Category Archives: Colour

Anthology | Mermay’s off to new Adventures (Part III)

“She had a thing for those sailors, and they had a thing for her. Unfortunately, humans didn’t last long in her element.”

I am so happy and a bit proud that I managed to board with #Mermay this year – and thrice! I found Sunday’s theme – #Sailor – so inspiring that I stole some more time to finish another drawing: Mermay on her way to new adventures.

Anthology | Mermay and her Souvenir (Part II)

“She had a thing for those sailors, and they had a thing for her. Unfortunately, humans didn’t last long in her element.”

I am so happy and a bit proud that I finally managed to board with #Mermay this year – and twice! I found Sunday’s theme – #Sailor – so inspiring that I stole some more time to finish another drawing: Mermay and her Souvenir!

Anthology | Mermay and her Sailor (Part II)

“She had a thing for those sailors, and they had a thing for her. Unfortunately, humans didn’t last long in her element.”

I’m very happy and also a bit proud that this year, inbetween all my other projects, I finally managed to get on board with #Mermay! I found today’s #Sailor theme so inspiring that I’m already trying to find time for another one…

Feature | Article about Spawning in Slate Magazine

Heather Tal Murphy has written an exciting article for SLATE Magazine about Spawning, the company behind haveibeentrained.com (the website where artists can have their images removed from LAION 5B, the database most commonly used to train AI models), and I feature in it too – in words and pictures!

We wish you a happy Easter weekend!

We wish you particularly great, sunny and delicious Easter holidays – as well as a wonderful long weekend off (or vacations :)) with greening trees, blooming meadows and chirping and singing little birds all around!

When you ask yourself what Lily Lux would do…

Because I’m having a large construction site right outside my studio window for the past couple of months, my noise protection headphones aren’t always enough and moving my work requires some major rewiring, I wondered what Lily Lux would do here, or better, what it might look to make the best of this terribly annoying situation?

Art Prints | Early Bird and Night Owl at Posterlounge

Illustrationen von Iris Luckhaus zu Arbeitszeiten bei Tag und Nacht, Früher Vogel und Nachteule, die eine rothaarige Illustratorin fröhlich und traurig bei der Arbeit im Büro am Mac zeigen

I am very happy to announce that my two small scenes on working hours, i.e. early and late shift at the desk in the home office, Early Bird and Night Owl, are now available as posters and art prints at Posterlounge

Frohe Weihnachten, Merry Christmas et Joyeux Noël!

Zeichnung von einem Mädchen, das zur Feier von Winter, Weihnachten, Advent, Silvester und Neujahr mit Kaffee, Tee, Pralinen und Amsel im winterlich verschneiten Wald auf einer Schaukel am Baum schaukelt und Geschenke wie Meisenringe, Äpfeln und Vogelfutter sowie Glücksklee für die Tiere des Waldes wie Reh, Fuchs, Waschbär, Dachs, Marder, Wiesel, Eichhörnchen, Siebenschläfer, Maus, Murmeltier, Salamander, Frosch, Falke, Eichelhäher, Elster, Taube, Grünspecht, Nachtigall, Rotkehlchen, Kohlmeise, Haubenmeise, Stieglitz, Gimpel, Buchfink, Sperling, Zaunkönig, Goldhähnchen, Eisvogel, Hummel und Libelle mitgebracht hat, als Weihnachtskarte mit Lily Lux von Iris Luckhaus

We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentythree!

Social Media | Just arrived on Mastodon!

Self portrait of slightly detail-obsessed illustrator and designer Iris Luckhaus sitting in front of her display, which is showing an old red car with a happy elderly couple in front of the Eiffel Tower, on a full-width desk with plenty of drawers, in a rather crowded and colou´rful studio. The illustrator is wearing braided and updone red hair with her glasses on top, dressed in a black pullover, old jeans and red flipflops, and holding a pen and a mug in her hands. She is turning around on her chair and smiling at the welcome visitor! In the window, you can see a winter tree with songbirds and feeders, colourful hot-air balloons, a city skyline at a distance, and a very blue sky with a single cloud. On the wall behind the artist's display, you can see lots of small pictures of her illustration and design work. On the desk and on the ground, drawing supplies, project boxes, tiny figurines and other studio necessities are taking up space. The bin is full of paper.

In addition to the usual platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkeIn, Pinterest), you can now find me on Mastodon (@irisluckhaus@mastodon.art), and Lily Lux (Facebook, Twitter, Mastodon; lilylux@mstdn.social) as well!

Art Prints | Identification Chart for Garden Birds

Identification chart, infographic or learning poster to identify European Songbirds or Garden Birds such as Blackbird / Merle, Blackcap / Blackjack, Blackstart, Blue Tit / Nun, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, City / Street Dove, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Crested Tit, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Firecrest, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Golden Oriole, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grosbeak / Hawfinch, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kingfisher, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet / Flax Finch, Long-Tailed Tit, Magpie, Marsh Tit, Marsh Warbler, Nightingale, Nuthatch, Pied Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redstart, Reed Bunting, Robin, Serin Finch, Skylark, Song Thrush / Mavis, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Swallow, Swift / Martlet, Tree Creeper, Tree Sparrow / Field Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Willow Warbler and Yellowhammer / Yellow Bunting, from the families of Sparrows, Tits, Woodpeckers, Finches, Jays, Buntings, Warblers, Thrushes, Treecreepers, Larks, Flycatchers, Redstarts and Pigeons, by iris Luckhaus

After publishing my Songbirds last year, I now lovingly revised all birds to make them even more distinctive! The new version is now available as a poster in German and English from Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay) and printed on cards, mugs, bags, shirts, pillows, blankets, cases, stickers and other products from Redbubble and Søciety6.

Art Print | Identification Chart with Urban Wildlife

Educational poster, display board, identification chart or infographic for identification of wild animals or urban or suburban wildlife in or close to the city such as marten, beech marten, ermine, weasel, least weasel, polecat, forest polecat, river otter, otter, badger, fox, red fox, raccoon, roe deer, deer, fawn, wild boar, piglet, muskrat, Norway rat, brown rat, mole, hedgehog, rabbit, beaver, hare, field hare, bat, field mouse, wood mouse, dormouse and squirrel by Iris Luckhaus

After illustrating the Wildlife of New England last year, planning a color version of my black-and-white forest animals for a long time and recently working more often with and about urban wildlife, at some point it made sense to create an identification chart with wildlife close to settlements, i.e. wild animals that can be seen in the city and on walks! The illustration is finally finished and available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6.

Frohe Weihnachten, Merry Christmas et Joyeux Noël!

Zeichnung von einem Mädchen, das zur Feier von Winter, Weihnacht, Advent, Silvester und Neujahr mit Kaffee, Tee, Pralinen und Amsel im winterlich verschneiten Wald gemütlich auf einer Parkbank sitzt und Geschenke wie Meisenringe, Äpfeln und Vogelfutter und Glücksklee für die Tiere des Waldes wie Reh, Fuchs, Waschbär, Dachs, Marder, Wiesel, Eichhörnchen, Siebenschläfer, Maus, Murmeltier, Salamander, Frosch, Falke, Eichelhäher, Elster, Taube, Grünspecht, Nachtigall, Rotkehlchen, Kohlmeise, Haubenmeise, Stieglitz, Gimpel, Rotschwanz, Buchfink, Sperling und Zaunkönig, mitgebracht hat – für Lily Lux von Iris Luckhaus

We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentytwo!

Fresh Feature | Day & Night Shifts at Creative Finder

Illustrationen von Iris Luckhaus zu Arbeitszeiten bei Tag und Nacht, die eine Frau fröhlich und traurig bei der Arbeit im Büro am Mac zeigen

There is something very strange in opening a newsletter and seeing your own illustration there, but after a moment of awkwardness, I’m very happy that my day and night shift illustration is featured by The Creative Finder today!

