Work samples

  • Exterior
    Exterior
    Our faces work as facades for instinctive reasons to distinguish between individuals."Exterior" is an illustration that is part of a series called "Within". With people, everything may look different on the outside; the size, the shape, the color of the skin, however we are all the same within. We are small parts of one human race.
  • Leather Back Melodies
    Leather Back Melodies
    Leatherback Turtles are the largest sea turtle species and are critically endangered due to increased egg collecting and unintentional bycatch. I am working on creating a 32 page children's book about endangered species. "On the Backs of the Endangered" is a series of illustrations for a children’s book of critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species to raise awareness of the current and future generations about the rapidly disappearing species. Because there isn’t something like this out there, I think it is essential to teach children about the importance of environmental responsibility and preservation for the future.
  • Demoblicans
    Demoblicans
    The two party system is flawed. It is stalling progressive legislature. We are stuck in a loop of political illusion, an illusion of choice. However, we have no choice and we are forgetting that we do not work for the government, the government works for the people...Based on a recent study, US is no longer a democracy, we have become an Oligarchy.
  • Children of the Earth
    Children of the Earth
    "Children of the Earth"is a part of my collection of illustrated poems, exploring the human element, history, experience, existence and nature. The poems are written in a personal style that is very organic, and are filled with abstract analogies and imagery.

About Tima

Baltimore County
I am a graphic designer, illustrator, creative writer and a professor's assistant based in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2016 I graduated from Maryland Institute College of Arts and went back to assist with teaching students. Though, I finished my studies for now, I believe, we never stop learning.  

I solidified my interest in art when I realized that even though I speak four languages, I was still very limited, in the sense that I could only reach the minds of the people that speak the… more

With In

Everything may look different on the outside. The size, the shape, the color of the skin, however we are all the same within.
  • Exterior
    Exterior
    Our faces work as facades for instinctive reasons to distinguish between individuals."Exterior" is an illustration that is part of a series called "Within". With people, everything may look different on the outside; the size, the shape, the color of the skin, however we are all the same within. We are small parts of one human race.
  • Mother and Child
    Mother and Child
    Art history books are filled with religious Mother and Child art. I want to reconstruct that image into this natural representation of the subject. Every human alive and dead went through this process.
  • Backboned
    Backboned
    Our backbones, our hands and our brains are our best traits of evolution. We walk upright, we make the most amazing things and our minds have endless potential. We have to use it to stand up to all of the negative things in the world. Especially with this new political and geo political stage.
  • Remains
    Remains
    It is said that people are seen by what they have left behind after they have passed. Well, all humans leave the same remains after they are gone, but why are we considered different when we are alive?

On the Backs of the Endangered

A collection of illustrations of endangered animals from around the world. I want to show harmony, peace and connection between men and animals to promote environmental responsibility and preservation for the future generation. 
  • Leather Back Melodies
    Leather Back Melodies
    Leatherback Turtles are the largest sea turtle species and are critically endangered due to increased egg collecting and unintentional bycatch. I am working on creating a 32 page children's book about endangered species. "On the Backs of the Endangered" is a series of illustrations for a children’s book of critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable species to raise awareness of the current and future generations about the rapidly disappearing species. Because there isn’t something like this out there, I think it is essential to teach children about the importance of environmental responsibility and preservation for the future.
  • Christmas Island Frigatebird Grass
    Christmas Island Frigatebird Grass
    Christmas Island Frigatebird belongs to a family of birds with the largest wingspan to body weight ratio of any bird. The yellow crazy ant invasive species have jeopardized Frigatebird wellbeing.
  • Red Panda
    Red Panda
    Red Pandas are caught in traps meant for other animals. They are also poached for their fur to make caps or hats.
  • Snow Leopard Winds
    Snow Leopard Winds
    Member of the large cat family, snow leopards live in some of the toughest environments on the planet. They are in decline due to hunting for their body parts and beautiful fur.
  • Black Spider Monkey Beats
    Black Spider Monkey Beats
    One of the largest primate species found in South America. They are on the decline due to habitat loss and hunting.
  • Northern White Rhino Blues
    Northern White Rhino Blues
    Northern White Rhinoceros is one of the two White Rhino species. They are critically endangered because of hunting and poaching for their horns. There are only three Northern White Rhinos left.
  • Vaquita Danza
    Vaquita Danza
    Vaquita is the most endangered cetacea in the world. Endangered due to being trapped in fishing nets.
  • Sumatran Orangutan Ring
    Sumatran Orangutan Ring
    Sumatran Orangutans are almost exclusively arboreal and live their entire lives mostly in the trees. They are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
  • Giant Panda Waltz
    Giant Panda Waltz
    The Giant Panda was recently upgraded to the vulnerable category from endangered.
  • South China Dance
    South China Dance
    The largest of all the Asian big cat family, the South China Tiger is critically endangered due to loss of habitat and hunting.

