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Maiju Liikka

@handimagined

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Drawing, painting, hand-imagining
Illustrator, writer, educator
🇫🇮 Finland
BCBF Illustrators Exhibition Finalist 2026

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It's been awhile – but I have some great news! While I finished this short-comic trilogy with Along the Coast, I filmed an hour-long process video which is NOW LIVE ON MY PATREON! ✨

Yes, I've started my Pätreön today, huzzah! 🥳 You can check out some of the free stuff while getting to know me and stay connected as a free member if you like, (there is a link in bio). There is currently only one paid tier called Inner Circle which has the same benefits for everyone. And psst– in April I will be talking about SHAPE, so I will post about 3 more videos this month to kick things off!

Along the Coast is actually day 7 of #7DaysOfSketchbookJoy that was hosted by the always helpful @katie_moody whose P@treon is absolutely worth checking out! I've been an on-and-off patron of hers for 2 years now and it's a lovely place to be in. 💕

#shortcomics #illustratorsofinstagram #drawingchallenge #alongthecoast by @handimagined

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4 months ago

Going back to the river at night you may see the reflection of starlight... ✨

Day 4 of #7DaysOfSketchbookJoy hosted by the lovely @katie_moody ! I'm so glad I get to do more tonal practice with this challenge, since that was my intention for this year!

#drawingchallenge #illustratorsoninstagram #comicstrip #moonlight by @handimagined

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5 months ago

I returned to my desk after spending 3 weeks sick mostly in bed – and what a nice way to stretch my creative brain by starting with a chill sketchbook challenge! Just graphite, just some panels, no pressure, draw whatever... slipping into the flow state, and the sounds of the river emerged. 💦

Day 1 of #7DaysOfSketchbookJoy hosted by the wonderful @katie_moody

(I reposted this after switching the bottom two panels, thought it flows better like this ;)

#sketchbookchallenge #draweveryday #comicpanels #creativepractice by @handimagined

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5 months ago

Slow Bug – day 2 of #julybugweek26 hosted by @k0.za 🐛

I was woken from my third nap by the most peculiar sound I have ever heard. On the ground I found a plump caterpillar – most likely an offspring of one of the flying bugs – that made a typewriter sound when crawling away. I listened for awhile to hear a "ping" sound too.

I wonder what the caterpillar was writing?

#julybugweek #travelingbotanist #typewriter #ar by @handimagined

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3 days ago

Cozy Bug – day 1 of #julybugweek26 hosted by @k0.za 🐛

Some of the flying bugs around here have some sort of writing on their wings – but most of them are so quick that I can not make sense of their markings. They seem to enjoy my overgrown flower garden, watching them flutter around from my hammock feels so cozy I have taken a nap, twice.

#travelingbotanist #julybugweek #mixedmedia #artchallenge by @handimagined

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3 days ago

Notes from the Traveling Botanist – Bug Week!

After returning home from the Bug Island (Bug Week 2025) I had begun to notice more insects around my garden.
Soon I realized that some of them were leaving me messages.
As I do not know the scientific names of these bugs nor do I speak their language, I might need to send some of my notes to the Bug Girl.

Bug Girl aka @k0.za is hosting #julybugweek26 on 22–28! 🐜🐜🐜

My thought process this year was: "I haven't felt like drawing. I want to do something small and simple. OH I KNOW, how about trying out all these new techniques, covering the entire house with strange scraps of paper, and calling those experiments 'Messages from the Bugs'? That'll do it!"

#julybugweek #travelingbotanist #illustratorsofinstagram #mixedmedia by @handimagined

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3 days ago

Folk's Tail – It is told that if you speak your sorrows to this ancient plant, it will listen and lighten your burden. The spell is most powerful when cast on Midsummer night's eve. ✨

Flower+people – day 4 of #imaginedflowerchallenge2026 hosted by @estee.zales

Happy Midsummer or summer solstice, here's some Midsummer magic for you. 🌞

#drawingchallenge #mixedmedia #summersolstice #plantmagick by @handimagined

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a month ago

Pippin Root – A strange plant that grows horizontally in the witches' nursery. Is dotted with spiky apple-like fruit, and is used for unknown potions.

Flower+apple – Day 3 of #imaginedflowerchallenge2026 by @estee.zales

Apparently "pippin" means some sort of an apple! I did not have any time to draw during the day, so coming up with about 70 plants at midnight seems like a "fun" punishment. Here's also some material testing I did before the challenge – it was fun/difficult deciding on the technique!

How are you doing with the challenge, still hanging in there? 🍏

#travelingbotanist #drawingchallenge #plantlife #conceptart by @handimagined

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2 months ago

Time-will-tell – A nocturnal plant that blooms at midnight. The petals must be collected before they fall and lose their magic, and the life-saving elixir must be served before dawn.

Flower+clock: Day 2 of the #imaginedflowerchallenge2026 by @estee.zales 🌿

Now I know that most of you have already gone to bed for day 2, but you know how these nocturnal plants are... (And yes this was definitely planned and I was not at all late because of the mind-numbing heat+allergies! :)

In Finnish the word "kello" means both "clock" and "bell", so I wanted to combine those two in a single plant. Today I'm also sharing the sketches behind this piece!

#travelingbotanist #drawingchallenge #illustratorsofinstagram #draweveryday by @handimagined

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2 months ago

Caviar Berry. Potent as well as pungent. Each tiny bead contains more nourishment than a single fish. It is used as a strong broth, or dried and served as tea.

Flower+fish: Day 1 of #imaginedflowerchallenge2026 hosted by @estee.zales yipee! Are you also joining? ☺️

I've added some sketches of the witches and healers of the sanatorium+plant sanctuary. What started out as doodles, soon made me realize I could draw a hundred of them... and maybe I will! Which witch are you??

#travelingbotanist #drawingchallenge #imaginedflowerchallenge #dailydrawing by @handimagined

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2 months ago

Tales from the Traveling Botanist – Healers of the Witches' Grove

The Imagined Flower Challenge hosted by @estee.zales starts tomorrow! #imaginedflowerchallenge2026

Of course my dear traveling botanist had to make a comeback, althought this time... 🌚

I wanted to share some more process and sketches this year, there is also going to be some extra insight on Pätreön. 🤍

#travelingbotanist #imaginedflowerchallenge #drawingchallenge #illustratorsofinstagram by @handimagined

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2 months ago

Someone once wrote that inspiration is a bug – do you agree?

Ps. That someone was me in today's newsletter so hihi, have a happy friday! 🌞

#inspiration #instacomic #vvsc26curiosity #mixedmedia #draweverydamnday by @handimagined

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2 months ago