The Big Sleuth learning resource Topic Web!

So proud to share a brand new illustration as part of the schools learning resources for The Big Sleuth 2017!

Sun bears are endangered and Birmingham's vast parks and greenery will make a perfect second home for the bears which will decorate the second city this summer.

1920 Electric Cinema Christmas Card complete!

I am very happy to share this brand new design paying homage to The Electric Cinema that is available to buy from my etsy shop online and will soon be fully stocked at The Electric Cinema box office and online. I wanted to capture the flippant charm of 20's fashion illustration set against the iconic art deco bar in the cinema.

Christmas card update!

Here is a sneak peek of my first Christmas card of this year!

The Big Read update!

The Big Read launches in 3 days on Thursday 14th July and here are some sneak peeks of the finished and varnished book bench for Thinktank Birmingham and Millennium Point.

I am so excited for it to go live and hopefully raise money for the Children's Hospital through all the creative and literacy events that will raise money during Summer 2016.

The photograph below is a snapshot from the wall display at Millennium Point which will tell the story of the bench's conception!

The Big Read Bookbench at the official launch of The Core at Solihull, 20-21st May 2016

The newly refurbished Core building launched across this weekend and it was great to have The Big Read bookbench project coincide with the launch. 

The Mayor and Mayoress of Solihull

Britain's Got Talent's The Neales cosy up onto my bench, could they feature in the final design?

'Montmarte 1895' Map progress

Almost finished the third building so I have dropped it into the map and have started playing with potential background colours.

I want it to be rooted in an old fashioned palette but with some contemporary tones so it doesn't look dull Maybe some strong typography to make it current or some nice textures to liven it up.

I think the key to the background is less is more, so it doesn't upstage the actual illustrated landmarks.

Christmas come early!

Here is a tiny snippet of a commercial Christmas card I am currently working on. I can't wait to share both of the finished designs in 3 months time!

The Big Read 2016

I have been commissioned to produce the bookbench for ThinkTank Science Museum & Millennium Point, and it will be inspired by the great Ichthyosaur at ThinkTank as well as JK Rowling's Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them.

A Nechells-based primary school were invited for a creative session and invented all kinds of fantastical beasts which I am now whittling down and distilling into a final design for the bookbench.

Christmas Cards now shipping to E.U, Russia, Australia, Canada and U.S.A!

The love of my Christmas Cards is now reaching across the globe, as they are now available to purchase online and be delivered across Europe, Australia, Canada and the U.S! Click here to buy yours!

NYChristmas card complete!

New York City Christmas card on the way! It will be available via my etsy store or by contacting me at hello@milantopalovic.co.uk

Owl Aboard raises £5,000 at The Big Hoot Auction!

So blessed to be a part of The Big Hoot 2015! My owls contributed £8,200 to fund rare diseases at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

I'm proud that something as simple as drawing designs onto an owl can contribute to achieving something so significant for a hospital - to the sum of £530,830!

Lorde (pencil, digital, watercolour)

This is an illustration I have entered for the AOI World Illustration Awards under Self-Promotion. I wanted to enter some picture book work as I feel it is strong work however my newer pieces have this minimalistic feel.

 The piece uses a lot of negative space to focus attention on the intense detail which was created with mixed media, albeit fairly safe styles. The face is pencil then watercolour and the softness supports the hair/necklace illustration whilst bringing something new to the illustration, creating a softer mood.