@valentin_tkach_illustration

30/1/2021

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

I live and work in Russia, in Moscow. Currently, I’m freelancing full time as an illustrator.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

It is difficult to identify anything specific. I change my style quite often, but I try to pay attention to the silhouette, texture and limited range of colours.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

It is now computer graphics. I used to draw a lot with pen and ink, now I've completely switched to computer. I like to work in digital format, where you can quickly experiment with colour variants and shapes.

4. What is your artistic process like?

I usually work when I have a specific order from a customer. I spend a lot of time looking for reference materials and for research. If we are talking about a particular era, I study the costumes of that time and everyday details. I usually start with sketches, then approve the sketch with the customer. In my work I use Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

I love to study the works of Kitagawa Utamaro, Hokusai, Francis Bacon, David Hockney. Love Proto-Renaissance Art and film posters of the Russian avant-garde .

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

I have been painting since childhood. I was born into a family of artists. Since early childhood, I have participated in art exhibitions. Perhaps art has shaped my view of the world. It is difficult for me to imagine my life without it.

7. Where did you study?

I am graduated from Moscow State University of printing arts. I studied book design and illustration.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

"If you want to make God laugh, tell Him about your plans," said Woody Alain, and he seems right. This year it has become clear that it is better not to plan anything.

9. What about in ten?

I hope to find something interesting to do in 10 years.

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

I make money by illustrating, and I don't see it as art. But I really like the process of working on an illustration, finding solution of some artistic problems. And sometimes I like to think that I can hold the viewer's attention, even when it's only for a few seconds.

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

I am an omnivore, but I don't like pumpkins and boiled vegetables. I like buckwheat porridge.

12. Favourite book?

If you choose from the classics, it is Chekhov. Now I read more non-fiction.

13. Favourite genre of music?

Depends on my mood. Now, I rarely listen to music, sometimes when I work on illustrations I listen to audio books.

14. What are your hobbies?

I probably have no hobby. But apart from illustration, I do painting and documentary films. I love hiking.

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

I haven't thought about it before, but I might be an architect. Why not?