Art Prints | Wall Chart with Wildlife of New England

Infographic Wall Chart featuring the wildlife of new England, such as Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Robin, Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Bluebird, Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mallard Duck, Duckling, White-footed Deer-mouse, Flying Squirrel, Garden Snail, Northern Green Frog, Spotted Salamander, Painted Turtle, Virginia Opossum, Hedgehog, Groundhog, Woodchuck, Chipmunk, Red Squirrel, Striped Skunk, Cottontail Rabbit, Red Admiral, Tailed Blue, Clouded Sulphur, Monarch Butterfly, Least Weasel, American Pine Marten, River Otter, Fly Amanita, Gray Fox, Red Fox and Common Raccoon.

As part of my “Foxy goes Hiking” project, I’ve researched and illustrated a lot of the smaller animals of New England. When the abundance became confusing, I’ve turned them into a chart, and now the infographics is available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6, printed on posters, notebooks, postcards and mugs as pictured below, as well as bags, shirts, pillows, scarves, blankets, covers, stickers and plenty of other products!

Art Print (Special Birth Gift) | Foxy goes Hiking

Illustration of a hiking little fox cub with a backpack in the autumnal New England mountains with purple skies, accompanied by a pair of Northern Cardinala, a Black-capped Chickadee, an American Robin, a Sparrow, a Downy Woodpecker, a pair of Tufted Titmousea, an Eastern Bluebird, a Goldfinch, a Baltimore Oriole, a White-breasted Nuthatch, a family of Mallard Ducks and four Ducklings, a White-footed Deer-mouse, a Flying Squirrel, a Garden Snail, a Northern Green Frog, a Spotted Salamander, a Painted Turtle, a Virginia Opossum, a Hedgehog (as the project started with the "hedgehog hike", the hedgehog became sort of our unicorn :)), two Groundhogs or Woodchucks, a Chipmunk, a Red Squirrel, a Striped Skunk, two Cottontail Rabbits, two Red Admirals, a Tailed Blue, a Clouded Sulphur, a Monarch Butterfly, a Least Weasel, an American Pine Marten, a River Otter, two Fly Amanitas, and a Common Raccoon, by Iris Luckhaus.

Little Foxy was one of my favorite projects this year! It all started with a friend enquiring me to draw a special art print for the birth of a friends’ daughter, and it involved extensive research (like, snooping the new mother’s blog for likes and interests :)), finding a new style (I’ve never drawn anthropomorphic animals before, and it was more fun than expected!), figuring out that New England’s wildlife is surprisingly different from European wildlife (American robins are actually thrushs!) and, somehow, drawing so many of these animals that they got their own wall chart!

Feature | “Best Portfolio” x 8 at Das Auge

Vektorillustration für ein Märchen mit zwei Mädchen, Freundinnen wie Prinzessinnen, im Ballkleid, die voller Neugier hinter einen roten Vorhang spähen und Paris erblicken, von Iris Luckhaus

At first I thought I couldn’t trust my eyes, but Das Auge Werkschau is actually showing eight (!!!) of my project portfolios on their landing page as “Best Portfolios”! This is truly awesome, thank you very much!

Art Prints | Identification Chart with Songbirds

Identification chart, infographic or learning poster to identify European Songbirds or Garden Birds such as Blackbird / Merle, Blackcap / Blackjack, Blackstart, Blue Tit / Nun, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, City / Street Dove, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Crested Tit, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Firecrest, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Golden Oriole, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grosbeak / Hawfinch, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kingfisher, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet / Flax Finch, Long-Tailed Tit, Magpie, Marsh Tit, Marsh Warbler, Nightingale, Nuthatch, Pied Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redstart, Reed Bunting, Robin, Serin Finch, Skylark, Song Thrush / Mavis, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Swallow, Swift / Martlet, Tree Creeper, Tree Sparrow / Field Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Willow Warbler and Yellowhammer / Yellow Bunting, from the families of Sparrows, Tits, Woodpeckers, Finches, Jays, Buntings, Warblers, Thrushes, Treecreepers, Larks, Flycatchers, Redstarts and Pigeons, by iris Luckhaus

I’ve been working on my European Songbirds wall chart for several years, every now and then. It takes some effort to not just copy a photo, but to create a generalized cross-section from countless images – but that is exactly what helps with the identification! In addition to posters, notebooks, postcards and mugs as pictured above, there are bags, shirts, pillows, scarves, blankets, covers, stickers and many other products available on Redbubble and Søciety6 now.

Frohe Weihnachten, Merry Christmas et Joyeux Noël!

Zeichnung von einem Mädchen, das zur Feier von Winter, Weihnacht, Advent, Silvester und Neujahr im winterlich verschneiten Wald Yoga in Baumpose turnt und Geschenke wie Meisenringe, Äpfeln und Vogelfutter und Glücksklee für die Tiere des Waldes wie Eichhörnchen, Füchse, Rehe, Rotkehlchen, Kohlmeise, Stieglitz, Gimpel und Amsel mitgebracht hat, während Waschbär, Dachs und Marder einen Meisenknödel vom Schlitten stehlen, für Lily Lux von Iris Luckhaus

We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentyone!

Tips & Tricks | Mask Tying Techniques Infographic

Infographics about mask tying techniques, showing by the example of the hybrid cloth or fabric mask or face covering pattern several ways to fasten a community mask, cloth mask or fabric face mask with ear straps, elastics or head ties and knots, pony beards or cord stoppers and bun or ponytail, by Iris Luckhaus

If you take a closer look, there are so many ways to attach a face mask to your ears or head! After looking into masks in great detail over the past couple of weeks and having all these little sketches for mask tying techniques on my desk, I finally drew an infographic that shows all the different ways to tie a cloth mask with ear bands or head ties.

In the meantime, longing for everyday life

Profilbild mit Selbstbildnis der Illustratorin Iris Luckhaus bei der Arbeit in ihrem Büro in Wuppertal

Do you know these moments, when you stumble over last years’ pictures or some souvenir from your last vacations and all of a sudden, there is this incredible longing for some real, true everyday life, just as we knew it?

Published | Secretary for TU Berlin

Sekretärin für eine Einladungskarte der TU Berlin – Alle Fäden in der Hand! Tippst Du noch oder managst Du schon?

I reworked my secretary for an invitation card by Technische Universität Berlin. The slogan for a seminar program for administration staff, “All threads in hand!”, is “Are you still typing, or are you managing already?”.

Drafts for a Bulgarian Fairy Tale

Illustration zu The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds mit Bulgarischen Trachten von Iris Luckhaus

For a client who doesn’t want to be mentioned, I’ve made some drafts to illustrate the Bulgarian fairy tale “The little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds”. The project evolved in a different direction, but those drafts have led me to a new style – so I’d like to show them, even though they are unfinished and I most likely won’t finish them properly.

(Deutsch) Feature | Fairytale Girls at Das Auge

Vektorillustration für ein Märchen mit zwei Mädchen, Freundinnen wie Prinzessinnen, im Ballkleid, die voller Neugier hinter einen roten Vorhang spähen und Paris erblicken, von Iris Luckhaus

Ich freue mich von ganzem Herzen darüber, dass die sowieso schon wunderbare Das Auge Werkschau meine Märchenmädchen diese Woche auf ihrer Startseite unter “Die besten Portfolios” zeigt! Dankeschön!

Personal Work | Lola at the Beach

Lola am Strand, von Iris Luckhaus

With the series Lola macht Urlaub, I experiment with new techniques, patterns and colours between other projects. Inspired by almost summerish days, I tried to picture the slothy happiness of a warm, sunny afternoon by the sea.

Personal Work | Lola in the Café

Poster Lola im Cafe, von Iris Luckhaus

With the series Lola macht Urlaub (Lola is on vacation), I experiment with new techniques, patterns and colours inbetween other projects. Inspired by late winter, I tried to catch a summer evening in a French café here.

Art Print | Fairytales of Flying Carpets

Illustration eines Mädchens auf einem fliegenden Teppich mit Simsalabim, Abrakadabra, Hokuspokus und Jicker für Märchen

A couple of months ago, I scanned some of my inbetween sketches, in order to try out some new styles and colour schemes, and to make some fresh illustrations for art prints and products – so, here’s a little preview!

