Illustration for The Golden Cockerel 1999

Vyacheslav Nazaruk made this illustration for "The Golden Cockerel" with what looks like coloured pencils, creating a world that feels both ancient and alive. What strikes me is the way the colours and lines build a pattern which also tells a story, like a Byzantine mosaic. Notice the warm browns and golds of the lettering, set against the intricate borders filled with stylized birds and creatures. It’s like each element is carefully placed, each colour chosen for a specific reason. Look closely at the lower left corner, at the rooster. The way Nazaruk renders the feathers with tiny, precise marks—there’s a real sense of loving detail there. It makes me think about how we build up a picture, or a story, piece by piece. It’s like he is saying that the process of art is all about putting these little marks down, one at a time, to make something bigger than the sum of its parts. I am reminded of the decorative work of Gustav Klimt, both of them create this overall sense of opulence. Both artists show us that art doesn't have to shout to be heard; sometimes, the quietest details have the most to say.