• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Shopping
  • Design Hunting
  • New York Weddings
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • Motherhood
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Science of Us
  • Horoscopes
  • Ask Polly
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • The Cut Shop
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
friends forever
April 24, 2015

Girl-Love: Drawings Between Best Friends

By Erica Schwiegershausen

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
Photo: Dasha Tolstikova

This week the Cut explores the messy, loving, spiteful, supportive, competitive, joyful, and funny sides of friendship.

New York–based illustrators Joana Avillez and Dasha Tolstikova first met in grad school at the School of Visual Arts. “We spent the first year eyeing each other, and the second year, like, okay, we’re going to be friends now, forever,” Dasha recalls. They initially bonded over their similarities: “We were both only children, and grew up in cities, and had a similar sensibility about life,” says Dasha. As artists, both had a playful way about them. “We would sit in class and draw together,” Joana remembers. “We started having fun and passing notes — almost like we were in middle school. We could be kind of childish together.”

The two artists have been friends ever since. Joana’s drawings have appeared in The New Yorker, Vogue, New York, and Lena Dunham’s memoir (also a longtime friend). Dasha has illustrated many books, most recently The Jacket, and is currently working on a memoir. Sharing drawings has remained a big part of their friendship. They’re constantly sending each other illustrations, doodles, and notes, as presents, iMessages, or Facebook posts. “For my birthday Dasha gave me a drawing of two girls giggling, which says ‘secrets,’” recalls Joana. “I think that’s how we started drawing ourselves in different scenarios.”

“It makes me really happy to do and receive,” said Dasha. “Other friends of ours have commented that they feel really jealous that we’re always posting little snippets and inside jokes to each other.”

Click through the slideshow for a look at the illustrations of their friendship that the two artists have exchanged — from sardine picnics and aspirational dogs to false childhood memories.

View
1 / 12 Photos
Joana gave this image to Dasha, imagining them eating sardines. Dasha: The first day of grad school, we had a writing class together and I wrote ... Joana gave this image to Dasha, imagining them eating sardines. Dasha: The first day of grad school, we had a writing class together and I wrote a poem about eating sardines on toast with my mom in the forest. It’s something I did as a child in Russia, but in the States, people are so weird about food and fish, so it’s very suspect to a lot of people. They think it’s gross and weird. But Joana was like, "Oh my God, I love sardines and toast, it’s the best thing ever.” Joana: If we were eating outside, my parents would always have a can of sardines, and we’d eat them on toast or crackers. So, I experienced the same sardine-shaming. Photo: Joana Avillez
Dasha gave this image to Joana of the two of them pretending to be mean girls. Dasha: I’ve been working on a book and thinking a lot about the wa... Dasha gave this image to Joana of the two of them pretending to be mean girls. Dasha: I’ve been working on a book and thinking a lot about the way that girls interact with each other, especially when they’re younger, and how people get into these terrible fights and are super-shitty to each other. This is me feeling really grateful that we don’t have that kind of relationship to each other, or to the world. Photo: Dasha Tolstikova
Dasha gave this image to Joana; it's about secrets. Joana: Even though it’s not a specific moment, I can hear us giggling. And I feel like anyone... Dasha gave this image to Joana; it's about secrets. Joana: Even though it’s not a specific moment, I can hear us giggling. And I feel like anyone who looked at it could hear themselves giggling with a friend. The expressions with their hands over their mouths make a very specific kind of laugh.
Joana gave this image to Dasha; it's about discussing different scrappy and scruffy dogs. Joana: We’ve been talking about adopting dogs forever. ... Joana gave this image to Dasha; it's about discussing different scrappy and scruffy dogs. Joana: We’ve been talking about adopting dogs forever. I actually did adopt a little dog in January, and when Dasha moves out of her apartment where there are no dogs allowed, she’s going to adopt one, too. We’re constantly talking about dogs. Dasha: Joana made me a little book of different scrappy dogs and what their names would be. It’s wishful thinking of the future for me. Photo: Joana Avillez
Dasha made this for Joana about wanting to go fishing. Joana: I don’t think we’ve been fishing together. Dasha: No, although I’d really like to ... Dasha made this for Joana about wanting to go fishing. Joana: I don’t think we’ve been fishing together. Dasha: No, although I’d really like to go. Also, you know, there’s the whole sardines thing. I feel like this is a picture of us going fishing for sardines. Photo: Dasha Tolstikova
Joana gave this to Dasha, just last week. Joana: We went to Providence to give a talk to the illustration department at RISD, and we stayed in th... Joana gave this to Dasha, just last week. Joana: We went to Providence to give a talk to the illustration department at RISD, and we stayed in this very old-timey, New England, ghost-infested hotel. Dasha: I haven’t had a TV in a bedroom in many years. This one had that sort of rounded screen, which I haven’t seen since like, 1995. We were watching the local news. Joana: And the Portuguese channel. Photo: Joana Avillez
Dasha made this one when she was having a hard time in life.  Joana: In New York friendships, you do a lot of walking around. You’re having ... Dasha made this one when she was having a hard time in life.  Joana: In New York friendships, you do a lot of walking around. You’re having a really intimate moment, but you could be surrounded by a bazillion people. I feel like this one could be somewhere as awful and crowded as Union Square, but you’re having a really special conversation on the street. Photo: Dasha Tolstikova
Joana made this one, and it's based on their pet names for one another. Joana: We have a lot of pet names for each other. With some of them, I do... Joana made this one, and it's based on their pet names for one another. Joana: We have a lot of pet names for each other. With some of them, I don’t actually know who they are for — they’re just for both of us, used for each of us. So we call each other Mouse Foot, or MF. This is a fictionalized, nonexistent book of our story. Photo: Joana Avillez
Dasha made this for Joana, pretending that they had been friends as small children. Joana: It feels real to me. I was looking at it and I was lik... Dasha made this for Joana, pretending that they had been friends as small children. Joana: It feels real to me. I was looking at it and I was like, “Did that happen?” It didn’t happen, but it feels like it could have. Dasha: Our outfits are very appropriate, but I never figured out which one was which. Joana: We don’t really need to know. Dasha: No, we don’t really need to know. Photo: Dasha Tolstikova
Joana gave this to Dasha, after a cruise to see the fall foliage. Joana: We were doing drawings of mermaids and fishes on the other side of the p... Joana gave this to Dasha, after a cruise to see the fall foliage. Joana: We were doing drawings of mermaids and fishes on the other side of the page, so when I scanned it, it had our drawings of fish coming through the back. Dasha: I love that. That’s actually what our doodles look like when we’re drawing together. Photo: Joana Avillez
Dasha gave this to Joana after she lent her a hat. Joana: It was winter and I didn’t have a hat. Dasha: Yeah, I had this big Russian hat that my... Dasha gave this to Joana after she lent her a hat. Joana: It was winter and I didn’t have a hat. Dasha: Yeah, I had this big Russian hat that my grandmother had given me. So that’s just us in the winter, hanging out, in our winter hats. Photo: Dasha Tolstikova
Joana gave this to Dasha after eating lunch. Joana: I drew this on a tablecloth. Dasha: We really like drawing together. We'll have a big piece ... Joana gave this to Dasha after eating lunch. Joana: I drew this on a tablecloth. Dasha: We really like drawing together. We'll have a big piece of paper, like in a park, and we'll doodle together and create little scenes. The lines aren't clear about who's drawing what. Photo: Joana Avillez
1 / 12