Packaging | Drafts for Spreewälder Lutki-Schmaus

Illustrationen von Lutki und Fährmann für Verpackungen von Bio-Snacks aus Kürbiskernen von Spreenat Naschgarten aus dem Spreewald

In March, I made some drafts for the packagings of Spreewälder Lutki-Schmaus and Spreewälder Fährmanns-Snack, which are being produced by the organic trademark Spreenat (Naschgarten) from local pumpkin seeds, nettle salt (Fährmanns-Snack) and beet sugar (Lutki-Schmaus), and traded locally, with a small booklet about Spreewald.

Character Design | Lutki for Spreewälder Naschgarten

Illustrationen von Lutki und Fährmann für Verpackungen von Bio-Snacks aus Kürbiskernen von Spreenat Naschgarten aus dem Spreewald

Part of the packaging design for Spreewälder Lutki-Schmaus and Fährmanns-Snack, which I drafted for organic trademark Spreenat (Naschgarten) in March, was the character design for Lutki, a friendly (but usually invisible) dwarfish legendary figure from Spreewald. The Lutki-Schmaus is composed of local pumpkin seeds and beet sugar.

Mimi Fiedler’s “Balkantherapie” | Character & Styling

Character Design und Styling für Mimi Fiedler im Buch Balkantherapie von Iris Luckhaus

Those were my first designs for character, clothes and styling for the book “Brauchstu ma keine Doktor, brauchstu nur diese Buch! – Die Balkantherapie für Liebe, Leib und Leben” by the wonderful Mimi Fiedler, which I illustrated almost a year ago for MVG Verlag. In the book and on the cover, Mimi wears mostly the fourth outfit (striped shirt, hotpants and suspenders), and in one of the small vignettes, the blouse from the third outfit.

Marija for “Balkantherapie” | Character & Styling

Character Design und Styling für Mimi Fiedlers Mutter Marija im Buch Balkantherapie

Those were my first designs for character, clothes and styling for the book “Brauchstu ma keine Doktor, brauchstu nur diese Buch! – Die Balkantherapie für Liebe, Leib und Leben” by the wonderful Mimi Fiedler, which I illustrated almost a year ago for MVG Verlag. In the book and on the cover, Mimi’s mother and advisor Marija wears the fourth outfit, a tight red dress with simple polka dots.

Super Heroine for Barbara Magazin | Drafts

Illustration der Superheldin Barbararella für Barbara Magazin von Iris Luckhaus

I’m working on some confidential projects right now, which I’m not supposed to show (yet). Meanwhile, I’m sharing some Making Of for older work – like this first draft for super heroine Barbararella, which I designed and illustrated last year for an (unpublished) column in Gruner und Jahr’s “Barbara” magazine by Barbara Schöneberger.

Emmy & Patty Postcards for EmpaTrain

Zeichnung von Mädchen und Giraffe als Freundinnen in der Savanne für den Empathie-Trainer EmpaTrain

Emmy und Patty, which I drew a couple of years ago for a breakfast board for EmpaTrain, are now – slightly reformatted – available as postcards as well! The giraffe, in its role as a symbolic animal for empathy, twas supposed to be a central element in this illustration, and how “Empathy means understanding each other without words”.

Super Heroine for Barbara Magazin | Character

Character Design für die Superheldin Barbararella für Barbara Magazin

With a little delay, here are my character design sketches for super heroine Barbararella, which I designed and illustrated last year for an (unpublished) column in Gruner und Jahr’s “Barbara” magazine by Barbara Schöneberger. My designs are based on the real person’s style as well as certain typical elements of super heroines.

EmpaTrain | Welcome to the Empathy Lab

Illustration von einem Empathie-Labor, wo Chemikerin und Chemiker in einem Labor mit Reagenzgläsern und Laborkolben, einem Wolfsskelett und Infografik zu Mimikresonanz, Vulkan und Giraffe die Formel für Empathie finden, für EmpaTrain

After drawing the Emmy und Patty breakfast board for EmpaTrain (specialist for non-violent communication and mediation), I now illustrated the second board for them, which shows an empathy lab – with lab scientists as well as the multitude of substances, facilities and materials you might need to brew empathy on a laboratory bench. This time, my illustration will not only become a breakfast board, but also be printed on postcards and posters, and it will not only be used for advertising their services, but also as a descriptive educational material in seminars!

Super Heroine for Barbara Magazin | Styling

Styling für Superheldin Barbararella für Barbara Magazin von Iris Luckhaus

With a little delay, here are my styling sketches for super heroine Barbararella, which I designed and illustrated last year for an (unpublished) column in Gruner und Jahr’s “Barbara” magazine by Barbara Schöneberger. My designs are based on the real person’s style as well as certain typical elements of super heroines.

Super-Heroine Barbararella for Barbara Magazine

Zeichnung von Barbara Schöneberger als Superheldin Barbararella für eine Kolumne im Barbara-Magazin von Iris Luckhaus

For Gruner und Jahr’s develepment of Barbara Schöneberger’s magazine “Barbara”, I designed and illustrated the super-heroine “Barbararella”. The picture above illustrates a column in which Barbara punishes a guy she catched peeing while standing, while her superhero collegue in the background is already waiting for their coffeebreak… Unfortunately, the series got never published, but it was great fun to draw. Thank you very much, Judith!

Tiny People in Paris | Anna & Max | Anniversary III

Zeichnung eines alten Pärchens mit Dackel, das bei einem Spaziergang durch Paris die Quais der Seine entdeckt und dort ein altes Herz in der Rinde einer Birke wiederfindet, von Iris Luckhaus

Anna and Max are spending their 50th anniversary in the city of love. Together with dachshund Waldemar, they take a very long walk to visit many beautiful (and well-known) places. – This little drawn story has been rearranged and edited from my unpublished Hide-and-Seek Paris book for children and grownups.

Tiny People in Paris | Anna & Max | Anniversary II

Zeichnung eines alten Pärchens mit Dackel, das bei einem Spaziergang durch Paris Café im Jardin du Luxembourg seinen Hochzeitstag mit einer kleinen Torte feiert und von einem Rosenverkäufer verfolgt wird

Anna and Max are spending their 50th anniversary in the city of love. Together with dachshund Waldemar, they take a very long walk to visit many beautiful (and well-known) places. – This little drawn story has been rearranged and edited from my unpublished Hide-and-Seek Paris book for children and grownups.

Tiny People in Paris | Anna & Max | Anniversary

Zeichnung eines alten Pärchens mit Dackel, das in einem roten VW Käfer Auto durch Paris fährt und den Eiffelturm und Invalides sieht, von Iris Luckhaus

Anna and Max are spending their 50th anniversary in the city of love. Together with dachshund Waldemar, they take a very long walk to visit many beautiful (and well-known) places. – This little drawn story has been rearranged and edited from my unpublished Hide-and-Seek Paris book for children and grownups.

Published | Fresh Postcards for Artflakes

Klappkarten von Iris Luckhaus bei Artflakes

At Artflakes, some of my girls – Rosenrot, the picnic girls, my virtual scretary and the curious fairytale girls – are available now as greetings cards and small-size art prints!

Available | Fresh Art Prints via Posterlounge!

Posterserien von Iris Luckhaus bei der Posterlounge

After a really long time, I uploaded fresh illustrations for posters and art prints to the Posterlounge: Flora im Walde, the Rosenrot girl, the famous picnicerettes, my virtual secretary (named Antonie Seidensiefer), my Seestück series and the curious Märchenmädchen in Paris! – And maybe there’s going to be more printed products soon?

Release | Mimi Fiedler’s “Balkantherapie”

Umschlag für das Buch Brauchsu keine Doktor, brauchsu nur diese Buch – Die Balkantherapie für Liebe, Leib und Leben von Mimi Fiedler im MVG Verlag

Today I received my – beautifully printed! – voucher specimens, and tomorrow the »Balkantherapie« by the great actress, musician and author Mimi Fiedler will be released and available in bookstores!

