Sophia Fendel

Sophia Fendel
Laura Grizzlypaws
This is an illustration of Laura Stálhalamcen /Grizzlypaws, a member of the bear clan of the St’át’imc Nation in Canada. She began very early to rediscover the ancient traditions of her people. Today, she´s doing quite a few things – she is an academic, dancer, writer and singer, drummer, teacher and stand up for the indigenous people.


Sophia Fendel
Bilderbuch Doppelseite
A page spread from my unpublished Halloween picture book story

Sophia Fendel
Fuchsmagierin
Cassiopeia´s a curious fox magician and astronomer. I really had fun to create a cozy outfit for her that would allow her to stay warm when she´s strolling through the mystic forests for stargazing but which also would be practical for long work and research hours in her study room.

Sophia Fendel
Moosweiblein
My own interpretation of a “Moosweiblein” (moss folk) from the german folklore. They are tiny people living in the woods. Sometimes they borrow thing from humans or ask them for help, but they also always compensate the owners generously.


Sophia Fendel
Illustration nach Vorlage von Beatrice Blue
Artist Beatrice Blue did a DTIYS (“Draw this in your style”) with these characters and this is my interpretation of her idea.

Sophia Fendel
Midnight Forest
Jack O´Lantern illustration. ——— The later it got and the further he went into the forest, the more muffled the sounds seemed to get around him. Every now and then the wind blew through the treetops, making them rustle in a whisper. Here and there an animal was still walking in the undergrowth. The narrow path led him on through the forest, who looked down on him in silence. Soon only his quiet steps could be heard. And then: voices. Fine, thin voices that at first he was barely able to perceive. Did his senses deceive him? Confused, he raised the lantern that the villagers had given him for the way. Was someone there? “… this way.”, the shadows whispered. Suddenly he noticed a small trail next to him that hadn’t been there before. The whisper became clearer and clearer. “Follow us.” He hesitated.

Sophia Fendel
Sumpfhexe
Illustration in ACEO Card size (6,4×8,9cm) Little swamp witch meets a faerie.

Sophia Fendel
Schneekugel
Illustration of a snow leopard with a snow globe.

Sophia Fendel
Sunrise
A6 illustration of woodlands critters who watch the sunrise from a tree branch in a winter landscape.

Sophia Fendel
Knödelkumpels
Illustration of a raven and a bluetit sitting on a fat ball.

Sophia Fendel
Inka
The Q’ero still live in the highlands of the Andes. It is said that they are the only direct descendants of the Inca Empire who were able to save themselves from the Spanish conquistadors. In Peru they are therefore also regarded as “living cultural heritage”. They still base their lives on the ancient Inca tradition, the cornerstone of which was to live in peace and harmony with everything. Today they live at different altitudes in small houses made of stone, clay and straw. Their sheep, alpacas and llamas are kept right at the top of the mountain ranges, and, depending on the altitude, crops such as maize are grown. The Q’ero still have a deep connection to nature and honor the earth mother Pachamama as well as various mountain spirits.

Sophia Fendel
Fancy Dancer Patrick Willie
I came across the Navajo Patrick Willie when I found a very great 4k recording of his “Fancy War Dance” by mysterybox. When I saw this video, I knew I had to draw his regalia with all the gorgeous colors!

Sophia Fendel
Inuit
Two Inuit who watch the polar lights at a beautiful winter night.



Hello! I am Sophia Fendel, a freelance illustrator living Augsburg, Germany. I was born in 1992 in the beautiful vineyard town of Radebeul, where I grew up with four great siblings and seven budgerigars.
The tower ruins on the vineyards, the nearby, mysterious forests and rocks of Saxon Switzerland and the annual Karl May Festival fueled my interest in world history, nature and the peoples of the earth.
So it is not surprising that I love to illustrate all kind of myths, legends and fairy tales from around the world, because I always found it fascinating how different (or similar sometimes) our cultures tell stories or remember their own origin.
For me as an illustrator it is also important to bring more multicultural characters in picture books. I think that especially indigenous children from all over the world need much more representation in children´s literature so that they have more characters to indentify with.
Sprachen
- Deutsch
- Englisch