STILL LIFE LANDSCAPE METHOD

STILL LIFE

LANDSCAPE METHOD

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH KATERINA KHLEBNIKOVA

1. Tell me about yourself? Where are you from? Where have you studied? Where are you currently living?

I was born in Moscow into a family of book lovers. Dad was a connoisseur of antique books so I loved looking at rare editions of a book and reading picture books. Ever since I was little, I loved drawing, and my dream was to own an easel and a standing paint box. When I was 7 or 8 years old, I saved enough money to purchase my first painter’s case by selling wild mushrooms in the market. My parents always supported me in whatever I did. I graduated from Moscow State University of Printing Arts with a specialist degree in graphic design. I am a member of the Moscow Union of Artists, a book illustrator for both children’s and adults’ books, a drawing teacher, and a mother of two. I live in a townhouse outside of the city with my family.

2. What was the best lesson you have learnt while studying? Is there any piece of advice that you still use or have you outgrown them as time went on?

I was very lucky to have Ms. Elena Nikolaevna Nenastina as my teacher. Her approach to drawing is based on the classic works of masters and theorists of fine art such as V.A. Favorsky, A.D. Goncharov, P.A. Florensky. They symbolize Russian art in the early 20th century and have developed a legacy still taught today in art history. Ms. Elena Nikolaevna taught me to consciously work with color, draw rhythms and pauses, and grasp the relationship of all objects with space and its movement in that space. She also taught me to work hard.

3.What is your approach in creating your illustration?

When I was at university, we had to draw the layouts of the large volumetric models we made for literary works from different materials. It ended up looking like a theatre production. I rarely use this method now. Now I draw based on what inspires me. I have a selection of photographs, illustrations, and movies. Sometimes I surround myself with certain objects in order to create a certain feel in the environment which inspires me to illustrate. I call this method “still life landscape.” Using this method, I create a series of sketches to look at the illustrations as a whole and then add the details. I also draw inspiration from nature. I use oil pastels, coloured pencils and gouache .

4. What is your favorite recently-completed project?

I had the pleasure of illustrating the short story “Kashtanka” by Anton Chekhov for the Serbian publishing house, Darma Books. My illustrations were well received and were published mostly unedited. Due to the high quality of the project, I was offered by a Chinese publishing house to illustrate the remaining majority of the literary works of Anton Chekhov.

5. How is working for the children’s publishing industry in your country different as opposed to different countries?

There are a lot of professional publishing houses in Russia, but working for foreign publishing houses is more comfortable.

6. Which foreign illustrators have influenced you?

Laura Carlin, Beatrice Alemagna, Jorge Gonzalez, Yann Kebbi

7. How do you overcome creative block or artist’s block?

I just start working, collecting material, and making sketches until an idea forms in the process. Illustration for children’s books, of course. The drawings develop a child’s sense of imagination and allow them to see the beauty of the world inside their head and around them.

8. What are your interests outside of illustration?

Family, children, traveling. I love heavy rock music, going to concerts and gettogethers with friends.

9. What would you say is your strongest ability as an illustrator?

I don’t really like to praise myself, but I guess I have a good sense of color and I can create ambiences well.

10. Why is illustration such a powerful medium in Russia?

I think that illustration is a powerful mass media not only in Russia, but all over the world.

11. What is the best use of illustration you have ever seen? 12. If you were not an illustrator, what would you be?

I have never imagined myself as anything but an illustrator. Perhaps, becoming a doctor would have been a viable alternative.

13. If you could travel back in time, who would be the one person you would want to meet and why?

I would like to meet my father, who died when I was 19. He would have been very proud of my success.

14. Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?

In Rome, enjoying the open air. I would, obviously, live in my home country, but I would like to frequently travel to different countries.