Interview with an illustrator presented by the Bright agency.
A native of Chelyabinsk, she now lives in the south of England, in the county of Cornwall.
How did you become an illustrator?
AK: I came to England when I was 16 to study business administration. Back then, I had no idea of what I would like to be. My parents just thought that business was a promising profession, but when I took a course in graphic design at college by happenstance, wild horses couldn't drag me away from drawing after that. I liked being creative so much that I decided to go to university to study illustration. I attended one of London's best art schools, Central Saint Martins. Right after the graduation exhibition, I managed to get a number of private commissions. My first project was a series of illustrations for a book by a Canadian poet. That launched my freelance career.
How did you find your style?
AK: Saint Martins promoted an atmosphere of artistic freedom. On the one hand, that was great for personal growth, but on the other, I was in the dark on how to monetize my content. It took me quite a while to realize that to draw for big customers and publishing houses, you need not only drawing skills but genre-specific skills, and you need to think about selling yourself. The upshot was that I found it useful to get a lot of additional training in narrow illustration niches, including children's books, and go to publishing trade shows on a regular basis.
Are there any topics that keep reappearing, that is, draw your eye to them and irritate you to such an extent that you want to cover them? What is your biggest pet peeve with contemporary society, ours and global?
AK: I find it extremely annoying that many in the Russian-speaking community still think that your art needn't feature LGBTs, people with disabilities etc. I like it that it's considered bad form in European society not to feature all people in one's art, but in Russia this is still taboo.
I also take issue with those in Russia who still believe that the woman's duty is to take care of kids and home rather than a career
How does your creative process work? Describe the birth of one of your illustrations — from beginning to end?
AK: My process most often begins with a search for a drawing subject. Then I begin to draw what I see, but in my style, listening to my inner voice. I'm not one to stick to realism; what I find important is that my drawing reflect my vision.
What do you need to illustrate most often, where do you get your ideas (externally or internally)?
AK: I illustrate mostly children's books, so what I'm asked most often to draw is interesting characters, children and animals. You can get ideas just by observing the world around you. If you take an interest in people, make a habit of looking around, watch the industry trends, then you'll never lack for ideas.
Whenever I happen to see an interesting animal or person, I often start reimagining them as characters. Sometimes I find beautiful photos, and they inspire me to create illustrations. It can also be an object or a piece of merchandise - anything and everything I see around me.
How does your creative process work? Describe the birth of one of your illustrations — from beginning to end?
AK: My process most often begins with a search for a drawing subject. Then I begin to draw what I see, but in my style, listening to my inner voice. I'm not one to stick to realism; what I find important is that my drawing reflect my vision.
What inspires you?
AK: Walks, nature, exhibitions, beautiful places and modern illustrations.
Which of the old masters appeals to you?
AK: I love the art of Picasso and Matisse. I very much appreciate the spontaneity and vitality of their works.
Your goal for the next 5 years?
AK: I'd like to publish a bestseller of my own and do a joint project with a major brand (Anthropologie, H&M)
What would be your advice to aspiring illustrators?
AK: I taught several hundred tutorials to novice illustrators and the first thing that strikes me is that they sell themselves short, are insecure and unsure of their ability and don't believe that creativity can be well paid. These handicaps are a serious obstacle to a successful career. I would advise wannabe illustrators to learn not only drawing basics but also the ways of the industry. And always believe in yourself and build a strong support group of people with similar interests. This will make it much easier to pursue your dream.
