An illustration of a person wearing a long, green dress patterned with leaves. They stand in a dense forest of similar foliage, beside a small bird and a window.

Illustration: Roman Muradov is a giant of illustration with a great book on the way

Words: James Cartwright
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Date: 13 December 2013; Work
Illustration

What can I say about the work of Roman Muradov except for a simple “Wow!” This guy is bloody brilliant. The San Francisco resident spends his days creating illustrations for highly reputable clients like The New Yorker, The New York Times, Vogue and NPR, producing images that are teeming with activity and excitement, full to bursting with jazz-age characters galavanting through extraordinary landscapes. He’s also a prolific author of stunningly surreal comics on the side. In fact, Yellow Zine, his self-directed comics journal is up on Kickstarter for its fourth edition so won’t you all be dears and support this legend of illustration so we can all enjoy the fruits of his labours in 2014.

An illustration of a chaotic, densely packed town in shades of purple, cream and orange. A giant figure with wild hair looms over the buildings, while a large flame streaks across the sky. — Above
Roman Muradov: Illustration

An illustration of a sophisticated party in a stylised, mid-century modern aesthetic. Figures in elegant evening wear hold glasses of wine in a room with a checkered floor and a glowing fireplace. — Above
Roman Muradov: Illustration

An illustration of a crowd of translucent, overlapping figures in muted tones of orange and purple. In the foreground, two solid black silhouettes – one tall and one small – stand apart from the group. — Above
Roman Muradov: Illustration

An illustration for Npr featuring a collection of abstract, colourful shapes and figures. The letters “n”, “p” and “r” are nestled within fluid red, black and blue forms at the top. Below, a group of stylised, whimsical characters gather in a loose line across a pale background. — Above
Roman Muradov: Illustration

An illustration of Finn from Adventure Time lying in bed, looking anxious. He is surrounded by dark, surreal figures and floating shapes against a deep red background. — Above
Roman Muradov: Illustration

An illustration of a chaotic social scene in a limited palette of black, white and peach. Stylised figures gather under sharp spotlights, with several hands reaching in from the left to hold up photographs and objects. — Above
Roman Muradov: Illustration

An illustration of two people sitting on a red sofa with a dark, looming figure between them. One person looks distressed and weeps, while the other wears a hat and red suit, looking on with a smile. — Above
Roman Muradov: Illustration

An illustration of a person with long black hair and a red outfit riding a white creature. The figure looks thoughtful, resting their chin on their hand as they glide across a dark blue background. — Above
Roman Muradov: Illustration

An illustration of a crowded theatre where a figure stands on stage, their head replaced by a swirling black mass. The audience and surrounding figures are depicted in a surreal, fragmented style with various patterns and shapes. — Above
Roman Muradov: Illustration

An illustration of two figures standing in a room entirely covered in green leaves. The figures wear leaf-patterned clothing that blends into the walls and floor, leaving only their faces and hands visible. — Above
Roman Muradov: Illustration

Further Info

www.bluebed.net

About the Author

James Cartwright

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James started out as an intern in 2011 and came back in summer of 2012 to work online and latterly as Print Editor, before leaving in May 2015.

Illustration: Roman Muradov is a giant of illustration with a great book on the way

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