Alena Kubíková

@ajinak

Freelance illustrator from Prague, with a soft spot for both darker and silly ☕️🎨 Card/board game art, book covers | ✉️ email@ajinak.cz | www.ajinak.cz

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Alena Kubíková@ajinak· 29d

Hi #PortfolioDay, I'm Alena, a freelance illustrator from Prague, who loves painting things with character, capturing little story moments. I work mainly - but not only - in card/board games & book covers. Take a look at what I do at www.ajinak.cz 🎨

A digital painting of a sneaky red dragon inside a forest, moving on rocks above a stream, holding a bright red gemstone with its tail, just above the water, examining it. Bottom part of the image is submerged, showing other gems scattered on the stream floor.

Three bookmark illustrations side by side:

1. A dark-haired nobleman with a cane and a coat over shoulder stands on the ramparts, with a blue flag fluttering in the front and an evening sky in the back.

2. A reddish-brown-haired dragon rider sits on the ground with one leg up, with a red dragon wing over his head, while a little dragon sleeps in front of him, and two dragons fly in the sky in the back.

3. A black-haired sorceress with horns dressed in black dress casts green magic, flying, surrounded by floating leaves burning with green flames.

Four black-and-white digital paintings with visible lineart, each featuring an artifact: a babbling book in front of a mirror; a spear made of dark meteoric metal lying on cracked ground; a throne with a carving of an owl with light shining from a glass mozaic behind; a dark club with carvings set in a snowy landscape with a giant skeleton lying next to it.

A digital painting of a grey cat warlock standing ready in a misty, rocky landscape, holding a double-bladed topaz sword faintly glowing with magic. A giant rat skull rests on the rocks to the left, and a hissing rat appears on the right. A flock of birds flies in the background.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Jul 13

Bookmarks preview:

A set of three illustrated bookmarks each featuring a character and a distinct main color scheme (blue, red, green). Titles read: 1. Hradní pán (Castle Lord), 2. Krotitel draků (Dragon Tamer), 3. Vzpurná mágyně (Rebellious Sorceress).

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Feb 12

A little painterly graphic for a writer friend's literary workshops. Or more precisely - a reworked version of an older one from 2021. I liked how it turned out, and so I decided to also share it myself. Got to paint a fennec after all.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Feb 8

Campaign nears its end, and so I'll do this together this time. But Exploration and Equipment cards share a similar layout after all, as well as usage of icons. And so, here's a little selection of item artworks. #cardgameart #itemart #boardgamesky

A collage of five illustrated cards set on a forest-themed background. Two cards have leafy green layout frames, three have brown frames, and they all feature painterly item illustrations (and various game icons): red berries; a pile of wood; two flints igniting a straw circle with sparks; a campfire; and a stone knife wrapped in cloth. Text at the bottom right reads: The Last in The Woods.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Feb 7

Time to meet some of the characters. There are a few more to pick from, and two new ones will be joining the forest shortly. 🌲 Series are always fun. I tried making them distinct to each other, while also subtly hinting at their abilities. (GF campaign ends tomorrow) #cardgameart #boardgamesky

A collage of five illustrated cards and three cardbacks with life counters set on a forest-themed background. Cards have a leafy green layout frame and a wooden text box, and feature painterly portraits: an older lady with grey hair; a red-haired boy with a soot smudge on his cheek; a guy with blond beard and a chicken leg; a brown-haired woman with a headband and a backpack; and a blonde girl with a straw crown.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Feb 5

Hey artists! Quote with your women art ✨️

A set of three illustrated bookmarks: 1. Vampire Ball - A vampire noblewoman in a red-and-black dress holds a glass of red liquid, surrounded by falling rose petals. 2. In a Grip of Steampunk - A girl with goggles on her head looks up at golden-hour skies filled with airships. 3. Dark Fantasy - A hooded sorceress casts a spell, bones floating around her. Purple runes glow in an open magic book, while a startled black cat watches from above.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Feb 3

A little selection of Event cards, from all four levels. Loved working on these, treating them as little painterly windows into the moment. The Last in the Woods / Poslední v lese Gamefound campaign is in its final week: gamefound.com/cs/projects/... 🌲 #cardgameart #cardgamedesign #boardgamesky

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Jan 13

Hi #PortfolioDay, I'm Alena, a freelance illustrator who loves painting things with character, capturing little story moments. I mainly work in card and board games and book covers. 🎨 www.ajinak.cz | ✉️ email@ajinak.cz

A digital painting of a priestly mushroom figure with a blue scarf blindfold, standing in a forest with folded arms, spreading its white-spotted wings that resemble a red toadstool. Trees with mushrooms fill the back, and a snail on a plant observes the fungi character from the right.

