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Marto, the book Začátek a konec (The Beginning and The End) that you illustrated has been shortlisted among 150 books selected from 3,858 entries from 68 countries and nominated for the prestigious Bologna Ragazzi Award. The selection was made by an international jury of children's book experts, critics, and journalists. How do you perceive this success in the context of your career, and how does recognition from the international professional community influence you?

I’m primarily very happy that the jury of the competition, which receives an enormous number of submissions, noticed my work and decided to include it in the shortlist. I’ve only been working as an illustrator for a short time, and this small success reassures me that I might be on the right path.

Who is the book intended for, and what world does it lead the reader into?

The book tells the story of the cycle of life. It is aimed at young children and beginner readers, guiding them through the creation of the universe, nature, human customs, and wishes. A unique feature of the book is the tasks given by the narrator, which turn the readers into creators of the story.

Your collaborations with various institutions and publishers such as Paseka, Meander, and Lux reflects a wide professional network. Did your studies at the Sutnar Faculty help you in this regard? Can one make a living from illustration?

Studying at Sutnar Faculty gave me an incubator space where I tried to create projects during my master’s studies that truly reflected my interests. My goal was to design them in a way that I could present them after graduation, which I would consider key. I’d say it’s possible to make a living from illustration as long as one has the energy. The profession requires constant creativity, patience, and acceptance of low pay.

If we look at the broader trend in contemporary children’s literature and illustration, what do you think are the key directions or changes that will define its future? How are you preparing for them?

Each market functions a bit differently, and what sells in Italy might not sell at home. Personally, I feel that books with shorter texts will be published more often, and I think non-fiction books and comics are currently the most popular, as their format offers fun opportunities for experimentation. In addition, comics have the advantage that anyone can be the hero — even a rock or an ice cream. I also think we’re seeing a boom in beautiful books that engage more senses, such as touch or hearing. I enjoy following and exploring these trends, and I’d love to work on such books.

Marta Kelbl graduated in illustration from the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. She developed her artistic language not only at home but also during her study stays in Portugal, the USA, France, and Italy. For her collection of illustrated palindromes Tam a zpět (There and Back Again, published in 2023), she won second place in the student category of the Nejkrásnější české knihy roku (The most beautiful Czech books of the year) competition in 2020 and also participated successfully in the Book in Progress competition the following year. Her thesis project They Them (2022), which became the basis for the book Ani holka, ani kluk (Neither a Girl Nor a Boy), earned her a spot among the finalists of the Czech Grand Design award.