Alexandra Grela

Marrakshi Life

Illustrator | Debrecen, Hungary

Painting the world bright

Alexandra illustrates books for children and adults
She combines tempera with other techniques
Her works burst with bright colours and joyful decorative details

As a child, Alexandra Grela spent a lot of time in her room, sitting on the windowsills, drawing people passing by and making up stories about their lives. She loved it so much that, after graduating in painting and being a professional painter for a while, she turned to full-time book illustration. “I did not take additional courses,” she explains. “I just felt the need to tell stories and I started doing it. The rest came on its own.” At the beginning, her works were extremely composed. Then Alexandra's mood changed. Today her drawings are full of animals and ornamental patterns and are vibrant with life and colours. “I moved from lyricism and nostalgia to laughter and love of life,” Alexandra says. “This transformation also applies to myself. Through illustrating, I have become a much happier person.”

Interview

©Hevesi Norbert

What technique do you use?: I always mix techniques. Basically I use tempera, then I glue something to the picture or draw on its surface with any tool I have at hand: pencil, oil or dry pastel, crayon, colour pencil, ink. Tempera is so versatile. Acrylic painting does not offer these possibilities.
Can you describe the different phases of your work?: First I imagine the story and make sketches of each scene individually. Then I paint all the elements (characters, objects, background elements) on separate sheets of paper. In the end, I cut them out and put them together, by pasting them onto sheets the size of the book I am preparing.
Do you have a favourite colour palette?: Like my style, my palette has changed over time from being heavily muted to a fury of vibrant, sharp colours. Nowadays I often use combinations of complementary colours, which I used to deem unthinkable. Occasionally I return to the old ones, though, as I still feel at home with them, too.
Is there a time in your career that you remember fondly?: It was during the launch of the second book I published. A little boy came up to me and asked for an autograph in a trembling voice. He said he was a fan of mine and that he too would be an illustrator when he grew up. It was very sweet.

Alexandra Grela is a master artisan: she began her career in 2006 and she started teaching in 2010