EVGENIY KISELEV
Russian illustrator and artist Evgeniy Kiselev creates art that looks like a brain explosion on canvas. One can never glance but stare at his illustrations going deeper and getting lost in the infinite layers of colorful shapes. At the age of 29 he managed to gain a worldwide fame with publications in IDN, Beautiful Decay, Grafik Magazine, Rojo and commissioned work for Computer Arts, Philip Morris, Snickers, Unicef and many others. In the interview for Big Up Evgeniy talks about his inspirations, creative process, and his wildest dreams.
Interview by Katya Guseva
“Each and every element of my illustrations is drawn by hand, and the only generator of visuals i have is my brain.”
How did you get into illustration?
I used to work as a designer and art-director of a small magazine. And most of the time I experienced the lack of visual materials for my layout designs. Then I started making my own collages and small illustrations to use for the magazine design. My coworkers and readers loved them, and it became a great inspiration for my next steps. I started entering online design and illustration competitions and winning them. I realized I had my own style and it inspired me even more.
What is that style?
Well, I still don’t have the exact answer to this. I usually describe it as “Organically-mechanical vector abstraction”. Many people are asking me lately if I use any programming codes for generating visuals, like Joshua Davis does for example. Maybe it’s my disadvantage, but no. Each and every element of my illustrations is drawn by hand and the only generator of visuals I have is my brain.
Your works are so colorful, how do you choose the colors?
The color is the last step in my process. First I get the graphic part done and then start playing with color. It doesn’t take long, cause while I draw I make notes on what colors I want to see in the final version. Most of the time the colors depend on the weather. Here in St. Petersburg, we only have 60 sunny days a year. So to avoid grey colors in my life and work, and not to get bored and depressed I prefer spending winter in Asia.
What is the main difference between commercial and non-commercial work for you?
The main feature of my personal works is the absence of recognizable images. People often need some logical thread, something to connect with their own world. I brush it off, because I think it’s the easiest way. My personal projects are a way to protest against the labels. I also very rarely include any typography in my compositions for the same reason to avoid any explanations of the meaning. My idea in graphics is to move from the area of the logical to the area of feeling and guessing. I love eye-traveling in my own illustrations and find motives I didn’t suspect existed in my works.
Do you have a favorite piece of your work?
I usually like my latest 5-10 works. With every completed project I feel a step closer to some illusionary goal, this inspires me and gives an impulse to create a new and different image.
What medium would you like to try?
Most of all I’d like to become a part of the team working on creating the weirdest cartoon in history.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I just started a second blog, where I post the works of artists that inspire me. Almost every day I post something special, that I liked and remembered. www.ekiselev.tumblr.com
- If I ever meet aliens I would beg them to take me home with them
- Big up to my girlfriend Lucy