Tags:

  • friends forever
  • friendship
  • illustrations
  • slideshow
  • joana avillez
  • dasha tolstikova
  • More

More Galleries

in memoriam Dec. 30, 2020
30 Incredible Fashion Moments From Pierre Cardin  Remembering a creative visionary. 
By Andrew Nguyen
rest in power Dec. 23, 2020
A Photo Memorial for an Iconic Model  She passed away suddenly at the age of 50 this week. 
campaign trail Nov. 18, 2020
‘Tis the Season for New Fashion Ads  See the best ones from Gucci, Prada, Versace, and more. 
By Emily Burns
nyfw spring 2021 Oct. 26, 2020
How a Great Collection Comes Alive  Christopher John Rogers launched its first-ever online shop, along with a new campaign. 
By Andrew Nguyen
campaign trail Sept. 24, 2020
See the Fashion Campaigns for Fall 2020  From Prada, Michael Kors, Celine, Louis Vuitton, and more. 
By Andrew Nguyen
nyfw spring 2021 Sept. 22, 2020
See the Coach Spring 2021 Collection  Worn by Megan Thee Stallion, Kate Moss, Cole Sprouse, and more. 
By Andrew Nguyen
fashion Sept. 16, 2020
The Stunning Awkwardness of Face Masks on the Red Carpet  Celebrities tried to make the best of a strange situation at the 2020 Venice Film Festival. 
one word one shot Sept. 15, 2020
72 Designers on Their Spring/Summer Inspirations  Just in time for Fashion Week. 
By the Cut
red carpet Sept. 8, 2020
This Red Carpet Was Totally Surreal  But also amazing. See all the looks at the Venice Film Festival. 
By Emilia Petrarca and Andrew Nguyen
in memoriam Aug. 31, 2020
Remembering Chadwick Boseman on the Red Carpet  His style was bold, risk-taking, and always impeccable. 
the wedding files Aug. 21, 2020
The Design-Minded Couple Who Didn’t Want to Try Too Hard  The bride got a wonderful surprise the morning of her wedding. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files Aug. 14, 2020
A Costa Rica Wedding During the Rainy Season  Thunder roared during the toasts. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files Aug. 7, 2020
A San Francisco Wedding at a Big, Empty Pier  The bride changed into crushed-velvet pants for the disco-infused reception. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 31, 2020
An Elopement Among the Lupines in Iceland  The late afternoon was spent snapping photos near waterfalls and black beaches. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 24, 2020
A Pennsylvania Potluck for 280 People  “I looked at her for the first time and had this feeling like, You. I know you.” 
By Kaitlin Menza
milan fashion week July 22, 2020
Behind the Scenes at Gucci’s Virtual Show  Instead of models, members of the design team sported the eccentric collection. 
By Andrew Nguyen
the wedding files July 17, 2020
A Dance Party Under Puerto Rican Palm Trees  Bad Bunny blasted and pitorro flowed. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 10, 2020
A Zoom Wedding Only Two Digital Creatives Could Produce  The couple coordinated multiple video segments, breakout rooms, and a dance party. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files July 3, 2020
The Anti-Spectacle Wedding That Turned Into a Spectacle  Brooklyn Bridge Park was the site of their first date, proposal, and wedding. 
By Kaitlin Menza
the wedding files June 26, 2020
A Night at the Philadelphia Museum of Art  The flowers were specially treated to protect the masterpieces. 
By Kaitlin Menza
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Help
  • We’re Hiring
  • Press
  • Trademark
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell My Info
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2021 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.