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An illustration of a fleshy, pink monster train with eyes and a mouth arriving at a station. People on the platform flee in panic as the creature screams, while a few figures look on in shock.

Mind-boggling updates from one of our favourite ever illustrators – Mr Paul Paetzel

Words
Liv Siddall
—
Date
7 May 2013

Oh Paul Paetzel, you’re just the artistic gift that keeps on giving. The best thing about you is that you don’t even have a website, you don’t even need one, Flickr will house your illustrations, so let that be the vessel for your greatness. I know we (well, I) often gush about Paul Paetzel, but for good reason. Everything he makes is officially my favourite drawing until I see the next one, and I’m not even exaggerating. His new work includes zines, informative posters, comics and single images that take you, ricocheting from ancient times into the distant future.

An infographic for Sugru, designed by Jane Ni Dhulchadhointigh, explains how the mouldable glue can be used for repairing, hacking and inventing. Illustrations show the product fixing broken items like shoes and cups, or improving dysfunctional objects like scissors and smartphones. Detailed text sections at the bottom outline the “solution”, “status” and “profile” of the product.
Above

Paul Paetzel: Information Poster

A comic illustration of a person with blonde hair looking up at a yellow fireball streaking across the sky. A speech bubble reads “WAS IST DAS?!” and the fireball is accompanied by the sound effect “WUUSCH”.
Above

Paul Paetzel: Comic Detail

An illustration of a person getting a haircut. A pair of scissors and a hand trim the hair on their head from above.
Above

Paul Paetzel: Botero on Ponto Nero

An illustration in a comic strip style. On the left, two panels show two people meeting and walking past cars in a green and cream colour palette. On the right, a larger panel shows a person walking up a wide set of stairs towards a figure standing in the doorway of a brutalist building.
Above

Paul Paetzel: Botero on Ponto Nero

An illustration in a comic strip style. On the left, four panels show a person being prepared for a journey in a high-tech facility. On the right, a larger panel shows a figure in a spacesuit floating through a green, starry void.
Above

Paul Paetzel: Botero on Ponto Nero

A black and white illustration of a funeral in a wooded area. A group of people in formal attire stand around an open grave, while a person in robes leads the service and another plays a trumpet. A headstone in the foreground reads “JENS ROTH 1998 DEATH”.
Above

Paul Paetzel: 1998

An illustration of two people in a living room. One person stands in the foreground with their back to the camera, holding a glass, while another reclines on a sofa. A framed painting of a nude figure hangs on the wall behind them.
Above

Paul Paetzel: Sensei Dirk Bertram

An illustration for a book cover titled “Schurken Salat Nr. 1”. The scene shows a group of eccentric characters, including a figure in an Egyptian costume and a shirtless boxer in a green helmet. A person in a star-patterned suit stands in a doorway, while another figure in a silver suit and yellow mask looks on. A yellow banner at the bottom reads “Edition Biografiktion”.
Above

Paul Paetzel: Schurkensalat #1

An illustration of a bright, cluttered living room with a blue checkered floor. A person stands by a large window looking out at a sunset, while a dog stands on a desk next to a typewriter.
Above

Paul Paetzel: Maz

A black and white illustration of a person sitting in a studio, holding a cup and looking at the camera. Beside them is an easel holding a portrait of another person, surrounded by lush tropical plants and a classical statue.
Above

Paul Paetzel: BZP

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Further Info

www.flickr.com/paulpaetzel

About the Author

Liv Siddall

—

Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

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