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Catherine Zarip

Biography

Catherine Zarip (1966) is an illustrator and graphic designer. She graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in ceramics 1995, after which she worked at the publisher Avita as a book designer and art director. She is currently a freelance artist. Zarip has illustrated dozens of textbooks, more than 30 children’s books, and has designed about 200 works in total. She is a member of the Estonian Graphic Designers Association and the Estonian Section of IBBY. Zarip has been awarded twice at the Tallinn Illustrations Triennial and ten times in the 5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books competition. Her works are held in the collections of the Estonian National Library and the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre. Her art is fresh and elegant – simultaneously animated and restrained, detail-rich and simplified.

As a child I had two dreams – to become a cosmonaut or a book illustrator. Somewhere along the way my dreams fell by the wayside because I went to study ceramics at the art academy. But life took charge and in my final year I was asked to illustrate a textbook. I worked for that publisher for 19 years as a book designer. During that time I have also illustrated books.
Creating the world of pictures is a wonderful job. Each time I need to think up something new and improve my knowledge of the world and the way things work. Everyone’s work should be like this – doing something that you like and being able to bring joy to other people.

Profile photo: Piia Ruber

Täheke, 12/2006, cover, acrylicEstonian language textbook for 3rd grade II. L. Carroll Alice In Wonderland, 2008, acrylicDarja Gerassimova. Winter Fairytale/Magic Winter, Labirint, 2011, acrylicAino Pervik. The Wandering Cat, Tammerraamat, 2012, acrylicIko Maran. But So Many Cats, TEA, 2012, acrylicHilli Rand. Snowy White and Pitch Black, Päike ja Pilv, 2014, acrylic, mixed mediaAino Pervik. Bluephant Goes to Kindergarten, Tammerraamat, 2014, acrylic, mixed mediaMargery Williams. The Velveteen Rabbit, Koolibri, 2015, acrylic, mixed mediaLeelo Tungal. Joseph the Bunny Looks for a Friend, Tammerraamat, 2015, acrylic, mixed mediaHow the Animals Got their Tails, Tammerraamat, 2017, acrylic, mixed mediaHow the Animals Got their Tails, Tammerraamat, 2017, acrylic, mixed mediaIlmar Tomusk. Wolf’s Friends, Tammerraamat, 2018, acrylic, mixed mediaIlmar Tomusk. Wolf’s Friends, Tammerraamat, 2018, acrylic, mixed mediaEllen Niit. The Little Bunny Who Didn’t Want to Go to Sleep, Tammerraamat, 2018, acrylic, mixed mediaLiis Sein. Saskia Looks for Colours, Tammerraamat, 2019, acrylic, mixed media

The Gingerbread Story

Piret Veigel

Postimees Kirjastus
2019, 32 pp
ISBN: 9789949669585
fiction, picturebook

Not a Peep

Olivia Saar

Pegasus
2017, 30 pp
ISBN: 9789949620494
fiction, storybook

The Velveteen Rabbit

Margery Williams

Translator: Piret Carson
Koolibri
2015, 31 pp
ISBN: 9789985036396
fiction, storybook, picturebook

A Tiny Tree

Eesti Lastekirjanduse Keskus
2015, 96 pp
ISBN: 9789985919880
fiction, storybook, poetry

But A Lot Of Cats

Iko Maran

TEA Kirjastus
2012, 32 pp
ISBN: 9789949241187
fiction, storybook

Wiff-Waff Warbler

Jaan Rannap

TEA Kirjastus
2008, 72 pp
ISBN: 9789985717271
fiction, storybook

Miisu's Birthday

Uno Leies

TEA Kirjastus
2007, 56 pp
ISBN: 9789985716298
fiction, poetry