German illustrator Isabel Seliger has achieved a remarkable milestone in her career by creating illustrations for Kazuo Ishiguro's acclaimed novel 'Klara and the Sun,' published by the prestigious Folio Society. The project represents a full-circle moment for Seliger, who first submitted her portfolio to the publisher a decade ago and was told her work needed more faces - an area she has since developed into a specialty.

The commission came through serendipity in August 2024, when Seliger received an inquiry from the Folio Society just after finishing the audiobook version of Ishiguro's novel. "It's such a great and special story, and Klara is maybe the most wonderful character I've ever read," Seliger explained. "I'd just finished it when I received a commission from the Folio Society to illustrate this very book! It felt simply surreal."

The Berlin-based artist was tasked with creating comprehensive artwork for the deluxe edition, including the cover design, slipcase, endpapers, and seven interior illustrations. The book, bound in cloth with metallic endpapers and housed in a slipcase, was released this week. To prepare for the project, Seliger read the novel three additional times before suggesting scenes for the interior illustrations.

"I spent two weeks at the seaside and worked my way through the book, observing the light around me with intense focus," she revealed. "I was perhaps as obsessed with the sun as Klara is. For the book, I gave the characters faces, which I found to be a great challenge and responsibility. But I had to let go of any worries and just trust my instincts."

Seliger's artistic approach perfectly complements Ishiguro's story about Klara, an Artificial Friend who observes the world while hoping a human will purchase her and become her companion. The cover image features a wistful portrait of Klara that sets the tone for the entire reading experience. Seliger's style focuses on creating "atmospheric, mysterious and poetic motifs that play out in an inner rather than an outer world."

Over the years, Seliger has evolved her technical approach from pen and ink sketching to digitally coloring ink drawings, and eventually to a completely digital process. She now uses Procreate on her iPad and Photoshop on a Mac, equipped with a Wacom Intuos tablet. This evolution has allowed her to develop a distinctive style that emphasizes mood and atmosphere over literal representation.

The illustrator has built an impressive portfolio in recent years, particularly in editorial and publishing markets. From October 2024 to January 2025, she created artwork for The New Yorker's weekly Book Currents column, blending portraits of columnists with themes from the books being discussed. Her work for The New York Times has included diverse projects, from illustrating an article about the psychological effects of life on Mars to creating twelve illustrations on the theme of fortune tellers for the NYT Kids section in 2023.

"I love it when a commission allows me to approach a topic in a freer and playful way, like the fortune tellers project," Seliger noted. She has also created work for other publications, including pieces for Black Dragon Press and illustrations for "Der Schwarm" by Frank Schätzing.

Regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on her field, Seliger believes it will create challenges, especially for emerging illustrators trying to establish their careers. However, she remains optimistic about the value of authentic artistic vision. "I wouldn't pay so much attention to what you think is in demand," she advises aspiring illustrators. "Really look inside yourself and find the thing or things that really interest you, that you feel like doing and that you'd like to explore further."

Seliger emphasizes the importance of experimentation and developing a strong personal signature in one's work. She also stresses that being reliable and approachable are essential qualities for success in the industry. Her approach involves working with elements, objects, and abstract motifs that, when combined, tell larger stories and create specific moods through series of images.

With the completion of her work on 'Klara and the Sun,' Seliger has achieved what she considers her dream project. The collaboration allowed her to work directly with material that had deeply moved her, and she had the unique experience of knowing that Ishiguro himself would be approving her illustrations. As for her next challenge, Seliger remains open to new opportunities that will allow her to continue exploring the intersection of literature and visual art.