INTERVIEW
Flying Solo
An interview with Eliza Ivanova about the joy of art and creating
May 16, 2021
Have you always aspired to create art, or did you discover your calling later in life?
Art has been a part of my life for as long as I could remember. I’ve been in both the fine art and animation industries for a while now, and I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of the possibilities in those fields.
Did you study art as a student or are you self-taught?
I began taking lessons in academic drawing and painting at 12, but it wasn’t until college that I took on an actual art education, which is how I got my BFA in character animation.
What artists informed your development? And what artists do you look to now for inspiration?
I’d say Sergio Toppi has been my biggest inspiration recently in terms of aesthetics intertwined with storytelling.
What was a pivotal moment in the evolution of your work?
Weirdly enough, being consistently productive online has helped me solve problems in my head quicker than anything else; practice is truly the one way in which I excel the best, and social media has helped with that. I’m an internet child through and through, and it’s great that there are amazing outlets all over the map for creative people.
Tell us about your process. Do you begin with an image or a concept?
It varies from piece to piece- some drawings start from a mindless exploration of a shape for example, or from a good reference piece, while others come together as the result of exploring an idea and testing it out in many ways.
What informs your work? As a visual artist, are you inspired by music, film, science, literature or other art forms?
All of those, yes. It’s a beautiful ecosystem of artistic inspiration all around.
What was the most challenging project that you worked on?
It’s not a project that was the most challenging thing so far. It was the decision to go solo and begin freelancing as an independent artist because of how dramatically it affects every aspect of life- from the logistical side of setting up and running a business, to lining up projects, and to making sure you don’t burn out and take care of your health and family.
What do you enjoy most about the work you do?
The joy I get from creating anything really. It’s simple, child-like happiness, and the fear of screwing up keeps me alert and not complacent.
What made you choose to drop with LGND?
It was the personalized approach, the desire to do better in terms of minimizing the environmental impact, and being in the company of amazing artists I look up to.
How do you think NFTs will change the future for artists?
The more I think about it, the more I get excited about the respect and notoriety that digital art and animation are finally getting in the art field. It’s about time!