"My Greeting Cards" is a personal project by Illustrator Nina Stajner. She wanted to use her illustrations (especially the characters) for something that people can use - greeting cards. She started taking her artworks to the next level and tried to create something useful like greeting cards. She painted everything with gouache and watercolours. Nina find it as a great painting exercise. At the time she was painting these, she's been doing a lot commercial projects mainly using a computer. So it was a great balance - doing something personal traditionally and something commercial digitally. Nina likes to switch between mediums to keep herself entertained. But mainly she keeps her subjects very similar - She loves drawing/ painting animals.

The design itself isn't really anything special- there is an animal in the middle and some floral decorations around it with some lettering. The animal in the middle is in a situation - for example rabbit is serving a carrot birthday cake on a plate, and puts the rest of the carrot on its head. It is funny. Other ones are more tender, especially the baby foxes that are resting with their mother. I paid a lot of attention establishing the colour schemes though.
-Nina Stajner

I wanted to use as little colours as possible - I really like limited colour palettes, such as these. So they are not over the top. My artwork is sort of cute so I have to be careful not to use too many colours so it doesn't end up too cheesy. I like pastels, bright pastels and more natural colours. I have been thinking a lot about the colours I have been choosing lately. I still have to work on my designs a bit - doing more elaborate and well-composed pieces in the future.
-Nina Stajner

My inspiration behind this project are the loveliest woodland animals I enjoy portraying the most. I love observing them whenever I have the chance - I live near the forest. I love exploring the woods, but I don't do it often enough I feel. Whenever I am not able to go and explore nature I like watching Animal Planet and observe all sorts of animals there. Or visit the ZOO. Lately I have also been trying to include more flora in my pieces - including these cards. I am slowly learning how to draw flowers and plants properly. Sort of developing my style, interpretation of them.
-Nina Stajner

My style is cute I suppose (though I don't like that word because it was used negatively at my Art School). I think of it (my style) as being a part of me; happy, honest, warm, whimsical, tender and delicate. My style is very honest, I don't try to copy anyone and I try not to bother when people are saying negative things about my work. I don't want to pretend. I think people feel and relate to that. Lately, I have been getting a lot of positive feedback about my work. My inspiration is mostly nature and a lot of different artists. There is so many of them, but I don't know which one in particular I admire the most. It changes too, one week I like someone, next week I adore someone else. But there is not 5 artists but 20 or 30.
-Nina Stajner

My advice would be: draw, paint, experiment, collaborate and be nice and honest. Stay true to yourself. With hard work a lot can be achieved. I don't believe in talent or being born (or even inherit) some sort of a "talent". I (and other artists) just love drawing & painting and have been doing that quite a lot. Improvement comes with a lot of hard work and trial & error. And hopefully, I am getting better and I will remain improving. And the same goes for everyone who is reading this and struggling - don't give up, be persistent, learn, fail, grow and do it all over again.
-Nina Stajner

About Nina Stajner

Nina Štajner graduated with a degree in Graphic Design. She considers herself more of an illustrator.She's been working as an illustrator and UI designer since she graduated. Nina is known for illustrating tender furry woodland animals in a soft and delicate manner. She thinks that she's still developing her style because she's still relatively inexperienced and young. Nina works traditionally (personal projects such as this one) but also feels comfortable creating artwork digitally. Being versatile allows her to tackle different projects - from greeting cards, to game designs, patterns.. "I don't want to limit myself on doing only one thing. I love to learn, experiment and grow as an artist." See more of her works on Behance.