Tomislav Tomic
A Master of Magical Detail
Born and raised in Croatia, Tomislav Tomić’s path to illustrating the Wizarding World was anything but ordinary, though perhaps it was written in the stars. From a young age, he had a love for drawing and storytelling, and his talent was recognized early—he was already a published illustrator in high school. His formal education at the Academy of Fine Art in Zagreb further refined his skills, but his artistic voice had long been forming through intricate pen-and-ink drawings, steeped in the tradition of classical engraving.
Tomić’s signature style—a fusion of fantastical architecture, precise linework, and magical atmosphere—made him a natural fit for The Wizarding Almanac, Bloomsbury’s official companion to the world of Harry Potter. Within its pages, readers are invited into lavishly detailed scenes, from the chaotic charm of the Weasleys' Burrow to the arcane elegance of Dumbledore’s office. Through his finely inked lines, Tomić transforms text into living, breathing magic.
Entering the Wizarding World
When Bloomsbury approached Tomić to contribute to The Wizarding Almanac, he knew immediately that this was a project he couldn’t refuse. Though he admitted to some initial nervousness—largely due to the book’s evolving structure—he welcomed the challenge. “It was very exciting to wait for the new briefs… and see how the book grows and magically reveals itself,” he reflected.
Interestingly, Tomić’s relationship with the Harry Potter series was not one of childhood nostalgia. He first encountered the books while in college but found them too YA-focused for his taste at the time. It wasn’t until he began illustrating books himself—many of them within the same genre—that he gave the series a second chance. That second chance turned into appreciation, then deep admiration.
Inspirations and Artistic Lineage
Tomić’s artistic lineage is a rich tapestry of European illustration and engraving. He cites Arthur Rackham, Edmund Dulac, Aubrey Beardsley, Alan Lee, and etching masters like Albrecht Dürer, Pieter Bruegel, Rembrandt, and Dušan Kállay as his guiding stars. “I stared, hypnotised,” he said, describing the awe and inspiration he drew from these artists.
This legacy of detailed, narrative illustration is alive in every spread Tomić created for The Wizarding Almanac. His tools may be modern, but his soul belongs to the golden age of printmaking—where every leaf, creature, and architectural curl carries meaning and care.
Crafting Magic – The Illustrative Process
Some sections of the Almanac were a delight to illustrate; others, a puzzle of spatial challenges. Fitting many magical objects and creatures into a single page without overwhelming the composition required thoughtful planning and compositional precision. Adding another layer of complexity was the requirement to ensure visual consistency among multiple illustrators—some characters and items had to be depicted the same way across the book.
Despite the challenge, Tomić relished the process. From decorative page borders to delicate character expressions, his pen never faltered. Take, for instance, the Time-Turner and Werewolf pages, which Bloomsbury previewed to great acclaim. The lunar-themed borders and hourglass embedded with layered narrative scenes exemplify Tomić’s skill in balancing clarity with enchantment. “It reminds me of some old mystical books,” he said—an intentional echo of the arcane and antique.
Highlights from the Almanac
When asked about his favorite spread, Tomić immediately pointed to The Burrow. The ramshackle home of the Weasleys, already iconic in literature, became a delightful challenge for Tomić to bring to life. “The Weasleys’ house is one totally crazy building to draw,” he said with joy. The quirky structure, overflowing with magical chaos, perfectly matched his love for whimsical architecture and layered visual storytelling.
Another standout is the Deathday Party of Nearly Headless Nick. With tombstones, spectral guests, and a hilariously grim buffet, the illustration balances humor and horror in classic Rowling style. From The Headless Hunt to the moldy-looking cake, every detail contributes to a scene that is both festive and morbidly magical.
Tomić also tackled institutional wizardry with flair, as seen in his depiction of the Ministry of Magic. Through cleverly arranged departments and fluttering memo-paper airplanes, the spread conveys the Ministry’s bureaucratic absurdity and hidden wonder. His Hogwarts Hallowe’en illustration, complete with floating pumpkins and frenzied house-elves in the kitchens, gives the reader a full sensory dive into seasonal magic.
Time-Turners, Ghosts, and Quidditch Points
Time travel is a tricky thing—even more so to illustrate. Tomić captured the climactic Time-Turner sequence from The Prisoner of Azkaban with care, allowing readers to visually follow Harry and Hermione as they alter fate. These illustrations, alongside diagrams of Quidditch points and house cup tallies, contribute to the Almanac’s layered richness—a visual archive of wizarding history.
The attention to chronology, continuity, and character is painstaking. Whether it’s Hagrid’s cottage nestled into a hillside or the sprawling grounds of Hogwarts at dusk, Tomić’s pen offers both cartography and narrative.
The Hufflepuff Heart
When members of the Croatian Harry Potter fan club interviewed Tomić after his work on the Hogwarts Library illustrations, they sorted him into Hufflepuff—and he agreed. That steady, loyal spirit permeates his work. His illustrations, while intricate and fantastical, also exude a deep empathy and attention to the lived-in details of magical life. His favorite characters—Hagrid and the Weasley twins—mirror that blend of mischief, loyalty, and warmth.
A Living Legacy in Ink
From the Weasleys’ topsy-turvy home to Dumbledore’s solemn study, Tomislav Tomić’s contribution to the Wizarding World is a masterclass in illustrative world-building. His work in The Wizarding Almanac not only documents magical lore but invites readers to inhabit it—to peer into fireplaces, peer behind gravestones, or marvel at a tower brimming with Time-Turners.
His spreads don’t merely illustrate—they enchant. Each page is a portal, crafted with patience, reverence, and a touch of ink-born alchemy.
For fans old and new, Tomić’s illustrations in The Wizarding Almanac ensure that the magic of Hogwarts lives not only in words—but also in exquisitely drawn lines.