Q: In your bio on Fine.Graff.Art I noticed that you have worked as a digital illustrator, whereas now you’re also recognised for your murals in the children’s wing at the Institute for Specialisation and Qualification of Medical Professionals (ISQMP). Do you have a different attitude towards different artistic formats (digital/mural/ canvas), and how do you perceive each of them individually? 

A: For me, every project is a unique challenge, and it inspires me to experiment and express myself via different media. I have a penchant for murals, as they give me more real estate to develop my ideas. As for digital work, I utilize digital tools for the product line of my brand, D-iotov.

The project for the Institute (ISQMP) was an act of charity, and I am glad that I managed to make the children treated there smile. I faced a serious challenge there due to the scale of the project, which encompassed eight walls in total. 

Nowadays, I rarely approach canvas work because of how tight my schedule is, but I am happy that Fine Graff Art challenges me to keep exploring the medium. It was exactly the opportunity to digitize each painting and make it accessible to everyone by means of HQ printing that compels me to keep looking towards canvas painting. 

Q: What do you want your art to express, and what’s its mission? 

A: The imprint that I would like to leave behind through my art is one of emotion and meaning. I want my works to display art that holds well under the pressure of concepts such as beauty, style, and harmony, instead of art that succumbs to fads.

I aim for my style of expression to speak for itself and be associated with me without the need for a signature.

If anything, I want my work to remind people of the beautiful moments in life – for example,  time spent in nature or in the mountains, and to spark curiosity amongst youngsters through my rather childish, cartoony murals. 

Q: What do you prefer: the artistic intent in a painting or the meaning extracted by the viewer?  

A: It’s a matter of  opinion, but I would opt for artistic intent in a particular artwork.  A piece is a tool for the artist to articulate him/herself and, moreover, a door to their inside world. 

Q: What are the ingredients of good art, in your opinion? 

A: For me, the ingredients are commitment to art, hard work, development, and inspiration. 

Q: Is there a format (or formats) that you would like to try out? Are there such that you are afraid of? 

A: I love to embark on new challenges and to constantly learn new techniques, which helps me broaden my scope. Fear is part of trying something new, but that only helps me to keep pushing. If you are too afraid to dive in at the deep end, then you will never overcome your challenges. 

Q: What future would you like art to have? 

A: I would like for art to play a bigger role in our lives; to find a wider audience on a national and international scale; to bridge the gap between classical art and the creative outbursts of today’s artists. I would like artists to express their thoughts freely, stripped of prejudice and forms. 

Q: How important is teamwork in art, which is often perceived as a solo job? 

A: Teamwork could be cumbersome due to the personal outlook of each artist and still be very rewarding, especially when each member of the team compliments one another in terms of qualification and skill. This creates a nice synergy within the crew.

More often than not, I work alone, but I get truly inspired when I work with other artists. Very recently, I had the chance and pleasure to work shoulder-to-shoulder with Nasimo, my mentor. Teamwork with him was indeed a challenge for me, but Nasimo’s skill is not just in articulating himself clearly through his art. He is excellent at inspiring and challenging the artist inside you, which pushes you to pursue new heights. This is a good example of team play in which you consistently improve, and that’s vital to me.

Organically generated text by Simeon Cherepov

photo:Lollyta Nikolova