Release | Flora in the IO Sedbook

IO-Sedbook mit einer Zeichnung von Flora, Persephone, Proserpina oder Sylvana, Frühlingsgöttin oder Nymphe im Abendkleid mit Blumenkranz, die von Tieren wie Eichhörnchen, Rehen und Singvögeln begleitet durch den Wald im Frühling spaziert

I just happily received my voucher specimens of the brandnew Illustratoren Organisation‘s Sedbook 2015/2016, which features my Flora im Walde as a page spread as well as my Queen of Hearts from the 52 Aces Poker Deck and the curious fairytale girls as vignettes – and the book turned out really beautiful!

Preview | Mimi Fiedler’s “Balkantherapie”

Illustration mit Mimi Fiedler und ihrer Mutter Marija in We-Can-Do-It-Pose für den Umschlag des Buchs Die Balkantherapie für Liebe, Leib und Leben von Iris Luckhaus

I just finished numerous illustrations for the book »Balkantherapie« by the charming, smart, incredibly funny and simply great actress, singer, photographer and author Mimi Fiedler, which I’ve enthusiastically been drawing the past couple of weeks, as commissioned by the Münchner Verlagsgesellschaft.

Anthology | Spring Goddess Flora for IO Sedbook

Flora, Persephone, Proserpina oder Sylvana, Zeichnung einer Frühlingsgöttin oder Nymphe im Abendkleid mit Blumenkranz, die von Tieren wie Eichhörnchen, Rehen und Singvögeln begleitet durch den Wald im Frühling spaziert, von Iris Luckhaus

In february, I was so happy about the first signs of spring that I started to draw Flora, walking through the forest. Soon, there were animals gathering around her, such as foxes, squirrels, swallows, peacock butterflies, racoon, badger, hedgehog, rabbit, marten, falcon, rookie, dormouses, jaybird, magpie, woodpeckers, titmouses, robins, goldfinches, sparrows, chiffchaff, blackbirds, tree frog, bumble bees and a roe deer!

Art Print | Flora with Spring Anticipation

Flora (Margarita) im Walde

Once again, I am not allowed to show any of my wonderful recent projects (yet!), so here’s some in between personal work; those are inspired by some early bloomers I discovered during the last weeks (marigolds, daisies and roses, which seem to be able to bloom under snow?!) – and full of anticipation for the approaching spring!

Tiny People in Paris | Lily & Polly | Shopping I

Zeichnung von zwei Freundinnen und Touristinnen, die in einer rosa Patisserie in Paris ganz beglückt und aufgeregt Macarons probieren

Lila and Polly are going shopping together and just discovered some lovely macarons in a Rosalie’s little pâtisserie. Soon, they will explore more place (= to be continued). – This little drawn story has been rearranged and edited from my unpublished Hide-and-Seek Paris book for children and grownups.

Sommerferien

Illustration von Iris Luckhaus mit Freundinnen, die im Sommer Urlaub am Meer machen und unterwegs zum Picknick am Strand sind

Bullshit Bingo “Canteen” and “Flat Share” for AOK

Grafik und Retro-Illustrationen für ein Bullshit-Bingo zum Thema Kantine für die AOK-Magazine onJOB und onUNI

I designed two pages of Bullshit Bingo for the AOK magazines onJOB and onUNI, for the topics canteen (onJOB) and flat share (onUNI). That was great fun, and I’d like to thank Dani from their agency WDV for the really nice collaboration! <!–more

Grafik und Retro-Illustrationen für ein Bullshit-Bingo zum Thema Kantine für die AOK-Magazine onJOB und onUNI

Bullshit-Bingo zur Kantine für onJOB

Grafik und Retro-Illustrationen für ein Bullshit-Bingo zum Thema Kantine für die AOK-Magazine onJOB und onUNI

Bullshit-Bingo zur WG für onUNI

Art Print for the Home Office | Secretary

Retro-Illustrationen von Iris Luckhaus mit einer Sekretärin, die sich an ihrem Schreibtisch schüchtern hinter Papieren versteckt und fröhlich telefoniert

In between illustration about classic office work I cleaned, coloured and furnished lately – and somehow it all of a sudden became a series!

Kleine Leute in Paris | Souvenirs

Verkäuferin mit Mops in ihrem Souvenirstand mit Postkarten, Postern, Reiseführern, T-Shirts, Taschen, Hüten und Sonnenbrillen von Paris

I decided to refuse the Hide-and-Seek book about Paris, mainly because (a) big top views of a rather flat place do not work well in my twodimensional “dollhouse” perspectives (if Paris had more hills and stairs, it might actually have worked!), and (b) drawing a whole city which really exists makes me want to illustrate absolutely every detail I discovered there – but unfortunately, this would take several years. Besides, I realised that there are illustrators whose whole style is a much better fit for such a project – and that I don’t have to be able to draw everything.

Tiny People in Paris | Merry Go Round

Zeichnung von einem Karussell mit Pferdchen aus Holz am Montmarte in Paris

Right now, I’m working on a wonderful project for the Wimmelbuchverlag, for which I am drawing very different from my usual style. Here in the blog, I’d like to share some little scenes and excerpts every now and then.

Home Studio | Dayshifts and Nightshifts

Illustrationen von Iris Luckhaus zu Arbeitszeiten bei Tag und Nacht, die eine Frau fröhlich und traurig bei der Arbeit im Büro am Mac zeigen

This is what happens when you wait for a client’s final corrections and time is running…

Questionnaire for Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal

Zeichnung von einer Familie, einem Paar mit Kindern zum Ausmalen für einen Fragebogen der Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal

I just finished three more illustrations for the Wuppertaler Stadsparkasse! This time, the little house I illustrated a couple of months ago as a foldable model (and descriptional aid on renovating or refurbishing a house for the consultants) was supposed to be shown as part of a questionaire for personal financing concepts. Plus the Schmidt family, that lives in the house, and a money bag as a symbol for their own funds.

Cristabelles for Schock Material Brochure

Ausschnitt aus der Illustration von drei Freundinnen im Café, die Cupcakes essen, Kaffee trinken und fröhlich Gossip verbreiten, für eine Materialbroschüre der Firma Schock

Illustrations for a material brochure by Schock, a producer of granite sinks. My briefing was to contrast two different material lines by using the idea and mood behind them. So, this is my design for the younger, more trendy and astonishingly colourful Cristalite series: Three friends take a break from shopping, chat, drink coffee and eat pastel coloured cupackes in a street café.

Foldable House for Stadtsparkasse | Details II

Details aus dem Papphaus für die Stadtsparkasse

Illustrations and detail views of the refurbished half of the collapsible little cardboard house I illustrated for the Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal:

Foldable House for Stadtsparkasse | Details I

Ausschnitt vom Kinderzimmer mit Regenrinne in der unrenovierten Häfte des faltbaren Modell eines Hauses aus Pappe als Erklärhilfe für die Bausparer der Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal

Illustrations and detail views of the unrefurbished half of the collapsible little cardboard house I illustrated for the Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal:

Foldable House for Stadtsparkasse | The Schmidts

Familie Schmidt als Bewohner der der renovierten Häfte des faltbaren Modell eines Hauses aus Pappe als Erklärhilfe für die Bausparer der Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal

May I introduce you? This is the Schmidt family – who is living in the collapsible cardboard house I just illustrated for the Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal.

A foldable little house for the Stadtsparkasse

Faltbares Modell eines Hauses aus Pappe mit einer renovierten und einer unrenovierten Hälfte als Erklärhilfe für die Bausparer der Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal von Iris Luckhaus

I just finished illustrating the outside of a collapsible cardboard house (ca. 20 x 20 cm) for the Wuppertaler Stadsparkasse. This little house will be used to describe renovations and refurbishings of an old house, and why those make sense. It has an old, unrefurbished side and another that is all new and shiny, fully refurbished, and both contain typical details.

Preview | Illustrating Facades

Bausatz für das Häuschen aus Pappe für die Bausparer der Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal

I’m working on an exciting new project… to be continued!

Category Archives: Colour

Anthology | Mermay’s off to new Adventures (Part III)

“She had a thing for those sailors, and they had a thing for her. Unfortunately, humans didn’t last long in her element.”

