My work is all about chasing the human experience; translating an honest reflection of a character to the viewer. I primarily focus on portraiture and the human figure, designing the characters I want to see as well as romanticizing the ones I already love.
I have always been heavily inspired by the video game, anime, and manga industry. The witty humor, casual storytelling, drawing style, and wide fantasy of those genres carries into the wonkiness of my work and characters. I was so affected by Naruto Shippuden- my childhood favorite series- that I started teaching myself to draw again in 2020 before I changed my major to art. This led me to pursue my BA in Studio Art from Ohio State- a decision that changed the course of my life and convinced me to continue drawing for more than just fun.
Besides randomly throwing myself into art school at 20, art has been around me all my life. I was raised in a pocket-sized version of Russia- that is, an immigrant family in Cleveland, Ohio. My parents and older sister were born in Odessa, Ukraine, and I was born in Ohio. My mother is full of warmth and finds love in everything she does. My father is an artist who has always focused on the beauty around us; the little things in life. Growing up with my mom, dad, and sister, I always knew we were different. Around my family, there was no need for a mask.
I seek to capture the love, compassion, and authenticity displayed by my family and culture in my work while still appreciating the imperfections of the world around me. I love warping and bending colors beyond their realistic depictions for a more saturated experience. This is also why I love the abstract. I love the feeling of something being "out there." I design imperfect, flawed, and honest characters; a reflection of the world I wish existed.