Tell us a little about yourself? How did you decide to become an illustrator?

Somewhere in my teenage years, I realized that I love to do two things the most - draw and read. And later she learned that there is a real profession that combines these two occupations. And even educational institutions that train such specialists. It's about like finding out Hogwarts exists. So I did not hesitate for a long time)

We know that you recently finished your master's degree at NAOMA, specializing in "Book Graphics" and chose the book for your diploma "The Wizard of the Earth Sea". Why this

Everything is simple. Since childhood, I have loved fantastic stories about journeys to distant unexplored worlds, magic, wizards, dragons and such. "The Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula Le Guin is just such a story. I read it for the first time several years ago and strongly felt that one day I should draw illustrations for her. Although the work on the design of the book is interesting, it is very difficult a long and complicated process. It is rare that everything works out the first time, sometimes it becomes quite difficult, nothing works, hands down. That's why it's great to work with material that seems to support me and gives me strength. Besides, which one will the illustrator give up drawing dragons, castles and wizards?

How do you choose the project you want to work on? Are there criteria?

I welcome every proposal for cooperation, I am friendly and interested in every idea, book, text. But issues of communication, trust, mutual understanding are important. Without them, it is difficult to expect a good result, but the work process will become a nightmare. The values ​​that the project will convey are also very important to me.For example, I will not work on by what, in my opinion, can degrade the dignity of a certain group of people, cause suffering or support cruel attitude to animals, etc.

Looking back, can you name your favorite project and remember why you liked it more than others? Or Do you have a dream project?

All completed projects are valuable to me. Especially when it comes to designing a book, because it is so long and deep Immersion in a subject that is sure to leave a mark. The most important for me, probably, was my first diploma work - illustrations for the book "The Ocean at the End of the Road" by Neil Gaiman. Now they already seem naive to me, I wish to redo almost everything. But then I found something for myself in drawing, I grew up with this book.

When you were working on the book "Baby Violet", what was the easiest and most difficult for you and what was your favorite a hero from history?

Very predictable, but my favorite is of course the kitty Violeta. She was the easiest for me, she appeared immediately and in this first drawn image continued life in the book. Her plasticity and character are clear to me, drawing her was the most pleasant.Apparently, after finishing the book, I will miss her a little. And the most difficult was the most likely to convey the images of other characters, since they are all real beings that I am familiar with only through photos and stories.

Tell us how you came to the style in which you work? Why would you really want to learn?

I am convinced that style does not need to be somehow forcibly searched for, it is exactly what emerges after a certain number of performed work, you will not escape from yourself. That's how I began to notice patterns that are transferred from job to job, to pay attention on how I decide the space, how I work with spots and lines. Then she began to formalize these regularities into a certain principle work

Currently, I work mostly with computer graphics, so I would like to find a way to combine it more with traditional drawing with "hands". I would like to learn to draw more freely and casually, with a minimum number of tools and most accurately convey images.

What inspires you, and what, on the contrary, kills any desire for creativity?

The most pleasant thing is when some fresh idea or image appears, like a dream that is about to be forgotten, as if in the palm of your hand bring a piece of the sea. It's cool when you manage to save at least a drop from this sea, it's very inspiring.

And creativity is killed by excessive fatigue, the impossibility of being alone, anxiety, control, fear and the pursuit of insults and approval.

Who are your idols? Whose work do you admire?

In our time of the Internet and social networks, it is so easy to follow the work of illustrators, both from Ukraine and from all over the world. Yes many among them are mega talented and cool, you can't name them all. My favorites now are probably: Oliver Dzheffers, Beatrice Aleman, Laura Carlin, Jon Klassen, John Bauer, Julia Sardà.

If there were no obstacles, what would you do?

Oh, probably the same as now. But at a different pace and under different conditions. I would like to live in a house somewhere in to a picturesque deserted place, to walk a lot in forests and fields, to draw stories that come to me in such magical places, and in between to grow flowers.

Besides drawing, what are your hobbies?

I have completely peaceful hobbies, just such that are considered the collective imaginary image of an average illustrator. Neck toys, ride a bike, read, pet fluffy cats, walk in the forest, admire trees, sometimes bake pies and of course I eat them with appetite. I hope to learn how to organize my time so that there is time left for these classes more.