Maciek Łazowski: The illustrator turning bold ideas into peculiar smiles

Maciek Łazowski, a talented 3D and 2D illustrator based in Warsaw, has a name as unique as his work. As he puts it, his first name sounds a bit like "my cheque", while his last name rhymes perfectly with Mike Wazowski, the beloved character from Monsters, Inc. This playful connection hints at the quirky joy of his illustrations, which have delighted audiences around the globe.

Years of cartooning and graphic design provided the foundation for Maciek's creative journey. While these early pursuits sharpened his skills and expanded his creative vision, they ultimately led him to discover his true passion: illustration. "That spark came in the form of the 'I Want My Hat Back' picture book by Jon Klassen. I stumbled upon it in a bookstore and was immediately blown away. It helped me discover modern illustration and inspired me to make my own picture book, which began my change of career," he explains.

Since making the switch, his latest work looks nothing like his earlier creations, but he certainly brings his experience along with him. "In my cartoons, I've always aimed to make people laugh, and doing webcomics and reading people's feedback helped me to learn what works and what doesn't. So if there's room for a joke in an illustration, I'll never shy away from it," he says. "While design helped me with composition, hierarchy, and clarity of my work. It provided me with structures and systems. It made me realise the importance of technical aspects, too. Now, before I go do the creative part, I need to have my dimensions, bleeds, dead areas, and text placements figured out. It saved my ass many times."

But his work is designed to do more than make you laugh—it aims to evoke deeper emotion. Whether it's a nod of recognition or a moment of curiosity, he hopes his work often prompts us to think, "That's… peculiar". He explains, "I remember back when I was making cartoons, I didn't really consider them to be 'art'; they were just this silly thing I did. I've noticed people smiling and even laughing at them, and it made me realise that changing people's emotions can be really powerful. I may not be able to solve world hunger, but if I can give someone a nice moment, that's enough for me."

It's not just about humour, though. His style is inspired by a diverse range of influences, from the nostalgic animations of Genndy Tartakovsky and Bruce Timm to the experimental art of Salvador Dalí and the simplicity of Paul Rand's designs. Even old Czechoslovakian matchbox art finds a place in Maciek's creative arsenal.

Working on the outskirts of Warsaw, Maciek's environment subtly influences his process. Surrounded by a quieter suburban setting, he balances introspection with regular trips to the city's vibrant centre, where he connects with fellow illustrators and finds inspiration in their energy. While Poland's cultural backdrop, which he describes as having a unique flavour of pessimism, occasionally seeps into his art, Maciek's work often challenges this tone with playful irreverence and bold optimism.

His creative process is as meticulous as it is inventive. Maciek approaches illustration like solving a math problem—mapping out ideas, exploring connections, and sketching concepts until the perfect visual solution emerges. His tools range from the humble pencil to digital platforms like Procreate and Blender, the latter of which has become his favourite medium. Of course, all this hard work and dedication has helped Maciek push his creative boundaries, mastering 3D illustration after years of persistence and practice. "3D is currently my favourite medium. I fell head over heels for it. It can be frustrating and tedious, but the results make my heart beat faster," he adds.

Maciek's career highlights include editorial commissions for renowned publications like BBC Science Focus Magazine—a project where he successfully navigated the challenges of 3D animation for the first time. These milestones reflect not only his technical skill but also his determination to tackle new challenges head-on. Beyond client work, Maciek's personal projects—such as designing and creating a 3D-printed art toy—showcase his passion for blending playfulness with precision.

Despite his growing success, Maciek defines achievement on his own terms. For him, true fulfilment comes from creating work that resonates with both himself and his audience. Whether through a single illustration or a large-scale project, Maciek's goal remains simple: to bring joy, provoke thought, and inspire wonder.

Looking ahead, Maciek has his sights set on exciting new ventures. From releasing his own line of art toys to collaborating with major tech giants like Apple, Facebook, or Google, he's ready to take his work to the next level.

Through it all, his advice to aspiring illustrators is clear: "Do as many personal projects as possible, and find overlaps between things you enjoy drawing, are good at, and people respond to. But don't do it alone. Join a community or a collective, or have a group of friends who can motivate and support you. It's a solo journey, but friends will help you get through tough times. And speaking of tough times—be patient because it'll probably take ages to develop a unique style. Don't give up."

With a distinctive aesthetic, an infectious sense of humour, and a commitment to continual growth, Maciek Łazowski is an illustrator making the creative world a little bolder, a little brighter, and much more peculiar.