Flying villages and strawberry beaches - such a reality exists only in paintings Polish artist Jacek Yerki. His imagination is a real realm of fictional worlds, mysterious creatures and fantastic landscapes that the artist conveys on canvas. Although most of the images he created have almost nothing to do with reality, the artist's attention to detail and bright saturated colors make us believe in the existence of the places drawn in his paintings. Enjoy the fantastic worlds of Jacek Jerka with us.
20 PHOTOS
1. In the photo: the painting "Autumn". (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com).
Jacek Yerka was born in Torun (Poland) in 1952. From childhood he was fond of drawing and modeling. The artist writes on his website: “My fingers have always been cut with a knife that I never parted with. This is my "escape" from the gray, sometimes frightening reality: drawings, hundreds of drawings and small sculptures - boats, heads, characters, fantastic masks.
2. "Dragon Delight." Fortunately, at the school, which was a "nightmare" for the artist due to difficulties in relations with colleagues, thanks to the understanding of the teachers, Jacek Jerka was able to do his work even during the lessons, which made him very happy. (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com).
3. "Alley of time". Despite the artist's talent and passion for drawing, at first the author of these unusual paintings did not want to devote himself to art, like his parents, who were students of the faculty visual arts Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun. Jacek Jerka wanted to become a doctor or an astronomer and not follow in the footsteps of his ancestors. (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com).
4. "Zeppelin II". However, later young artist changed his mind about future profession when, a year before graduation, he began to draw oil paints and discovered for himself, as he wrote on his website, "the mysterious world of colors and colors." Then he decided to try his hand at impressionism, abstraction, surrealism and many other areas of modern painting. (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com).
5. "Family itself." In his first year at the university, Jacek Yerka delved into the history of art and became interested in the 16th century Dutch painting, which eventually became for him inexhaustible source inspiration, his muse and guide to long years creativity. Then he did not succumb to the persuasion of his teachers, who urged him to draw in more modern style. (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com).
6. "Snail". An important milestone in the artistic career of Jacek Jerka was the drawing of posters. While still a student, his posters won great popularity, as well as many awards at national and international competitions. However, after a few years, the artist devoted himself entirely to painting. (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com).
7. "Polish cuisine". Since the 1980s, Jacek Yerka has been creating surreal, colorful paintings that show people mysterious creatures and subjects of the country and its version famous landscapes. Your vision of the world. The main source of his inspiration is the Polish village, where he often comes, as well as dreams and memories from his childhood, especially walks with his beloved grandmother in the forest. (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com).
8. "Three Seasons". How does the artist create such fantastic, color-rich paintings? When he has an idea, he says, he sketches on paper with colored pencils and then asks his wife and four daughters for their opinion. If they like the project, it becomes the basis for the pastel painting, which he has been painting for almost 20 years. (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com).
9. Sierra telegraphica. In 1995, the paintings of Jacek Jerka received one of the most prestigious awards in the field of fantasy - the World Fantasy Award. (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com).
10. "Express package". (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com). 
11. "Polish Bonsai". (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com). 
12. "Young andron". (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com). 
13. Strawberry Beach. (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com). 
14. "Erosion". (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com). 
15. "Spring labyrinth". (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com). 
16. "House at the source." (Photo: Jacek Yerka/facebook.com). The painting of this artist takes viewers to unseen lands, where everything changes before our eyes. His work even inspired the American writer Harlan Ellison to create a series of short stories. Jacek Yerka (Jacek Yerka or Jacek Kowalski), a recognized master of realistic surrealism and fantasy, owns unique art picturesque creation.
Yorka was born in northern Poland and graduated from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun as a printmaker. But this direction of art turned out to be too narrow for him, and by 1980 Jacek was professionally engaged.
Success came to the artist in 1994 after the release of the first book with his work, called "Mind Fields" (Mind Fields). It was for this edition that the writer Harlan Ellison created thirteen stories, according to the number of paintings associated with them. After that, Jacek's work began to be exhibited in Poland, Germany, Monaco, France and the United States and purchased for different collections Worldwide.
“I think the fifties were sort of a golden age. This happy years of my childhood, filled with the magic of the surrounding world. In my work, this is reflected in buildings, furniture and various pre-war knick-knacks. If I had to draw a computer, I would definitely apply the pre-war aesthetics to it as well.”
Inventions and things of the first half of the 20th century appear in almost every work of the master. You rarely see people on his canvases, but on the other hand, he depicts furniture, household items, dishes and many other things with amazing accuracy, which makes some of his works related to the “tricks” of the Renaissance. This can be clearly seen in the painting “Twilight in the Cupboard” (Twilight In The Cupboard): cups and a loaf of bread are adjacent to a half-peeled lemon, the peel of which curls in rings, as in Dutch still lifes. All the objects depicted are absolutely real, but it is worth taking a closer look, as you notice the cobweb decorating the bottom of the picture, the snails slowly crawling up, and the fingers protruding from the box.