Illustrated Poems

A collection of illustrated poems by Tima Aflitunov, exploring the human element, history, experience, existence and nature. The poems are written in a personal style that is very organic, and are filled with abstract analogies and imagery. 
English, being my third language, serves as wider outlet for my work, allowing me to reach a larger audience. However, I find language alone to be a very limiting means of communication. I define art as a universal language and pair each poem with visuals to help the reader reach a deeper connection with the meaning.
  • Children of the Earth
    Children of the Earth
    We, the human race are all the same. We need same things to survive, we are made out of the same materials and we have same fates.
  • To Y. Katsnelson
    To Y. Katsnelson
    After a long philosophical discussion with my good friend, I decided to answer his question "What is the purpose of life?" with a poem.
  • Sleepless
    Sleepless
    When you're thinking about another person so wildly that you cannot fall asleep. Every sound and sensation is amplified by the thoughts of them.
  • Weakness of Faith
    Weakness of Faith
    Religious faith can serve as a great weakness to human civilizations. In this example I'm discussing how after invading Egypt, the Macedonians ruled the people of Egypt without changing the religion, but instead adopting it as if the Macedonians are the chosen rulers of gods.
  • Leucanthemum Vulgare (Oxeye Daisy)
    Leucanthemum Vulgare (Oxeye Daisy)
    A story about a girl who fell in love with those who did not treasure her.
  • In Flight
    In Flight
    Sometimes we reach highs and forget who we are. We lose self identity.
  • The Gaps In-Between
    The Gaps In-Between
    In our lives, gaps always form and through them we lose ourselves.
  • Estrella
    Estrella
    When you really like someone, but they are inaccessible for one or another reason, you keep your distance.
  • Before & Restless
    Before & Restless
    Poems about experience of love

Complex Minimalism

With this series, I'm trying to wed visual simplicity with subjective complexity. I explore complex social, economic and political issues through symbolism and simple imagery.
  • Demoblicans
    Demoblicans
    The two party system is flawed. It is stalling progressive legislature. We are stuck in a loop of political illusion, an illusion of choice. However, we have no choice and we are forgetting that we do not work for the government, the government works for the people...Based on a recent study, US is no longer a democracy, we have become an Oligarchy.
  • Peaceful Equality
    Peaceful Equality
    Unity of sexes, colors and statuses.
  • Hunger
    Hunger
    There are more than enough food in the developed countries, however more and more people are experiencing hunger and starvation in small countries of the world.
  • Economic Inequality
    Economic Inequality
    Drawn from ideas of Thomas Piketty's book "Capital" about what the western Capitalist division and unequal wealth distribution. Top 1% of the wealthiest hold the largest percent of the world wealth.

Friend or Foe

We all get in trouble in our lives. We have to learn how to deal with it when we do. This story without words shows how it can get from bad to worse. 
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    Page 3
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Birth of an Idea

A story without words about how ideas are born. Before we get to a great idea, we have go through strings of useless mass and information and at the end of that string, a brilliant idea is born!
  • Page 1
    Page 1
    We start thinking and we notice something coming out.
  • Page 2
    Page 2
    We keep picking and pulling trying to find where it's leading.
  • Page 3
    Page 3
    It becomes more difficult to draw things out.
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    Page 4
    Then the string gets stuck and we bend over backwards to figure out what it is.
  • Page 5
    Page 5
    It rips out of the mind. We aren't sure what it is.
  • Page 6
    Page 6
    We don't know what it is yet, but it's running wild!
  • Page 7
    Page 7
    We approach it and we observe it. Holding it, while the extras drip away.
  • Page 8
    Page 8
    No more strings attached! It is beautiful!
  • Page 9
    Page 9
    It is the birth of the brilliant idea! It's all ours!