MEET ANNA SARVIRA

ANA

SARVIRA WITH STYLE

When did you first think about art as something you wanted to do? Were you encouraged or discouraged by family, friends, teachers, mentors?

I was always drawing. Just before my last year in school I finally decided to study art. It was a late decision compared to other artists in my school. Back then, I was living in Vinnytsia, a small city in Ukraine that didn't have an art academy or good drawing courses. To prepare for the exams I got a lot of help from my parents and classmates. I’m happy they encouraged me.

What kind of kid were you? Where did you grow up? What were your influences?

In Vinnytsia, I liked school and studying, not just arts, but also mathematics and IT. I would say, I was a calm child, reading and drawing were my main interests.

Growing up in 1990's in Ukraine was tough. You can’t compare it to grow up in the Western World. So there wasn't a lot of inspiration on the streets and daily life was hard. However my parents had many books at home and they help me a lot.

Has the computer affected your work? Do you work traditionally and digitally?

Yes, I mostly work on the computer, but I’m also always trying to get back to the more traditional way. For most jobs that I do, it is easier to work on the computer. I can do changes if clients ask me to do. If I work on my own projects, I also use ink and gouache.

What’s going on in your head when you work on a piece? Your fears, anticipation, confidence, etc. How do you know something is finished?

First, I do a lot of color sketches with my early ideas. Then I choose the best one and try to develop it. In the end I choose one. I like to have some time in between before proceeding with the idea. I would

What do you do to promote yourself to get work? Have you worked for Western counties like America, England and France?

I worked with American and Asian publishers. It a nice experience. I still have an illustration agency in London I’m working with, but I don’t get as many commissions as I expected. Maybe it would help if I would finish my website someday. Offline I’m participating in a lot of illustration exhibitions in Ukraine and abroad, for example in the Bologna book fair and Nami Concourse.

What’s the future hold for you? Any ultimate goal?

I would like to start to do picture books. There are already some ideas in my mind but I won’t reveal them now

say, I need to get a rest from the picture. In the end, I work a lot with the forms – it’s one of the most important parts for me. I’m trying to find the best one for every object. When I don’t want to move and change anything - it means that the illustration is finished.

Are you aware of America and English illustrators? Does their work influence your work?

Actually, American illustration is not very close to what I do. I mainly check European and Asian

illustrators. From Britian I really like the works of James Daw and Lauren Humphrey, Sara Fanelli, David Shrigley, from American – JooHee Yoon.

I’m curious about how you choose what to work on. What does your process entail? Start to finish.

I really like to work on a project which gives me more freedom, that’s why I’m rarely working on ad illustrations. But I’m doing a lot of social projects and children’s books – they are my main interest.

"My biggest influence was my dad’s amazing library of art books and literature. Nothing was off limits, no age restriction"