Ira Purdenko

Hello, I’m Iryna Purdenko, a Ukrainian illustrator based in Poland. My work weaves together digital techniques with the warmth of traditional watercolor and gouache, creating soft, story-like worlds. I see my art as a quiet hug - tender, comforting, and touched by a gentle kind of magic. Inspired by the subtle play of colors in oil painting, I aim to capture the simple joys and peaceful beauty of everyday life.

I’ve been fortunate to work on projects such as The Enchanted Forest and the Hollow Tree and a woodland Christmas story for American Greetings. I approach each illustration with warmth, curiosity, and care - always aiming to create something that feels alive and heartfelt. My clients often say my art carries a gentle softness and emotional depth. With a Master’s degree in Graphic Design and a natural shift into illustration, I’ve found a way to merge my technical roots with my love for storytelling and beauty.

From my childhood days of doodling animals on walls with my mother's eye pencil to exploring the cozy world of cottagecore today, nature and nostalgia are my constant muses. Finding inspiration in everyday life, I enjoy meandering through forests with my loyal dog, Toffee, baking pies, and immersing myself in the pages of a good book. Ultimately, I aspire to be remembered as a kind soul radiating warmth and finding beauty in life's simplest pleasures - sharing that joy through my art with all who encounter it.