I am so happy and a bit proud that I managed to board with #Mermay this year – and thrice! I found Sunday’s theme – #Sailor – so inspiring that I stole some more time to finish another drawing: Mermay on her way to new adventures.

Anthology | Mermay and her Souvenir (Part II)

“She had a thing for those sailors, and they had a thing for her. Unfortunately, humans didn’t last long in her element.”

I am so happy and a bit proud that I finally managed to board with #Mermay this year – and twice! I found Sunday’s theme – #Sailor – so inspiring that I stole some more time to finish another drawing: Mermay and her Souvenir!

Anthology | Mermay and her Sailor (Part II)

“She had a thing for those sailors, and they had a thing for her. Unfortunately, humans didn’t last long in her element.”

I’m very happy and also a bit proud that this year, inbetween all my other projects, I finally managed to get on board with #Mermay! I found today’s #Sailor theme so inspiring that I’m already trying to find time for another one…

Feature | Article about Spawning in Slate Magazine

Heather Tal Murphy has written an exciting article for SLATE Magazine about Spawning, the company behind haveibeentrained.com (the website where artists can have their images removed from LAION 5B, the database most commonly used to train AI models), and I feature in it too – in words and pictures!

We wish you a happy Easter weekend!

We wish you particularly great, sunny and delicious Easter holidays – as well as a wonderful long weekend off (or vacations :)) with greening trees, blooming meadows and chirping and singing little birds all around!

When you ask yourself what Lily Lux would do…

Because I’m having a large construction site right outside my studio window for the past couple of months, my noise protection headphones aren’t always enough and moving my work requires some major rewiring, I wondered what Lily Lux would do here, or better, what it might look to make the best of this terribly annoying situation?

Art Prints | Early Bird and Night Owl at Posterlounge

Illustrationen von Iris Luckhaus zu Arbeitszeiten bei Tag und Nacht, Früher Vogel und Nachteule, die eine rothaarige Illustratorin fröhlich und traurig bei der Arbeit im Büro am Mac zeigen

I am very happy to announce that my two small scenes on working hours, i.e. early and late shift at the desk in the home office, Early Bird and Night Owl, are now available as posters and art prints at Posterlounge

Frohe Weihnachten, Merry Christmas et Joyeux Noël!

Zeichnung von einem Mädchen, das zur Feier von Winter, Weihnachten, Advent, Silvester und Neujahr mit Kaffee, Tee, Pralinen und Amsel im winterlich verschneiten Wald auf einer Schaukel am Baum schaukelt und Geschenke wie Meisenringe, Äpfeln und Vogelfutter sowie Glücksklee für die Tiere des Waldes wie Reh, Fuchs, Waschbär, Dachs, Marder, Wiesel, Eichhörnchen, Siebenschläfer, Maus, Murmeltier, Salamander, Frosch, Falke, Eichelhäher, Elster, Taube, Grünspecht, Nachtigall, Rotkehlchen, Kohlmeise, Haubenmeise, Stieglitz, Gimpel, Buchfink, Sperling, Zaunkönig, Goldhähnchen, Eisvogel, Hummel und Libelle mitgebracht hat, als Weihnachtskarte mit Lily Lux von Iris Luckhaus

We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentythree!

Social Media | Just arrived on Mastodon!

Self portrait of slightly detail-obsessed illustrator and designer Iris Luckhaus sitting in front of her display, which is showing an old red car with a happy elderly couple in front of the Eiffel Tower, on a full-width desk with plenty of drawers, in a rather crowded and colou´rful studio. The illustrator is wearing braided and updone red hair with her glasses on top, dressed in a black pullover, old jeans and red flipflops, and holding a pen and a mug in her hands. She is turning around on her chair and smiling at the welcome visitor! In the window, you can see a winter tree with songbirds and feeders, colourful hot-air balloons, a city skyline at a distance, and a very blue sky with a single cloud. On the wall behind the artist's display, you can see lots of small pictures of her illustration and design work. On the desk and on the ground, drawing supplies, project boxes, tiny figurines and other studio necessities are taking up space. The bin is full of paper.

In addition to the usual platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkeIn, Pinterest), you can now find me on Mastodon (@irisluckhaus@mastodon.art), and Lily Lux (Facebook, Twitter, Mastodon; lilylux@mstdn.social) as well!

Art Prints | Identification Chart for Garden Birds

Identification chart, infographic or learning poster to identify European Songbirds or Garden Birds such as Blackbird / Merle, Blackcap / Blackjack, Blackstart, Blue Tit / Nun, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, City / Street Dove, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Crested Tit, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Firecrest, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Golden Oriole, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grosbeak / Hawfinch, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kingfisher, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet / Flax Finch, Long-Tailed Tit, Magpie, Marsh Tit, Marsh Warbler, Nightingale, Nuthatch, Pied Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redstart, Reed Bunting, Robin, Serin Finch, Skylark, Song Thrush / Mavis, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Swallow, Swift / Martlet, Tree Creeper, Tree Sparrow / Field Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Willow Warbler and Yellowhammer / Yellow Bunting, from the families of Sparrows, Tits, Woodpeckers, Finches, Jays, Buntings, Warblers, Thrushes, Treecreepers, Larks, Flycatchers, Redstarts and Pigeons, by iris Luckhaus

After publishing my Songbirds last year, I now lovingly revised all birds to make them even more distinctive! The new version is now available as a poster in German and English from Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay) and printed on cards, mugs, bags, shirts, pillows, blankets, cases, stickers and other products from Redbubble and Søciety6.

Art Print | Identification Chart with Urban Wildlife

Educational poster, display board, identification chart or infographic for identification of wild animals or urban or suburban wildlife in or close to the city such as marten, beech marten, ermine, weasel, least weasel, polecat, forest polecat, river otter, otter, badger, fox, red fox, raccoon, roe deer, deer, fawn, wild boar, piglet, muskrat, Norway rat, brown rat, mole, hedgehog, rabbit, beaver, hare, field hare, bat, field mouse, wood mouse, dormouse and squirrel by Iris Luckhaus

After illustrating the Wildlife of New England last year, planning a color version of my black-and-white forest animals for a long time and recently working more often with and about urban wildlife, at some point it made sense to create an identification chart with wildlife close to settlements, i.e. wild animals that can be seen in the city and on walks! The illustration is finally finished and available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6.

Frohe Weihnachten, Merry Christmas et Joyeux Noël!

Zeichnung von einem Mädchen, das zur Feier von Winter, Weihnacht, Advent, Silvester und Neujahr mit Kaffee, Tee, Pralinen und Amsel im winterlich verschneiten Wald gemütlich auf einer Parkbank sitzt und Geschenke wie Meisenringe, Äpfeln und Vogelfutter und Glücksklee für die Tiere des Waldes wie Reh, Fuchs, Waschbär, Dachs, Marder, Wiesel, Eichhörnchen, Siebenschläfer, Maus, Murmeltier, Salamander, Frosch, Falke, Eichelhäher, Elster, Taube, Grünspecht, Nachtigall, Rotkehlchen, Kohlmeise, Haubenmeise, Stieglitz, Gimpel, Rotschwanz, Buchfink, Sperling und Zaunkönig, mitgebracht hat – für Lily Lux von Iris Luckhaus

We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentytwo!

Fresh Feature | Day & Night Shifts at Creative Finder

Illustrationen von Iris Luckhaus zu Arbeitszeiten bei Tag und Nacht, die eine Frau fröhlich und traurig bei der Arbeit im Büro am Mac zeigen

There is something very strange in opening a newsletter and seeing your own illustration there, but after a moment of awkwardness, I’m very happy that my day and night shift illustration is featured by The Creative Finder today!

