BROWSE RECENT POSTS:
Whimsical alter egos in folk carnival: SLAVTOBER Week 4
Historically, carnival celebrations were a truly special time when the usual social order got turned inside out. Work stopped for the winter months. All social classes were allowed to be merry. Even more so, through embodying certain folk characters, for one day they could become someone entirely different. Wearing costume would give you a unique right to play and mischief, and hide the class differences.
Dual belief, folk religion and pocket shrines: SLAVTOBER Week 3
Tiny Worlds enchanted in Folk Patterns: SLAVTOBER Week 2
Very often we see folk patterns as decoration only. But this week I’d like to dive a bit deeper!
Under the umbrella of folk ornaments hides a deep and rich world: through media like embroidery, weaving or papercuts (wycinanka) Slavic people express their belonging to local regions, capture landscape and tradition in playful, unique designs.
Folk Dolls and Pocket Companions: SLAVTOBER Week 1
Let’s look at Ukrainian motanka dolls as inspiration and create our own small handmade creatures charged with protective meanings.
They remind us that hand craft doesn’t have to be perfect - it’s the intention behind the protective object that matters most.
What intention will YOU put in your creations?
Slavtober art challenge returns in 2026! Here’s all you need to know about the month celebrating Slavic folk craft:
Queer Folk! Dive into this unique card deck featuring queer babushkas, sassy Kossacks and sapphic dumplings:
It won’t come as a big surprise that my personal artwork is heavily inspired by what I’m passionate about most: whimsical mythology, playful storytelling and sharing my Slavic heritage through a queer and inclusive lens. I have toyed with designing a card deck in the past, and been asked about potential tarot deck projects, but the scale of it was daunting. You can imagine my absolute delight when I was approached by the Art of Solitaire, an indie game studio creating unique, relaxing solitaire card games. The best bit? They commission diverse artists and already they have released over 70 wildly creative virtual decks to collect and play with (the embroidered one by Camille Carpentier is one my personal favourites!).
Folklore for Queer Folk! Making space for LGBTQ+ folks in the modern folk art:
Personally, I am as interested about the past as I am about the idea of folklore as a living and fluctuating thing.
Folklore and mythology has always existed to explain the complexities of the world around us, to teach and spark wonder. The rich folklore storytelling can provide metaphors that help us relate to the queer experience, and character types that help us explore the strange and unusual within us.
Can’t these creators’ work be seen as participating in their culture and contributing the one of the most wonderful functions of folklore: its fluidity? Doesn’t this kind of work have potential to expand the definitions of who belongs into a certain culture, and who can fully identify with it?
Slavic Sapphics! Deep dive into the art series illustrating folklore and heritage with a touch of queer pride:
Back in 2020 my budding search for who I actually want to be as an artist (small question, no pressure) resulted in a long, deep rabbit hole of research into the history of Polish folklore, the rich world of Slavic mythology and the lack of LGBTQ+ stories represented through folk craft. This post explores the context, inspiration and creative process of the Slavic Sapphics - my ongoing illustration series exploring relationship with Polish heritage and queer readings of folklore.
Common challenges you WILL face as a freelance artist navigating self-employed life - with insight from 6 creative professionals:
I’m a huge believer in sharing experiences and bits of knowledge as means to help develop skills and prepare for both joyful and difficult situations one is bound to encounter while embarking on a creative career. And one thing needs to be said: there will be challenges. It’s a guarantee, but it’s also ok. So let’s talk about some common obstacles freelance artists face in their work in 2025.
Artist Tools of the Trade - A (very subjective) guide to illustration gear Pigeon can’t live without!
Since becoming a full time illustrator in 2023, a lot has changed in my work routine and studio space setup. Ultimately every creative person is different and you work out your perfect setup through experience…but maybe this blog post can save you some of the “error” part of the trial and error? Or it can just be a fun way to have a peek into my studio!