This is my annual project — a wall calendar, with which I am experimenting every year trying different materials and subjects.

This time it's a story about a ladybug who didn't have time to do anything.

But she had a friend caterpillar, a master of time management, who helped her to stay focused on her dreams.

This story is suitable for both children and adults — all of us have dreams and sometimes it's really hard to follow them and not being swallowed by the routine and ordinary things of everyday life.

I created 12 illustrations using technique of collage. Mostly I cut the paper which I painted in advance with gouache, but I also used colored, transparent and textured paper and sometimes colored pencils.

Here is the video showing the process behind the scenes:

Here are the 12 illustrations themselves:

January: "Time passes so quickly!"

February: "What should I drink? A cup of basil tea or a glass of morning dew?"

March: "What should I write in my dream journal?" 

April: "Here are my dreams" — said the caterpillar

May: "Today I will do everything I want!"

June: Unexpected occasion

July: "What is this giant snail?" 

August: Dreams and responsibilities

September: Caterpillar the Yoga Teacher

October: The caterpillar has an idea

November: A dream came true!

December: "Let's dance!"

The numbers, the names of the months and the grid were also cut out of paper. My cats really helped me during the process:

Here is one of the time-lapes for an October collage:

After everything was done, illustrations were scanned and printed on 100% recycled paper and connected with a cotton string. I made sure that the layout is done in a way that after the year is over each illustration can be cut and put inside the A5 frame

These calendars can be ordered at my etsy-shop ♬

You can follow my instagram for more illustrations and animations ♪