ADVERTISEMENT

Nadia Tolstoy is a Stockholm-based cartoonist who has caught the eye of many on social media. She describes her work as “mildly amusing doodles” that can be “surreal at times and frequently punny.”

The artist has made a series of illustrations called "Surrealians". She has the talent to mix different things to represent a single word, creating funny and absurd visuals that might make you see words in a new way. Scroll down to dive into Tolstoy's whimsical world!

More info: Instagram | surrealians.com | twitter.com

#1

Cat-A-Log

surrealians Report

WindySwede
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cat-ering to our need for puns!

Jenna
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"...Log....log... it's big, it's heavy, it's wood"

R For
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How abt a 'catastrophy' (To hang on the wall?) lol!!

Bored Panda had a chance to get in touch with Tolstoy again to learn more about her artistic influences, future ideas she'd like to explore in her creative journey, and more.

The artist told us that she has a lot of heroes that inspire her: "From Saul Steinberg, the New Yorker illustrator to the cartoons of Gary Larson and Mark Parisi. I also love illustrator Rokas Aleilunas and the artist René Magritte. So a pretty mixed bag, really."

RELATED:
    #3

    Bear In Mind

    surrealians Report

    WindySwede
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some have Beer in mind though?

    Sans Serif
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mind you, it's bearly late enough in the day to start drinking beer...

    Load More Replies...
    Marcellium
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I used to make this joke all the time as a kid when we would visit Yellowstone. One time, I said this joke and minutes later we saw three bears. Now I get to joke that I summoned them!

    ADVERTISEMENT

    When asked about her favorite doodle, Tolstoy answered that it's hard to pick one. "I love it when people send me suggestions like my 'SHOOTING STAR' one and I´m so happy with 'FACE LIFT', 'BELLY LAUGH' and 'LOOKING SHARP' because they were published in Readers Digest (US) in October. Also sold 'HORSE RADISH' to the restaurant Horseradish Kitchen + Market in Wiconsin, recently. So I guess it´s a case of 'Is it doing well?' Then I love it. I´m so fickle, haha."

    #4

    Heart Beet

    surrealians Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #5

    Baby Sitter

    surrealians Report

    Kise Miarse
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mrs. McTwitter was the baby-sitter I think she's a little bit crazy. She thinks a baby-sitter's supposed To sit upon the baby.

    The artist also animates some of her doodles. We were curious to know more about her animation experiments. "Ah, yes. Animation is hard," Tolstoy shared. "Or rather, it´s child´s play to get things to move around but it´s hard to make complex, smooth animations. So I don´t, basically. I just can´t spend that much time on a single illustration. But some of them like 'RE-MORSE', 'FOX TROT' and 'VACUUM' really don’t work very well as stills. So I´ve added some movement to them. And even if they´re really simple, basic animations, it gets the job done."

    ADVERTISEMENT
    #6

    Net Work

    surrealians Report

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Now where was I? Oh yeah, knit one, purl two. Knit one, purl tw........"

    Sans Serif
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I see web development which will make his net work...

    WindySwede
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Wher's my web cam?"

    #7

    Barbie-Que

    surrealians Report

    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why not just a bunch of barbies standing in a line?

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because 87% of Americans don't know what a que is.

    Load More Replies...
    Michelle K
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Best thing that could happen to Barbie.

    Sans Serif
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She was bound to be roasted sooner or later...

    Cjo
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If the brother gets a hold of his sister's barbie this is exactly what is going to happen.

    Christof Irran
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I never understood why Mattel would name their doll after a Nazi war criminal.

    LuLuBelle
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is this supposed to be clever?

    View more comments

    Talking about future ideas, the artist would like to get into merch. "It´s time-consuming to set up, though, and I´m a bit of a perfectionist, so it may never happen... Other than that, I´d be really interested in collaborating with other creators on Instagram and also hopefully selling more doodles to various publications. A fun thing to do would be a daily cartoon inspired by whatever holiday is celebrated that day… So here´s a shout-out to publications, potential collaborators and anyone who just wants to have a digital cup of tea. Get in touch!"

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #8

    Catctus

    surrealians Report

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If he has a brother, they're a Prickly Pair.

    Wonky
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't know if I want to pet that cat...

    Auntriarch
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You stand only a slightly raised chance of being punctured

    Load More Replies...
    Lester the Space Duck
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Had to read it over because I kept saying "cat-cuss" in my head.

    #9

    Boo-Tiful

    surrealians Report

    #10

    Travelling Light

    surrealians Report

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He didn't invite his sister. She's a bit dim.

    WindySwede
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Since photons have no mass, yes... 🤓

    Lotekguy
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How many flight attendants does it take to screw this bulb into its seat?

    #11

    Emotional Baggage

    surrealians Report

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "Don't cry for me Samsonite Hardside. The truth is I never checked you....."

    ArodTheHorrible
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't cry all over the luggage handlers, please

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #13

    Exorcise

    surrealians Report

    Mickeynsync
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm guessing they were going for exorcist. But that would be a Catholic Priest. The demon posses and a Exorcist Priest does an Exorcism.

    Melissa
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's also called exorcise. They "exorcise" the demon

    Load More Replies...
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    #17

    Meat-Teor

    surrealians Report

    Junior Farrell
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And it is cooked to perfection by time it lands 👌

    Wonky
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

    Found In A Dustbin.
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 5: The Meat-eor Apocalypse.

    Load More Replies...
    ArodTheHorrible
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Too bad it won't make it to the ground

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #20

    Frost Bite

    surrealians Report

    #21

    Lunar Tick

    surrealians Report

    Phyzzi
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In this case, seems preferable to "in my head"

    Load More Replies...
    Lotekguy
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Weird being mooned by a bug.

    Nykky
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hate this whole picture.

    #22

    Sand-Als

    surrealians Report

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They have flipped their last flop.

    Frank Lafortune (Faux Scout)
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because overalls made of sand would have been sand-all

    #23

    Strong Coffee

    surrealians Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #27

    Gin-Ious

    surrealians Report

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #29

    O-Zone

    surrealians Report

    King-Mole-Rat
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don’t go off the road, you might damage the O Zone (I’ll see myself out)

    Lotekguy
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you're doing this, consider adding a sign for the G-spot. Many would be grateful.

    #30

    Cracking Up

    surrealians Report

    Metalhead Turtle 🇺🇦
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They never said Humpty Dumpty was an egg, IIRC.

    Catharina Geerts
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You're absolutely right. Everybody assumes it, probably from the beginning, but the rhyme doesn't mention it

    Load More Replies...
    #31

    Pump-Kin

    surrealians Report

    Sans Serif
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    🎶 "Under pressure..." 🎶

    WindySwede
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    seams pumpKeen to be fulfilled!

    Wonky
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Filled with what...? (Assuming it's not air)

    Load More Replies...
    Kraneia The Dancing Dryad
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At least it was a puncture.... It didn't get squashed...

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda
    #33

    Take A Bow

    surrealians Report

    #34

    S-Ale-Ing

    surrealians Report

    #35

    You Rule

    surrealians Report

    Phyzzi
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We had to use meters to measure out positions for the graduation ceremony, so we could be sure everyone could metric-ulate. Fortunately it was woman run, by the metric matriarch.

    Kise Miarse
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Missed opportunity to shape it in a U

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    See Also on Bored Panda