The new academic year at the Department of Digital Art began with an engaging and meaningful event. On August 5, 2025, the art exhibition “Working with the Text” by Ulyana Balan, a senior lecturer at the Department of Digital Art, was opened at the Pavlo Tychyna Library in the Dnipro District.

The exhibition showcased a series of illustrations created for literary texts using contemporary graphic techniques. The works reflected a deeply personal interpretation of literature and its transformation into visual language. The event became a valuable component of the educational process. Students from groups BDA1-24, BDA1-23, and BDA1-22, within the framework of the courses “Composition in Fine Arts” and “Digital Fine Art”, guided by A. Dubrivna and S. Pashukova, not only explored the creative projects of a practicing artist and lecturer but also immersed themselves in the real-world context of a modern illustrator’s professional practice.

During the lecture, U.H. Balan provided a detailed overview of the specifics of artistic text analysis, the stages of creating an illustration, the selection of techniques and materials, and the collaborative process between the writer, editor, and illustrator. This gave students valuable insights into the practical aspects of working in the field of book illustration, particularly within the publishing industry.

The workshop on the ‘grattage’ technique, which followed the lecture, offered students the opportunity not only to master a new graphic method but also to develop their own visual interpretations of a literary text. Participants engaged with texture, composition, image rhythm, and visual meaning – fundamental skills for aspiring artists, designers, and illustrators.

Such educational initiatives create a space for creative exchange, the development of practical competencies, and a deeper understanding of the profession, bringing students closer to the real-world challenges of contemporary visual art.

We create, explore, and experiment!

07.08.2025