A digital painting of a hyena/gnoll trio in ragged clothing. The lead hyena holds a wooden weapon with teeth and shrugs shoulders, grinning sinisterly. Her shirt looks suspiciously like a lion's mane. One hyena in the background is tripping over a stone with a silly expression.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Jan 8

The Last in the Woods campaign is live on Gamefound! 🌲 gamefound.com/cs/projects/... I did both art and graphics, and it was so much fun. It would mean the world if you could take a look and share.♡ #cardgame #boardgamesky

A preview image of The Last in the Woods board game, showing the game box, various cards (including a female character named Emily in a grey hood, a thunderstorm, honey, and a fire striker), and tokens arranged on a forest-themed background. A sneaky wolf stares at the viewer, and Czech and English language flags appear at the bottom right.

A preview of the game setup, showing several piles of craftable item cards, two central decks (one featuring a bird hovering over trees, the other a deer skull on a tree), and four of the character cards, each with a life counter beneath.

A digital painting of a coniferous forest, with an abandoned campfire in the background and a deer skull hanging from a tree in the foreground.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Dec 23

Art not made with AI

A digital illustration of Arthas as a wooden puppet paladin held by a young boy, with red rose petals swirling around, one casting a shadow on his head, making his eyes glow blue as he looks up. Inspired by both a toy-themed Hearthstone expansion and a scene from Warcraft 3.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Dec 14

Also... 25 days till The Last in the Woods / Poslední v lese campaign launches.🌲 Follow on gamefound.com/en/projects/... #boardgame

The Last in the Woods board game box on a forest-themed background, featuring cover art with a smoldering campfire surrounded by conifer trees.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Dec 13

Meanwhile.. still time to get - for yourself or someone else - the next year's Dragon Calendar.♡ Garnet dragon will meet you on the April page. (you can also add code 'ajinak2026' for a little discount, valid till the end of year I think)

A preview image of the Dragon Calendar project, showing a cover illustration and twelve thumbnails for each month, each featuring a dragon artwork inspired by minerals and gemstones. Title reads 'DRACI 2026'.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Dec 11

Once again had a chance to do a bunch of illustrations for Czech TTRPG Dračí Hlídka, this time contributing to the Book of Artifacts. What can I say - love painting things with character.♡ (will share more later.. there's quite a lot)

A black-and-white digital painting with visible lineart, depicting a leather-bound book with metal corners and a tongue-like ribbon bookmark. Behind it, a mirror reflects the book’s spine, which has an eye on it. The book is partly open and appears to be babbling.

A black-and-white digital painting with visible lineart, depicting a creepy looking wooden doll with braided hair, wearing a dress. The doll sits among three candles and looks at the viewer, her head slightly tilted to the side.

A black-and-white digital painting with visible lineart, depicting a small silver earring with a dark round gem, worn on an elf's ear. Abstract white lines flow around it, as if transferring sound.

A black-and-white digital painting with visible lineart, depicting an angular crystal bottle filled with magical liquid, with a leather strap around its neck and a seal featuring a scales motif. The bottle rests on a stone windowsill, with the sun setting behind it.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Oct 18

artists, what's your favorite part to draw? quote this post! I really love things in motion, scattered elements, different materials. A tiny bit of chaos frozen in time.

Three bookmark illustrations side by side:

1. A hunched, wounded Viking warrior in a blue tunic kneels before a gate, red shield beside him. A valkyrie in chainmail, a winged helmet, and a floating red cloak descends, holding a spear in one hand and making an accepting gesture with the other, while ravens fly around.

2. A smiling dwarf with bronze hair and beard, wearing grey-purple clothing and brown gloves, stands in a hallway filled with swords, turning toward viewer with an inviting gesture.

3. A blonde, bearded innkeeper or guest in a light tunic, leather bracers, and green vest leans on a wooden table, talking and stabbing a chicken leg with a knife. A grey rat sits on his shoulder, sniffing. On the table are a lit candle and plate of grapes, while a hand in an armored glove holds a wooden mug with beer foam splashing.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Oct 14

Hi #PortfolioDay, I'm Alena, a freelance illustrator who loves painting things with character, capturing little story moments. Working mainly - but not only - in card/board games & book covers. Take a look at what I do at www.ajinak.cz 🎨

A collage of digital paintings: A sneaky red dragon above a forest stream, examining a little garnet. Two trios of bookmark illustrations, one centering around scenes (viking/valkyrie/valhalla, dwarf and swords, innkeeper and his rat inside a tavern), the other around female characters (vampire ball, steampunk, dark fantasy and magic). A cat warlock with glowing dual-bladed sword in a dusk scene. Arthas as a puppet paladin held by a boy, with red rose petals swirling around. An albino murloc pirate strolling a sunny beach, grinning, holding a sabre and a bamboozled fish.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Oct 11

Little painterly material studies, finished over the week. Let's see what comes next.

