Today we’d like to introduce you to Zhenya Zhenya Zhuravlyova
Hi Zhenya , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2019, after a successful career as a chief engineer and architect in the construction industry doing urban planning design, I quit to spend all my time doing fashion illustration.
In 2011 I began a blog on Blogspot for my fashion illustrations, and soon developed a global clientele of bloggers wanting illustrations for their own blogs. Then in 2014, I moved my creativity to Instagram. And it opened up new possibilities for me.
That’s why I always advise artists and illustrators to create social networks and share their work from the very beginning of their journey.
Posting art daily on Instagram brought my work to the attention of major fashion magazines and websites. A 2014 commission for Revlon cosmetics brought me visibility and acclaim in the beauty industry, and was a launching point for working with brands and magazines. By 2019 I was too busy to sustain both careers at once, and had to choose the one that made me most happy.
I like to draw illustrations with traditional materials and use dry pastels, watercolors and colored pencils. Sometimes I draw in digital graphics. Extra soft dry pastel crayons are my favorite medium to work in. I love the feeling of them in my hand, the sensual aspect of changing the pressure and watching the magic they create on the textured paper or cardboard.
My style is defined by a powerful use of colorful negative space and photorealistic facial features mixed with abstract brush or pastel work. I watch all the runway shows, picks the model who inspires me most from each collection, and the look from the collection with the most interesting graphic patterns, and create my interpretation from there.
My mail inspiration is the beauty of the models faces, which I focus on reading in my work through use of light and shadow.
I also love fashion’s energy, innovativeness, and emphasis on youth. I paint seven days a week, for 10-12 hours a day, but it never seems to me that it’s too much. I know that fashion illustration is my life.
I devote a lot of time to learning new artistic techniques and expanding my existing skill set. In 2019, I started creating online courses for illustrators. I teach very talented illustrators, fashion designers and art teachers from all over the world. I encourage my students to experiment with and then combine various techniques, styles, and methods of working with materials in order to find their own particular personal creative expression. I believe that every artist has their own personal style that simply needs to be found within, honored, and honed. Fashion illustrator is a profession for hardworking and disciplined people who, like fashion designers, must constantly create something new.
My work has appeared in magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, Photobook, Vogue Taiwan, Marie Claire, Beauty Hub, ICON, Issue, Garage NYC, Basic, Seam, Grazia Italy, Grazia Australia and other publications worldwide. The Spanish publishing house included me in the book “NEW FASHION ILLUSTRATION”.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As a fashion illustrator, you may face different challenges. You need to develop your drawing skills and communication with clients. You must have a high ethic of diligence and discipline. You need to promote your creativity or find a creative agent.
You have to believe in yourself. As a teacher, I often come across the fact that people don’t believe in themselves and their art, even if they are very talented.
If we talk about my career, then I thank the Universe that I have the opportunity to do my favorite thing. I think that’s part of being happy in life.
The biggest problem is when people don’t want to work with you just because you were born in a different place. I think it’s wrong. And I think these are just mental boundaries. But I believe in my work and I will continue on my way.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
It is important for an artist/illustrator to know the basics of marketing and promotion in order to realize their creative services. If you want to engage only in the creative process and make money from it, then you need an illustrator agency. I work without an agent and have full control over all my work.
Nowadays, there are many ways to work as a full-time fashion illustrator. You can create sketches for fashion designers, you can sell your paintings in galleries or in your own online store. You can run a popular YouTube channel or you can create courses. Working as a live illustrator at events in fashion stores or weddings is a trend today.
I also think that social media is an important factor for the success of any creative person now.I try to constantly draw and show my illustrations. Many beginners are afraid to show their drawings, but this is a big mistake. You need to show your creativity and your drawing progress. As a rule, you will receive good feedback from the audience, which will motivate you to grow and develop your drawing skills.
I love to draw and create beautiful illustrations. I’m trying to do it better and better. I like to draw beautiful portraits for magazines. I like helping other illustrators create their own drawing style. Our attitude to work determines our results.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I think all illustrators and artists face the fear of starting a professional career. Based on my experience, I would say that the most important thing is to love what you do. Because this love will give you motivation, discipline, hard work to overcome difficult moments.
To make my interview useful, I will give practical tips for beginners.
1. Learn the basics of face and body drawing. Master drawing with traditional materials, because this will allow you to easily create sketches and give you more opportunities to work. If you draw well with traditional materials, you can easily master digital graphics.
2. Find illustrators who inspire you. Study their work and the drawing process. Learn different drawing techniques.This knowledge will help you to have different ideas for translating your ideas into a drawing.
3. Draw constantly. Draw for 10-20 minutes every day. I think that if a person wants to develop, he will find time for training. I painted every evening when I was working as an architect full-time. But I wanted to become a fashion illustrator, so I invested my time in my future profession.
4. Each person has a unique vision of art. Create your own unique drawing style based on your unique vision. Create 10-20 illustrations in your unique drawing style. It will be difficult at first because this is your new way of creative thinking. But then you will learn to look at any model as if through your own filter.
5. Be active. Develop your social networks. Create your own portfolio. Send applications to agencies for illustrators. Create your own products and services.Believe in yourself!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://fashion-illustrator.com
- Instagram: @zz_fashion-illustrator
- Other: https://online-fashion-illustration.com/home_en
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