• By MuggleNet Editorial Staff
• 23 Jul, 2026
• Fandom

Harry Potter has inspired many artists over the years, each bringing their own vision of the Wizarding World to life. Illustrator Vlad Pantic has built a following on Instagram through incredibly detailed artwork that captures both well-known moments and quieter scenes from the books. We caught up with Vlad to talk about his creative process, the scenes that inspire him most, and why the magic of Harry Potter continues to fuel his imagination.

What inspired you to start illustrating scenes from the Harry Potter books?

A love for anything with even the slightest touch of magic, of course!

The Wizarding World is one of those universes that gives artists so much room to explore. Whether it’s magical creatures, architecture, character designs, costumes, or all the memorable scenes from the books, there’s always something exciting to bring to life. What makes it even more special is how seamlessly it intertwines with our ordinary Muggle world, awakening that
childlike question in all of us: “What if some of this really exists?”

That’s the feeling that keeps bringing me back to the books. Through a kind of conscious escapism, I get to visually co-create a world where I genuinely feel happy. It’s a place I genuinely enjoy spending time in, and I hope that feeling comes across in my artwork.

When you’re planning an illustration, how do you decide which moment deserves to be brought to life? Are there certain types of scenes you’re naturally drawn to?

Actually, yes. It took me a while to realize that I’m much more drawn to the small, everyday moments in this universe than to the big, iconic scenes everyone already knows from the books or films.

I love those little “slice of life” moments where the characters are simply relaxing under a tree, walking through the Hogwarts grounds, or exchanging a meaningful glance after something important has happened. Those scenes leave a much stronger impression on me because they feel so real.

When I read them, I like to imagine what it would actually feel like to be there, even if it’s just for a little while. I try to wander into those quiet corners of the magical world that aren’t described in great detail and fill in the gaps with my own imagination. There’s something incredibly fun about focusing on moments that most people might simply read past.

Readers have imagined these scenes in countless different ways over the years. How do you balance staying faithful to the text while still creating something that feels uniquely your own?

A lot of that has already been beautifully brought to life by the films over the years. And now, before the TV series arrives, I’m looking forward to seeing how a new creative team will reimagine this world while keeping its spirit alive.

As someone who creates these illustrations purely for the joy of it, I eventually realized that I wanted to explore something new myself. New faces, new costumes, different Hogwarts and Quidditch uniforms, a fresh atmosphere…but still a world that instantly feels familiar. Finding that balance can be challenging, but it’s also one of the most rewarding parts of being an artist.

Even though I really enjoyed the films, I never felt tied to the actors’ appearances. The books describe their characters in such rich detail that I always preferred letting my imagination guide their designs.

That said, there’s one thing I probably wouldn’t change, and that’s Hogwarts itself. Stuart Craig created such an iconic interpretation of the castle, and the team behind Hogwarts Legacy expanded on it in a way that felt completely natural to me. I’m not an architect, so redesigning the castle has never really interested me. In my own illustrations, the characters still walk through those familiar halls, and that’s probably the one visual element that will always stay the same in my work.

Is there one illustration you’ve created that you’re especially proud of, either because of the emotional impact, the technical challenge, or the story behind it?

I wouldn’t say I’m especially proud of it from a technical standpoint, but my “A Proud Slytherin” illustration from 2018 will always be a special one to me because it marked the beginning of my journey into the Harry Potter fandom as a fan artist.

I remember taking the old Pottermore Sorting Hat quiz that year and being unexpectedly sorted into Slytherin. At first, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. I definitely didn’t see myself as someone who would be best friends with Draco Malfoy! But the more I thought about the different Hogwarts houses, their symbolism, and the personalities of the characters within them, the more I realized that Slytherin was actually the perfect fit for me.

Looking back, I also realized that the illustration became a bit of a self-portrait without me even intending it. It shows me as a young Slytherin student in Quidditch robes, sitting on a broom by the water in a slightly melancholic atmosphere, looking across at a magical world that’s just out of reach…

Looking back at your earliest Harry Potter artwork, how has your artistic style or approach evolved over time?

It’s always evolving. I draw almost every day, so a lot of my progress is simply the result of years of practice and consistency.

I like to compare it to learning an instrument. A violinist or a pianist improves by showing up and practicing every day, and I don’t think illustration is any different. Because of that, it’s always fun to look back at older pieces and notice those small changes that happened without me even realizing it at the time.

I’m also not someone who believes talent doesn’t exist. I think that initial spark is real, and it can absolutely set people apart in the beginning. But on its own, it doesn’t get you very far. Without discipline, patience, and years of consistent work, even the biggest talent can end up going nowhere.

That’s why I’m not too worried about AI. Technology will keep evolving, but genuine creativity is built through years of curiosity, discipline, and persistence…and I don’t think there’s a shortcut for that.

If you could officially illustrate any one chapter, scene, or even an entire Wizarding World book, what would you choose and why?

Since I’ve been illustrating chapters from the books for years now purely for my own enjoyment, I eventually started thinking about how much fun it would be to visually explore the Marauders era and everything that happened before Harry’s story began.

Imagine a graphic novel or a comic series that could perhaps start as a digital release, similar to many popular Webtoon or Tapas titles, following the adventures, mischief, and friendships of Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, while capturing the entire spirit of that time.

That is a project I would genuinely love to dedicate years of my work to. Exploring that era, developing those characters visually, and bringing that untold part of the story to life would be an incredible creative challenge.

For readers discovering your work for the first time, what do you hope they feel when they see one of your illustrations?

Atmosphere.

I put a lot of thought into making sure that an illustration communicates something emotionally with the viewer. Of course, the technical side is also very important to me-the craftsmanship behind anatomy, perspective, color, and all the elements that bring an image together-but I always want the feeling behind the artwork to come first.

I also spend a lot of time focusing on facial expressions and making sure the characters feel authentic. I try to capture them in moments that suggest they are truly alive beyond the frame, with their own thoughts, emotions, and stories.

Creating that feeling is what I always aim for, and I’m genuinely happy whenever people connect with my work because of it. At the end of the day, I’ll be satisfied if I can pass on even a small part of the joy I felt while creating an illustration to the people who experience it.

You can follow Vlad on his Instagram for his latest art here.