Art Prints | Wall Chart with Wildlife of New England

Infographic Wall Chart featuring the wildlife of new England, such as Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, Robin, Sparrow, Downy Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, Eastern Bluebird, Goldfinch, Baltimore Oriole, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mallard Duck, Duckling, White-footed Deer-mouse, Flying Squirrel, Garden Snail, Northern Green Frog, Spotted Salamander, Painted Turtle, Virginia Opossum, Hedgehog, Groundhog, Woodchuck, Chipmunk, Red Squirrel, Striped Skunk, Cottontail Rabbit, Red Admiral, Tailed Blue, Clouded Sulphur, Monarch Butterfly, Least Weasel, American Pine Marten, River Otter, Fly Amanita, Gray Fox, Red Fox and Common Raccoon.

As part of my “Foxy goes Hiking” project, I’ve researched and illustrated a lot of the smaller animals of New England. When the abundance became confusing, I’ve turned them into a chart, and now the infographics is available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6, printed on posters, notebooks, postcards and mugs as pictured below, as well as bags, shirts, pillows, scarves, blankets, covers, stickers and plenty of other products!

Art Print (Special Birth Gift) | Foxy goes Hiking

Illustration of a hiking little fox cub with a backpack in the autumnal New England mountains with purple skies, accompanied by a pair of Northern Cardinala, a Black-capped Chickadee, an American Robin, a Sparrow, a Downy Woodpecker, a pair of Tufted Titmousea, an Eastern Bluebird, a Goldfinch, a Baltimore Oriole, a White-breasted Nuthatch, a family of Mallard Ducks and four Ducklings, a White-footed Deer-mouse, a Flying Squirrel, a Garden Snail, a Northern Green Frog, a Spotted Salamander, a Painted Turtle, a Virginia Opossum, a Hedgehog (as the project started with the "hedgehog hike", the hedgehog became sort of our unicorn :)), two Groundhogs or Woodchucks, a Chipmunk, a Red Squirrel, a Striped Skunk, two Cottontail Rabbits, two Red Admirals, a Tailed Blue, a Clouded Sulphur, a Monarch Butterfly, a Least Weasel, an American Pine Marten, a River Otter, two Fly Amanitas, and a Common Raccoon, by Iris Luckhaus.

Little Foxy was one of my favorite projects this year! It all started with a friend enquiring me to draw a special art print for the birth of a friends’ daughter, and it involved extensive research (like, snooping the new mother’s blog for likes and interests :)), finding a new style (I’ve never drawn anthropomorphic animals before, and it was more fun than expected!), figuring out that New England’s wildlife is surprisingly different from European wildlife (American robins are actually thrushs!) and, somehow, drawing so many of these animals that they got their own wall chart!

Feature | “Best Portfolio” x 8 at Das Auge

Vektorillustration für ein Märchen mit zwei Mädchen, Freundinnen wie Prinzessinnen, im Ballkleid, die voller Neugier hinter einen roten Vorhang spähen und Paris erblicken, von Iris Luckhaus

At first I thought I couldn’t trust my eyes, but Das Auge Werkschau is actually showing eight (!!!) of my project portfolios on their landing page as “Best Portfolios”! This is truly awesome, thank you very much!

Art Prints | Identification Chart with Songbirds

Identification chart, infographic or learning poster to identify European Songbirds or Garden Birds such as Blackbird / Merle, Blackcap / Blackjack, Blackstart, Blue Tit / Nun, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, City / Street Dove, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Crested Tit, Cuckoo, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Firecrest, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Golden Oriole, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grosbeak / Hawfinch, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kingfisher, Lesser Whitethroat, Linnet / Flax Finch, Long-Tailed Tit, Magpie, Marsh Tit, Marsh Warbler, Nightingale, Nuthatch, Pied Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Redstart, Reed Bunting, Robin, Serin Finch, Skylark, Song Thrush / Mavis, Spotted Flycatcher, Starling, Swallow, Swift / Martlet, Tree Creeper, Tree Sparrow / Field Sparrow, Wood Pigeon, Wren, Willow Warbler and Yellowhammer / Yellow Bunting, from the families of Sparrows, Tits, Woodpeckers, Finches, Jays, Buntings, Warblers, Thrushes, Treecreepers, Larks, Flycatchers, Redstarts and Pigeons, by iris Luckhaus

I’ve been working on my European Songbirds wall chart for several years, every now and then. It takes some effort to not just copy a photo, but to create a generalized cross-section from countless images – but that is exactly what helps with the identification! In addition to posters, notebooks, postcards and mugs as pictured above, there are bags, shirts, pillows, scarves, blankets, covers, stickers and many other products available on Redbubble and Søciety6 now.

Frohe Weihnachten, Merry Christmas et Joyeux Noël!

Zeichnung von einem Mädchen, das zur Feier von Winter, Weihnacht, Advent, Silvester und Neujahr im winterlich verschneiten Wald Yoga in Baumpose turnt und Geschenke wie Meisenringe, Äpfeln und Vogelfutter und Glücksklee für die Tiere des Waldes wie Eichhörnchen, Füchse, Rehe, Rotkehlchen, Kohlmeise, Stieglitz, Gimpel und Amsel mitgebracht hat, während Waschbär, Dachs und Marder einen Meisenknödel vom Schlitten stehlen, für Lily Lux von Iris Luckhaus

We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentyone!

Tips & Tricks | Mask Tying Techniques Infographic

Infographics about mask tying techniques, showing by the example of the hybrid cloth or fabric mask or face covering pattern several ways to fasten a community mask, cloth mask or fabric face mask with ear straps, elastics or head ties and knots, pony beards or cord stoppers and bun or ponytail, by Iris Luckhaus

If you take a closer look, there are so many ways to attach a face mask to your ears or head! After looking into masks in great detail over the past couple of weeks and having all these little sketches for mask tying techniques on my desk, I finally drew an infographic that shows all the different ways to tie a cloth mask with ear bands or head ties.

In the meantime, longing for everyday life

Profilbild mit Selbstbildnis der Illustratorin Iris Luckhaus bei der Arbeit in ihrem Büro in Wuppertal

Do you know these moments, when you stumble over last years’ pictures or some souvenir from your last vacations and all of a sudden, there is this incredible longing for some real, true everyday life, just as we knew it?

Published | Secretary for TU Berlin

Sekretärin für eine Einladungskarte der TU Berlin – Alle Fäden in der Hand! Tippst Du noch oder managst Du schon?

I reworked my secretary for an invitation card by Technische Universität Berlin. The slogan for a seminar program for administration staff, “All threads in hand!”, is “Are you still typing, or are you managing already?”.

Drafts for a Bulgarian Fairy Tale

Illustration zu The Little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds mit Bulgarischen Trachten von Iris Luckhaus

For a client who doesn’t want to be mentioned, I’ve made some drafts to illustrate the Bulgarian fairy tale “The little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds”. The project evolved in a different direction, but those drafts have led me to a new style – so I’d like to show them, even though they are unfinished and I most likely won’t finish them properly.

(Deutsch) Feature | Fairytale Girls at Das Auge

Vektorillustration für ein Märchen mit zwei Mädchen, Freundinnen wie Prinzessinnen, im Ballkleid, die voller Neugier hinter einen roten Vorhang spähen und Paris erblicken, von Iris Luckhaus

Ich freue mich von ganzem Herzen darüber, dass die sowieso schon wunderbare Das Auge Werkschau meine Märchenmädchen diese Woche auf ihrer Startseite unter “Die besten Portfolios” zeigt! Dankeschön!

Personal Work | Lola at the Beach

Lola am Strand, von Iris Luckhaus

With the series Lola macht Urlaub, I experiment with new techniques, patterns and colours between other projects. Inspired by almost summerish days, I tried to picture the slothy happiness of a warm, sunny afternoon by the sea.

Personal Work | Lola in the Café

Poster Lola im Cafe, von Iris Luckhaus

With the series Lola macht Urlaub (Lola is on vacation), I experiment with new techniques, patterns and colours inbetween other projects. Inspired by late winter, I tried to catch a summer evening in a French café here.

Art Print | Fairytales of Flying Carpets

Illustration eines Mädchens auf einem fliegenden Teppich mit Simsalabim, Abrakadabra, Hokuspokus und Jicker für Märchen

A couple of months ago, I scanned some of my inbetween sketches, in order to try out some new styles and colour schemes, and to make some fresh illustrations for art prints and products – so, here’s a little preview!

