures were provided by Anna Kharchenko