@itwazcool

Instagram: @itwazcool Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100018298290802 Behance: www.behance.net/itwazcool  

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

My name is Ksusha and I'm illustrator from Russia. I was born in a small town called Pushkino. Itwazcool is just my pseudonym. I was started to draw when I was a kid and I hope I can do it all my life as much as possible.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

Frankly speaking, I’m still in search. It seems to me that it is necessary to do something new and do not stop at one thing to find yourself and always learning. Today I’m a big fan of minimalism and simple geometric shapes, tomorrow I wanna do something complex with abstract composition, rhythms and details. It all depends on the tasks that the particular project is putting, I think. Also, I believe in the power of irony and the moment when the illustration makes you look at the usual things from a different angle. At this stage, I want to be mobile and enjoy different technics and mixing a lot. But in future I would like to say «yes to less» and better hear my voice.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

I think that all types of medium play a special role and it is very important to use all their possibilities. In that moment I prefer digital because it is universal and easy way for me to work with vector. Simple lines in Illustrator always be my number one. But I can return to linocut, painting, animation, collage or drawing with different brushes or textures in Photoshop, if I missed them for a long time. A sketching an idea with a pencil is one of the coolest moments, because it really absorbs you into a fantasy world, that sometimes you forget that you should have breakfast or go to sleep.

4. What is your artistic process like?

Usually, I need privacy and only time. I sketch a few ideas or write it, chose palette, take a photo of a sketch to get it on my computer. Then I use Illustrator or Photoshop, add color, texture or some effects. From time to time I can redraw the illustration if I want to achieve a certain result while I will not satisfied with the work done.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

From the trivial things for me, it is the night summer air after run, nature, sports. From last: all things that have a double meaning, unpredictability, japan graphic, strange characters, my favorite artists and some design studios, weird stories, fleeting decisions, people inspired by the ideas.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

Nowadays it becomes more difficult for me to say l where art is and where it is not. It is in the eyes of the beholder. Trends and directions endlessly change, it's probably great, I always like to watch the changes and I think it's stupid and inevitable, try to adhere to any framework in terms of art. In bad times art helps me to understand being myself, feel happy and run away from reality. In good times it can bring problems with health. It's like two extremes of one essence. I still wonder what will be more important for me.

7. Where did you study?

I finished my graduation in Moscow State University of Printing Arts with a specialization in book graphics, then I worked like illustrator in Strelka KB (a company with an interest in the urban and architectural environment). Last year I made a decision to work at freelance full-time to explore digital and animation more, cos it helped me bring more freedom and useful experience in creation.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

The last thing I want to do is stop. In five years, I see myself still working and learning animation or 3d. One of the dreams is having my own studio where I can progress and collaborate with interesting and inspiring people.

9. What about in ten?

I just wanna draw, haha, I cannot say nothing else. But it will be cool, if I will be free from social media, messengers, people and commercial. I can work more on my own projects without worries. And maybe I’d love to be honest with myself.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

It will sound a little trite but I would like art to be not only interesting and pleasing to the eye but also useful for people who need help. I wouldn’t want it to be only selfish.

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

I don’t really think about food, but I сan not imagine my life without meat, maybe I just did not try.

12. Favourite book?

Last favorite book is «Naiv. Super» by Erlend Loe and of course Russian classics.

13. Favourite genre of music?

I'm a terrible music lover, and I can listen to everything from classical music to old school, reggae and hip-hop. Recently I really liked the last album of Gorillaz.

14. What are your hobbies?

I love to run sooooo much, in summer I can do it every day and that’s why I really hate winter.

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

I wanna never grow up. Or better to be like ninja. Kia!