A 4x3 grid of material cube studies: two cracked or chipped stones, a yellow and teal tissue package, a blue tin box, lava, painted wood-like, rough reddish copper, rough brownish copper, silver, sponge, copper, and green jelly.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Oct 7

Still at it, little by little.

A 4x3 grid of material cube studies once again, some still blank/neutral, but there's a few new ones (a painted wood, a kitchen sponge), and some of the previous ones are closer to finish.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Oct 6

Thanks for the artshare! Here's a few.💀

A set of four digitally painted portraits on a grey backdrop: A skeleton wearing a golden fish-shaped helmet and a green scarf with netting over it. A purple-skinned, tiefling-like female rogue with short, battered horns and gills on her neck, wearing a dark grey hood and a mask stitched with a silly little smile. A tanned, dark-haired mage in a beige hood with a spider embroidered on his back. A lich in wine, teal, and grey ceremonial clothing, with a high two-point hat.

A full wraparound gamebook illustration depicting a crypt scene: a close-up of a sword embedded in the ground with a demon-headed pommel glowing with red eyes, while a group of ghouls peek from the sides and a dark skeletal figure sits on a throne in the back.

A digital painting of a lich king sitting against a wall made of skulls. He has pitch-black eyes with starry reflections and dark, fleshy eye bags. He wears a golden crown adorned with blue gems, a purple balaclava, a blue cloth fastened by a gold brooch with a blue gem, and a grey shirt. Four long bones tied by threads are attached to his back.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Oct 6

Little Sunday studies, including two older ones (stone) and some fails, but gosh I've been needing this, haha. To be continued.

A digital painting - still life study - of a pink paper box and a blue tin box placed on a round cork mat, with a yellow/orange/green pack of tissues on top of them, all standing on a transparent plastic box visible in the blurred background.

A 4x3 grid of material cube studies, some still blank/neutral. There are two painterly stones with cracks and weathering, a plastic pack of tissues, a metal with scratches and damage, and three attempts at copper, some accidentally looking like brick or mud.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Oct 3

Bookmarks preview:

Mockups of three bookmarks side by side on a grey background. Each has rounded corners and a title at the top: Před branou Valhally, Fantastická sbírka mečů, Vůně středověké krčmy.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Oct 2

Another trio of illustrations for Dobré záložky (Good bookmarks) by Czech bookstore Knihy Dobrovský📚, this time inspired by the names: Before the Gate of Valhalla, A Fantastic Collection of Swords, and The Scent of a Medieval Tavern.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Sep 30

If you see this, post fungi.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Sep 11

Garnet Dragon. Painted back in summer for the Dragon Calendar 2026: "Dragons of Minerals and Gemstones". I based mine on Czech Garnet.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Sep 10

New preview image for The Last in the Woods #boardgame.🌲 (And a lot more things being done these days, for the upcoming campaign - both graphics and some new painting.)

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Aug 29

#the_color_wheel ☕️🎨

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Aug 8

Happy #InternationalCatDay! 😸♡

A detail from a bookmark illustration, depicting a black cat with arched back, bristling fur, and wide, startled purple eyes, standing on a stone ledge, illuminated by rays of light, staring down at something below the frame.

A photo of a drawing surrounded by Copic markers, depicting a Sphynx cat chilling inside a melting cup with a grumpy, yet oddly unbothered expression. Both the cat and the cup are covered in wrinkles. Swirly steam and bubbles appear in the background.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Jul 29

Using today as an excuse to share my old tattooed tiger-toad from 2022 🐯🐸 Happy #WorldTigerDay! ♡

A digital painting of a tiger-toad hybrid lounging on a partially submerged rock. It has a wide, toothy smile and glowing purple eyes. Tattooed on its arms are an anchor and a heart pierced by a sword.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Jul 28

More little painterly studies, once again exploring color and light.

A set of six small painterly square paintings, each depicting sunlight shining through leaves or water.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Jul 27

Been saving some new previews, so here's one for the English version, along with one of the images I painted for the website.🌲 #boardgame

A preview image of the board game The Last in the Woods on a light, painterly forest background. It features the game box with cover art of a smoldering campfire in the forest, a character card (a bearded guy named George), and a selection of various types of cards and tokens from the game.

Alena Kubíková@ajinak· Jul 27

One of the games I had a chance to make both art and graphics for has a new IG profile (@ poslednivlese) and a website, and a campaign on the way. If you like the theme, be sure to follow ♡ (will have both Czech and English versions) www.poslednivlese.cz