The Universe in a Book...Cover

a journey through my imagination

Who Am I?

MEET THE ARTIST

My Background

While there are many things to be said about careers and skills, one in particular stands out for me as the most important thing: I love art. I always have, and always will.

Because I have always been a huge sci-fi, fantasy and horror nerd, it came as no surprise that these were the things I loved to draw most.

My background in geology/paleontology and years of drawing fossils and dinosaurs during my University years have brought me a thorough understanding of animal anatomy and how living things function and move, allowing me to successfully imagine and draw creatures that do not exist with a realistic twist based on facts. 

There’s nothing more satisfying than creating a weird creature or character, than bringing to life some old forgotten Norse god or strange faerie, or designing a lonely cyborg about to become sentient. I absolutely love drawing characters and concept art, and creating new worlds!
Having read hundreds of fantasy and sci-fi books, I easily imagine what needs to be done for a cover and often get high praises for being spot on. Being also an avid videogamer I have a vast knowledge and reservoir of game lore that has often proved to be a great resource in the LitRPG genre.

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IKARUNA IS A 42 YEAR OLD ILLUSTRATOR ARTIST AND MASTER MONSTER MAKER

My Journey

My artistic journey has taken me from years of drawing with pen and charcoal as a youngster, towards a more digital world of using graphics tablets and computer programs. But whether I am painting on canvas, drawing on my tablet or sculpting in my garden, there’s nothing more fulfilling than bringing my inner universe and creatures to life.

As an avid reader of sci-fi/fantasy and a passionate videogamer, I spend my days immersed in strange and enchanting universes that eventually inspire me to create wonderful and sometimes terrifying creatures.

I am now fulfilling my life long dream of being a fully independent artist, and enjoying the incredible feeling of being able to live off my art in a quiet and secluded rural high-mountain area. 

When I’m not drawing I’m spending my time with my husband, enjoying the company of the cats and dogs bringing joy into our house, or taking long walks in the mountains and the woods. If it’s rainy, I’ll probably spend all day with a good fantasy / sci-fi / horror book or in front of the Playstation, or even …knitting!

When it’s sunny outside, you’ll likely find me riding my motorcycle!

My Specialties

Science Fiction & Fantasy
By far the area I am most specialized in, I find great pleasure in drawing and illustrating mighty battle scenes, epic starships or mysterious alien creatures.
Creatures & Characters
Oftentimes I am asked to create or define a character for a book cover, and there's no shortage of ideas for that - mysterious villains, strong heroes or enchanting sorceresses go hand in hand with otherworldly monsters or mythical beasts.
Cyberpunk & Biomecha
One of my favorite artists and biggest artistic influences was H.R. Giger, so as a kid growing up drawing Alien, I was bound to develop a taste for the fascinating, sometimes disturbing world of machines, alien AIs and human hybrids.
Horror and Dark Arts
Monsters, dark gods and disturbing demons are my best friends! I've always found that dismissing the dark side of art is doing it a great disservice, so I am constantly creating new creatures to try and convince people of this simple truth: you can be friends with the monster under your bed!

Book Covers

7 days a week, 05 AM to 5 PM (GMT+3)

ikaruna's Book Covers for Book Lovers

The book covers you'll find here are a labor of love – countless hours of research and design, days spent in the library reading and dreaming wide awake, endless moments spent drawing either on a tablet or on canvas. Let's take a walk together through enchanted forests and abandoned spaceships, and bring to life our inner universes!