Illustrations for Mikhail Stelmakh's book "In the Hedgehog's Windmill" 1956

Hryhorii Havrylenko made this illustration for Mikhail Stelmakh's book "In the Hedgehog's Windmill" with ink and paper, I reckon. It's all about the sketchy lines here, right? Like a quick thought captured on paper, where the process is super visible. I love how Havrylenko uses hatching to build up the form of the heron, each stroke adding texture and depth. Look at the way the smoke curls from his pipe, it's like the drawing itself is breathing. The ink is dark in some areas, almost fading in others, making the image feel alive. The plants at the base of the image are a frenzy of marks. This picture reminds me of Quentin Blake. Both artists have that loose, whimsical style that makes you feel like you're peeking into a dream. It’s more about the feeling, you know, than getting every detail perfect. And that’s what makes it so good, it invites you to bring your own imagination into the mix.