Bagram Ibatoulline is a Russian-born artist who has illustrated numerous books for younger readers written by Philip Booth, Kate DiCamillo, Michelle Houts, Stephen Mitchell, Linda Sue Park, Lois Lowry and others. His illustrations have been noted in reviews in The New York Times, Kirkus Reviews, and other national publications. Maria Russo wrote in 2019 that "Ibatoulline’s realistic watercolors astound and enchant, as always."[1][2][3]
Ibatoulline's ("The Hawk of the Castle") realistic watercolors astound and enchant, as always.Review of Sea Glass Summer by Michelle Houts.
Ibatoulline skillfully captures a sense of the rolling stock's hugeness, depicts rust and machinery with magnificent precision, gives his human cast a cheery, Norman Rockwell–style wholesomeness, and backs off in one spread to show all 100 cars (count them) spiraling into a tunnel.
Mr. Ibatoulline's fine, realistic pictures of castle, landscape and soaring predator have a wonderful feeling of sweep and drama.