Packaging | Drafts for Spreewälder Lutki-Schmaus

Illustrationen von Lutki und Fährmann für Verpackungen von Bio-Snacks aus Kürbiskernen von Spreenat Naschgarten aus dem Spreewald

In March, I made some drafts for the packagings of Spreewälder Lutki-Schmaus and Spreewälder Fährmanns-Snack, which are being produced by the organic trademark Spreenat (Naschgarten) from local pumpkin seeds, nettle salt (Fährmanns-Snack) and beet sugar (Lutki-Schmaus), and traded locally, with a small booklet about Spreewald.

Character Design | Lutki for Spreewälder Naschgarten

Illustrationen von Lutki und Fährmann für Verpackungen von Bio-Snacks aus Kürbiskernen von Spreenat Naschgarten aus dem Spreewald

Part of the packaging design for Spreewälder Lutki-Schmaus and Fährmanns-Snack, which I drafted for organic trademark Spreenat (Naschgarten) in March, was the character design for Lutki, a friendly (but usually invisible) dwarfish legendary figure from Spreewald. The Lutki-Schmaus is composed of local pumpkin seeds and beet sugar.

Mimi Fiedler’s “Balkantherapie” | Character & Styling

Character Design und Styling für Mimi Fiedler im Buch Balkantherapie von Iris Luckhaus

Those were my first designs for character, clothes and styling for the book “Brauchstu ma keine Doktor, brauchstu nur diese Buch! – Die Balkantherapie für Liebe, Leib und Leben” by the wonderful Mimi Fiedler, which I illustrated almost a year ago for MVG Verlag. In the book and on the cover, Mimi wears mostly the fourth outfit (striped shirt, hotpants and suspenders), and in one of the small vignettes, the blouse from the third outfit.

Marija for “Balkantherapie” | Character & Styling

Character Design und Styling für Mimi Fiedlers Mutter Marija im Buch Balkantherapie

Those were my first designs for character, clothes and styling for the book “Brauchstu ma keine Doktor, brauchstu nur diese Buch! – Die Balkantherapie für Liebe, Leib und Leben” by the wonderful Mimi Fiedler, which I illustrated almost a year ago for MVG Verlag. In the book and on the cover, Mimi’s mother and advisor Marija wears the fourth outfit, a tight red dress with simple polka dots.

Super Heroine for Barbara Magazin | Drafts

Illustration der Superheldin Barbararella für Barbara Magazin von Iris Luckhaus

I’m working on some confidential projects right now, which I’m not supposed to show (yet). Meanwhile, I’m sharing some Making Of for older work – like this first draft for super heroine Barbararella, which I designed and illustrated last year for an (unpublished) column in Gruner und Jahr’s “Barbara” magazine by Barbara Schöneberger.

Emmy & Patty Postcards for EmpaTrain

Zeichnung von Mädchen und Giraffe als Freundinnen in der Savanne für den Empathie-Trainer EmpaTrain

Emmy und Patty, which I drew a couple of years ago for a breakfast board for EmpaTrain, are now – slightly reformatted – available as postcards as well! The giraffe, in its role as a symbolic animal for empathy, twas supposed to be a central element in this illustration, and how “Empathy means understanding each other without words”.

Super Heroine for Barbara Magazin | Character

Character Design für die Superheldin Barbararella für Barbara Magazin

With a little delay, here are my character design sketches for super heroine Barbararella, which I designed and illustrated last year for an (unpublished) column in Gruner und Jahr’s “Barbara” magazine by Barbara Schöneberger. My designs are based on the real person’s style as well as certain typical elements of super heroines.

EmpaTrain | Welcome to the Empathy Lab

Illustration von einem Empathie-Labor, wo Chemikerin und Chemiker in einem Labor mit Reagenzgläsern und Laborkolben, einem Wolfsskelett und Infografik zu Mimikresonanz, Vulkan und Giraffe die Formel für Empathie finden, für EmpaTrain

After drawing the Emmy und Patty breakfast board for EmpaTrain (specialist for non-violent communication and mediation), I now illustrated the second board for them, which shows an empathy lab – with lab scientists as well as the multitude of substances, facilities and materials you might need to brew empathy on a laboratory bench. This time, my illustration will not only become a breakfast board, but also be printed on postcards and posters, and it will not only be used for advertising their services, but also as a descriptive educational material in seminars!

Super Heroine for Barbara Magazin | Styling

Styling für Superheldin Barbararella für Barbara Magazin von Iris Luckhaus

With a little delay, here are my styling sketches for super heroine Barbararella, which I designed and illustrated last year for an (unpublished) column in Gruner und Jahr’s “Barbara” magazine by Barbara Schöneberger. My designs are based on the real person’s style as well as certain typical elements of super heroines.

Super-Heroine Barbararella for Barbara Magazine

Zeichnung von Barbara Schöneberger als Superheldin Barbararella für eine Kolumne im Barbara-Magazin von Iris Luckhaus

For Gruner und Jahr’s develepment of Barbara Schöneberger’s magazine “Barbara”, I designed and illustrated the super-heroine “Barbararella”. The picture above illustrates a column in which Barbara punishes a guy she catched peeing while standing, while her superhero collegue in the background is already waiting for their coffeebreak… Unfortunately, the series got never published, but it was great fun to draw. Thank you very much, Judith!

Tiny People in Paris | Anna & Max | Anniversary III

Zeichnung eines alten Pärchens mit Dackel, das bei einem Spaziergang durch Paris die Quais der Seine entdeckt und dort ein altes Herz in der Rinde einer Birke wiederfindet, von Iris Luckhaus

Anna and Max are spending their 50th anniversary in the city of love. Together with dachshund Waldemar, they take a very long walk to visit many beautiful (and well-known) places. – This little drawn story has been rearranged and edited from my unpublished Hide-and-Seek Paris book for children and grownups.

Tiny People in Paris | Anna & Max | Anniversary II

Zeichnung eines alten Pärchens mit Dackel, das bei einem Spaziergang durch Paris Café im Jardin du Luxembourg seinen Hochzeitstag mit einer kleinen Torte feiert und von einem Rosenverkäufer verfolgt wird

Anna and Max are spending their 50th anniversary in the city of love. Together with dachshund Waldemar, they take a very long walk to visit many beautiful (and well-known) places. – This little drawn story has been rearranged and edited from my unpublished Hide-and-Seek Paris book for children and grownups.

Tiny People in Paris | Anna & Max | Anniversary

Zeichnung eines alten Pärchens mit Dackel, das in einem roten VW Käfer Auto durch Paris fährt und den Eiffelturm und Invalides sieht, von Iris Luckhaus

Anna and Max are spending their 50th anniversary in the city of love. Together with dachshund Waldemar, they take a very long walk to visit many beautiful (and well-known) places. – This little drawn story has been rearranged and edited from my unpublished Hide-and-Seek Paris book for children and grownups.

Published | Fresh Postcards for Artflakes

Klappkarten von Iris Luckhaus bei Artflakes

At Artflakes, some of my girls – Rosenrot, the picnic girls, my virtual scretary and the curious fairytale girls – are available now as greetings cards and small-size art prints!

Available | Fresh Art Prints via Posterlounge!

Posterserien von Iris Luckhaus bei der Posterlounge

After a really long time, I uploaded fresh illustrations for posters and art prints to the Posterlounge: Flora im Walde, the Rosenrot girl, the famous picnicerettes, my virtual secretary (named Antonie Seidensiefer), my Seestück series and the curious Märchenmädchen in Paris! – And maybe there’s going to be more printed products soon?

Release | Mimi Fiedler’s “Balkantherapie”

Umschlag für das Buch Brauchsu keine Doktor, brauchsu nur diese Buch – Die Balkantherapie für Liebe, Leib und Leben von Mimi Fiedler im MVG Verlag

Today I received my – beautifully printed! – voucher specimens, and tomorrow the »Balkantherapie« by the great actress, musician and author Mimi Fiedler will be released and available in bookstores!

