As a child, I loved drawing and being creative, but above all, I loved stories. Every evening before going to sleep, my dad would read to me from a book of classic fairy tales illustrated by the Czech artist Jiří Trnka. Both the illustrations and the stories fueled my imagination; they were mysterious, magical, and sometimes even eerie. I found my own inspiration by the campfire, in my parents’ garden with a pond full of frogs and colorful carp, in the hummingbirds fighting at the feeder, the wolf-dog that was our pet, the green parrot, and the gray owl that one day flew in and decided to stay. Mysteries hid everywhere: in chests and wardrobes, on the streets and in the markets of the city, in the cemetery next to the house, which in November filled with orange flowers and music, and in the forest and the mountains all around. Magic was real and ran through my entire childhood. I would collect sheets of paper, fold them into little books, ask my aunts to write down my stories, and add my own illustrations with colored pencils. In this way, I became a storyteller: I would tell my stories to my mom, my brother, my cousins, and the children we played with on the street.

In my youth, an interest in film and theater developed, and later a fascination for animation, which united everything I loved about my favorite media. After finishing school, I moved to Germany to study art history and later graphic and media design. Today, I work as an illustrator and teach analog and digital animation techniques. The magic of everyday life, folklore, and nature still shape my work to this day. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, knitting, cycling, and visiting museums, the theater, and the cinema.

As I already mentioned, stories—the ones I was told and the ones I invented—are a very important part of what makes me who I am. But they are not only important to me; they are fundamental to being human. Through the stories we tell, we create and invent meaning. In this way, we experience empathy, live a thousand other lives, and give meaning to our own. It can be a simple anecdote or a fantastic tale, invented or true—it is the fabric of civilization and the transformation of the psyche. Psychologists, politicians, and advertisers know the value and the power of a good story.

Nice to meet you! My name is Bea

For a detailed look into my professional trajectory, you can download my CV or visit my LinkedIn page.

Photos by Luisa Aehlig.