Equally unrealistic is Attack at Dawn, where a pre-war car is depicted as a lizard with a tail, while the planes look like birds of prey preparing to hunt. Jacek's paintings are imbued with symbolism and leave room for the imagination. Looking at them carefully, you can come up with a whole story full of mysteries.
No less famous are the “illusionistic” works of the artist. One of these is the painting "Amonit" (Amonit), which immediately catches the eye of the beholder and makes you wonder what we really see. It is at the same time a giant spiral shell that separates water from land, cave cities carved into the surface, and an ocean that defies the laws of gravity. Everything in this picture is connected and is in a delicate balance, possible only in the mind of the artist.
Jacek Yorka presents the works to the viewer as a peculiar and excellently crafted rebus. Detailed and coloristically solid works immerse in completely different worlds and make you consider every little thing. Bizarre creatures go for a walk, the sky merges with the earth, and new life flows from an empty shell.
The Polish artist Jacek Yerka, in the world Jacek Kowalski, became famous all over the world for his fantasy puzzle paintings. He draws from childhood, and from the earliest times, and then already in art academy he had to defend his unique style: "For some reason, my teachers always wanted to return to reality and draw as it should be: traditionally, without unnecessary fantasies."
Jacek managed to defend his vision of the world, and for more than 20 years the artist's work can be found in various publications, they are exhibited in Europe and the United States, and are also in a number of collections around the world.
Carefully traced canvases by Jacek Yerka are filled with echoes of the famous surrealists of the past - from Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Brueghel to Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte. But there is also some mystery in them, solving which it is quite possible to find yourself in another world, where you can fall asleep in the middle of the forest, ships fly across the sky, and entire estates are hidden in the trees.
Polish illustrator Jacek Jerka is the recipient of the prestigious World Fantasy Award for best artist in the realm of fantasy art.
Jacek Yerka's style is classified by critics as realistic surrealism and fantasy style. The artist's works can be found in various American publications, they are exhibited in Poland, Germany, France, Monaco and the United States, and are also in a number of collections around the world.
Jacek Yerka - Jacek Yerka - the pseudonym of Jacek Kowalski - on early work the author can see the letter "K", Jacek YerkaJacek Yerka instead of the signature "YERKA" on more later works. Jacek was born in Northern Poland in 1952. Studied graphics at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun.
"It seems to me that the 50s were a kind of Golden Age. These are the happy years of my childhood, filled with the magic of the world around. In my work, this is reflected in buildings, furniture and various pre-war trinkets. If I needed to draw a computer, I would certainly attach pre-war aesthetics and to him" - says Jacek Yerka
According to the artist, he painted his first painting before entering college. Jacek Jerka studied graphics at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń.
His teachers tried for some time to teach him to draw in a more modern, abstract, less detailed manner, but the artist saw in this desire of the teachers an attempt to suffocate him. own style. Over time, Yerka's teachers abandoned these attempts, seeing the student's unusual talent.
The carefully drawn canvases of Jacek Yerka are filled with echoes of the famous surrealists of the past, from Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Brueghel to Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte.
American writer science fiction writer Harlan Ellison was so impressed with Yerka's work that he specially wrote 13 new short stories for "Mind Fields", the first book of Yerka's work published in 1994. Each story refers to one of the thirty paintings included in "Mind Fields" by this remarkable Polish artist. In 1999 another book by Jacek Yerka "The Fantastic Art of Jacek Yerka" was published - a portfolio of 21 works by the artist.
In the works of Polish artist Jacek Yerka, a difficult balance has been found between "industrial" and "pastoral", between the real and the fictional. Perhaps that is why his paintings do not leave indifferent and affect the deep strings hidden in the heart, not only among fans science fiction but also for everyone who sees them.
An interesting quality of Jacek Jerka's paintings is how familiar, easily recognizable objects are transformed and integrated into a completely unusual environment, which, of course, is hallmark surrealism.
The most famous collection of works by the artist "Mind Fields" even prompted the American science fiction writer Harlan Ellison to create several stories. Other paintings by Yerka are less well-known, but no less stunning.