Release | Flora in the IO Sedbook

IO-Sedbook mit einer Zeichnung von Flora, Persephone, Proserpina oder Sylvana, Frühlingsgöttin oder Nymphe im Abendkleid mit Blumenkranz, die von Tieren wie Eichhörnchen, Rehen und Singvögeln begleitet durch den Wald im Frühling spaziert

I just happily received my voucher specimens of the brandnew Illustratoren Organisation‘s Sedbook 2015/2016, which features my Flora im Walde as a page spread as well as my Queen of Hearts from the 52 Aces Poker Deck and the curious fairytale girls as vignettes – and the book turned out really beautiful!

Preview | Mimi Fiedler’s “Balkantherapie”

Illustration mit Mimi Fiedler und ihrer Mutter Marija in We-Can-Do-It-Pose für den Umschlag des Buchs Die Balkantherapie für Liebe, Leib und Leben von Iris Luckhaus

I just finished numerous illustrations for the book »Balkantherapie« by the charming, smart, incredibly funny and simply great actress, singer, photographer and author Mimi Fiedler, which I’ve enthusiastically been drawing the past couple of weeks, as commissioned by the Münchner Verlagsgesellschaft.

Anthology | Spring Goddess Flora for IO Sedbook

Flora, Persephone, Proserpina oder Sylvana, Zeichnung einer Frühlingsgöttin oder Nymphe im Abendkleid mit Blumenkranz, die von Tieren wie Eichhörnchen, Rehen und Singvögeln begleitet durch den Wald im Frühling spaziert, von Iris Luckhaus

In february, I was so happy about the first signs of spring that I started to draw Flora, walking through the forest. Soon, there were animals gathering around her, such as foxes, squirrels, swallows, peacock butterflies, racoon, badger, hedgehog, rabbit, marten, falcon, rookie, dormouses, jaybird, magpie, woodpeckers, titmouses, robins, goldfinches, sparrows, chiffchaff, blackbirds, tree frog, bumble bees and a roe deer!

Art Print | Flora with Spring Anticipation

Flora (Margarita) im Walde

Once again, I am not allowed to show any of my wonderful recent projects (yet!), so here’s some in between personal work; those are inspired by some early bloomers I discovered during the last weeks (marigolds, daisies and roses, which seem to be able to bloom under snow?!) – and full of anticipation for the approaching spring!

Tiny People in Paris | Lily & Polly | Shopping I

Zeichnung von zwei Freundinnen und Touristinnen, die in einer rosa Patisserie in Paris ganz beglückt und aufgeregt Macarons probieren

Lila and Polly are going shopping together and just discovered some lovely macarons in a Rosalie’s little pâtisserie. Soon, they will explore more place (= to be continued). – This little drawn story has been rearranged and edited from my unpublished Hide-and-Seek Paris book for children and grownups.

Sommerferien

Illustration von Iris Luckhaus mit Freundinnen, die im Sommer Urlaub am Meer machen und unterwegs zum Picknick am Strand sind

Bullshit Bingo “Canteen” and “Flat Share” for AOK

Grafik und Retro-Illustrationen für ein Bullshit-Bingo zum Thema Kantine für die AOK-Magazine onJOB und onUNI

I designed two pages of Bullshit Bingo for the AOK magazines onJOB and onUNI, for the topics canteen (onJOB) and flat share (onUNI). That was great fun, and I’d like to thank Dani from their agency WDV for the really nice collaboration! <!–more

Grafik und Retro-Illustrationen für ein Bullshit-Bingo zum Thema Kantine für die AOK-Magazine onJOB und onUNI

Bullshit-Bingo zur Kantine für onJOB

Grafik und Retro-Illustrationen für ein Bullshit-Bingo zum Thema Kantine für die AOK-Magazine onJOB und onUNI

Bullshit-Bingo zur WG für onUNI

Art Print for the Home Office | Secretary

Retro-Illustrationen von Iris Luckhaus mit einer Sekretärin, die sich an ihrem Schreibtisch schüchtern hinter Papieren versteckt und fröhlich telefoniert

In between illustration about classic office work I cleaned, coloured and furnished lately – and somehow it all of a sudden became a series!

Kleine Leute in Paris | Souvenirs

Verkäuferin mit Mops in ihrem Souvenirstand mit Postkarten, Postern, Reiseführern, T-Shirts, Taschen, Hüten und Sonnenbrillen von Paris

I decided to refuse the Hide-and-Seek book about Paris, mainly because (a) big top views of a rather flat place do not work well in my twodimensional “dollhouse” perspectives (if Paris had more hills and stairs, it might actually have worked!), and (b) drawing a whole city which really exists makes me want to illustrate absolutely every detail I discovered there – but unfortunately, this would take several years. Besides, I realised that there are illustrators whose whole style is a much better fit for such a project – and that I don’t have to be able to draw everything.

Tiny People in Paris | Merry Go Round

Zeichnung von einem Karussell mit Pferdchen aus Holz am Montmarte in Paris

Right now, I’m working on a wonderful project for the Wimmelbuchverlag, for which I am drawing very different from my usual style. Here in the blog, I’d like to share some little scenes and excerpts every now and then.

Home Studio | Dayshifts and Nightshifts

Illustrationen von Iris Luckhaus zu Arbeitszeiten bei Tag und Nacht, die eine Frau fröhlich und traurig bei der Arbeit im Büro am Mac zeigen

This is what happens when you wait for a client’s final corrections and time is running…

Questionnaire for Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal

Zeichnung von einer Familie, einem Paar mit Kindern zum Ausmalen für einen Fragebogen der Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal

I just finished three more illustrations for the Wuppertaler Stadsparkasse! This time, the little house I illustrated a couple of months ago as a foldable model (and descriptional aid on renovating or refurbishing a house for the consultants) was supposed to be shown as part of a questionaire for personal financing concepts. Plus the Schmidt family, that lives in the house, and a money bag as a symbol for their own funds.

Cristabelles for Schock Material Brochure

Ausschnitt aus der Illustration von drei Freundinnen im Café, die Cupcakes essen, Kaffee trinken und fröhlich Gossip verbreiten, für eine Materialbroschüre der Firma Schock

Illustrations for a material brochure by Schock, a producer of granite sinks. My briefing was to contrast two different material lines by using the idea and mood behind them. So, this is my design for the younger, more trendy and astonishingly colourful Cristalite series: Three friends take a break from shopping, chat, drink coffee and eat pastel coloured cupackes in a street café.

Foldable House for Stadtsparkasse | Details II

Details aus dem Papphaus für die Stadtsparkasse

Illustrations and detail views of the refurbished half of the collapsible little cardboard house I illustrated for the Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal:

Foldable House for Stadtsparkasse | Details I

Ausschnitt vom Kinderzimmer mit Regenrinne in der unrenovierten Häfte des faltbaren Modell eines Hauses aus Pappe als Erklärhilfe für die Bausparer der Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal

Illustrations and detail views of the unrefurbished half of the collapsible little cardboard house I illustrated for the Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal:

Foldable House for Stadtsparkasse | The Schmidts

Familie Schmidt als Bewohner der der renovierten Häfte des faltbaren Modell eines Hauses aus Pappe als Erklärhilfe für die Bausparer der Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal

May I introduce you? This is the Schmidt family – who is living in the collapsible cardboard house I just illustrated for the Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal.

A foldable little house for the Stadtsparkasse

Faltbares Modell eines Hauses aus Pappe mit einer renovierten und einer unrenovierten Hälfte als Erklärhilfe für die Bausparer der Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal von Iris Luckhaus

I just finished illustrating the outside of a collapsible cardboard house (ca. 20 x 20 cm) for the Wuppertaler Stadsparkasse. This little house will be used to describe renovations and refurbishings of an old house, and why those make sense. It has an old, unrefurbished side and another that is all new and shiny, fully refurbished, and both contain typical details.

Preview | Illustrating Facades

Bausatz für das Häuschen aus Pappe für die Bausparer der Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal

I’m working on an exciting new project… to be continued!