Cathrin Hesselstrand
You illustrated the puzzle design “Holiday Chaos” for the series
“Nordic Stories Collection.”
Tell us a little about yourself.
- I’m from Kolbäck in Västmanland. It’s an industrial town between Köping and
Västerås, in central Sweden.
What have you illustrated previously?
- I’ve always devoted myself to drawing and painting, so it’s nothing new to me. I drew
caricatures of my classmates at school and funny pictures of people in various
embarrassing situations. I’ve worked as an artist for over forty years. I’ve created
illustrations for books, magazines and various educational materials, often depicting
animals, nature and history.
Can you tell us about your creative process? How do you build up a design?
- When I create bustling illustrations, it’s like entering another world and staying there
for a while. I have to work out how the people should relate to one another so that the
whole picture has just the right amount of drama. I usually draw each figure separately
so that I can then fit them into the picture.
What is important for an illustrator to consider when creating a puzzle design?
- When I create a puzzle design, it’s good for the outlines to be clear and sharp so that
the figures are easy to find. Ideally, there should be different shades and colours so
there aren’t too many puzzle pieces in the same colour. A large, uniform blue sky isn’t
much fun to work on.
What was the most enjoyable part of creating the design for “Holiday Chaos”?
- This puzzle was fun to create because there are different characters in the picture
that many people can recognise themselves in: the gossip, the know-it-all, the
enthusiast, the barbecuer and so on. There’s an amusing element of recognition. Most
people who have slept at a campsite will recognise themselves in it.
Was there a particular character or event in this puzzle that you especially enjoyed
creating?
- I enjoyed drawing all the figures. They each have their own distinctive features, and
together they create just the right amount of comic chaos. It’s fun to create patterns
and decorations on clothes and objects.
Do you have any thoughts on the importance of humour to people’s well-being?
- None of us wants to be the person who loses control of what’s happening, but that’s
what makes it funny: having a little self-distance and being able to see the humour in
the situation. It’s a way of dealing with the clumsiness and awkwardness that everyone
experiences and can relate to. The best thing is simply being able to laugh at the
misery.
This design is also available as a colouring book.