Speaking about the creation of his paintings, the author notes that this is a very difficult process. “I get an idea in my head, and with the help of my left hand and soft pencil I make some sketches in a notebook. If the idea is worth developing, then I transfer the drawing to paper. good quality 14 x 11.5 cm, I color it with colored pencils and add some more details. This project is submitted to the Family Jury (wife and 4 daughters) and is most often rejected, accompanied by offensive comments. At the next stage, the drawing “ripens”, lying somewhere under a pile of old papers, and after a few weeks it is again shown to the family. If this time the verdict remains negative, the drawing remains in my archives. But more often than not, one of my girls shows mercy to my work and calls it promising, after which I paint a complete picture.”
In 1995, Jacek Jerka received the World Fantasy Award (World Fantasy Award) as the best artist. His works are exhibited both in his native Poland and in Germany, France, the USA and other countries around the world. The artist's paintings can also be seen on his personal website.
Jacek Kowalski (creative pseudonym Jacek Yerka) was born in Poland in 1952, in a family of artists. Ross surrounded by medieval architecture miraculously survived the bombings during the Second World War. The surroundings of the house and the grandmother's kitchen, where young Jacek spent a lot of time, had a huge impact on the artist's work.
“It seems to me that the 50s were a kind of golden age. These are the happy years of my childhood, filled with the magic of the surrounding world. In my work, this is reflected in buildings, furniture and various pre-war knick-knacks. If I needed to draw a computer, I would certainly apply the pre-war aesthetics to it too,” says Jacek Jerka
Studied graphics at the University of Nicolaus Copernicus (Torun) at the Faculty of Fine Arts, with a specialization in printmaking (graphic art: engraving or other print on paper from a printing plate (matrix)). But, according to the artist, he painted his first painting even before entering college.
The teachers, at first, tried to teach Jacek York to draw in a more modern, abstract, and less detailed manner, but the artist believed that the teachers would only stifle his own style. Soon the teachers abandoned their attempts to change his style, seeing the unusual talent of the student.
Since 1980 he has been working as an artist. American science fiction writer Harlan Ellison - Harlan Ellison was so impressed with the artist's work that he specially wrote 13 new short stories for Mind Fields. The book was published in 1994. Each story refers to one of the thirty paintings included in Mind Fields by this amazing Polish artist.
In 1995, Jacek Jerka won the prestigious World Fantasy Award as the best artist. In 1999, another book by Jacek Yerka, The Fantastic Art of Jacek Yerka, was published with 21 works by the artist.
The works of Jacek Yerka belong to realistic surrealism and fantasy style and are reminiscent of the surrealists of the past (Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Brueghel, Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte). The artist's works are exhibited not only in Poland, but also in Germany, France, Monaco, the USA, and are also in a number of collections around the world.
Jacek tells about himself: “I was born in the city of Torun (a city in Northern Poland) in 1952. My parents were students of the local Academy of Fine Arts. Thus, I came into the world with a special heritage - an artist twice ... My earliest memories are the smell of paints, ink, paper, rubber and brushes.
Most important person in my childhood there was a grandmother, my father's mother - Wanda. I spent my best childhood moments with my grandmother, playing in her house, walking with her in the forest. She was an angel of the heart and never raised her voice...
I was a closed child, it was very difficult to get along with children of my age. I hated to play outdoors. Own free time I used to draw, sitting with a pencil and paper, immersed in my own, different reality. My fingers were always cut with a sharp little knife, which I carried around with me all the time to sharpen my pencils. It was my escape from reality - drawings, hundreds of drawings and small sculptures: boats, heads, figures, fantastic masks.
I survived a nightmare elementary school I am grateful to my teachers who allowed me to sculpt sculptures during the lessons. The teachers noticed that even though my hands were full, I was able to listen, take in the material and delve into the lectures.
I didn't want to be an artist like my parents. I thought about astronomy or medicine. A year before my final exam, I picked up paint for the first time and got into mysterious world colors! Before I was admitted to the Academy, I had already tried in practice all modern trends in painting from impressionism to abstractionism. I was fascinated by Cezanne, I painted a bunch of watercolors in the style of Paul Klee…and in my first year at the Academy, I realized that what fascinates and inspires me the most is the painting of the 15th century masters – Dutch painting.
At the Academy, I chose graphics as my specialization. While studying at the academy, my life was divided into two periods. During the day, it was the usual student work - tests, projects, lectures, and in the evening 2 hours - compulsory painting classes. Their paintings I only showed my family and friends.
Since 1980, I have already worked with several galleries in Warsaw, as well as doing commissioned work. I devoted myself almost exclusively to painting. In the middle of 1990, I received an offer from Hollywood. It turned my monotonous life upside down. Producer René Daalder offered to join the production of a science fiction film called Strawberry Fields.
I took part in the first stage of production, designing figures, monsters, cars and unrealistic landscapes. Some of my works like Creation of Life and Techno beach and Picnic were created while working on this project. Since 1996 I have been painting pastels.
