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2DARTIST MAGAZINE | Folklore inspired illustrations
NATAŠA’S SIGNIFICANT ARTWORK
Mother is a piece that is very dear to me; a tribute to all the women in my life that taught
me courage, kindness, resilience and love2da: Where do you turn to for inspiration?
Are there any artists you like to reference?
NI: As I see it, you can either look for inspiration
in an active way, or let inspiration come to you
in a more passive way. The former relies on
brainstorming and stimulating your mind with
books or strolls around museums, while the latter
is about letting inspiration come to you – and
that’s by far my favorite method. I find myself
to be particularly receptive to new ideas when
walking or (cliché but true) showering. I think,
looking at my pieces, that it’s easy to spot my
references: Symbolist, Pre-Raphaelite painters
and Art Nouveau hold a special place in my heart.
2da: What has been your favorite
project to work on so far?
NI: The work I did for The Illuminated
Edda is definitely among my favorites,
as it gave me a chance to deepen my
knowledge of Norse mythology, reimagine
its inhabitants, and connect even more with
the concepts behind Ásatrú spirituality.I also enjoyed working on the artwork for R.E.
Vance’s urban fantasy series Paradise Lot. His
stories depict the life of deities and creatures
from world mythologies living as refugees in
a post apocalyptic godless world. Minotaurs
that work as pizza delivery guys, fairies that
inhabit old 90s toy castles, goblins that serve ice
cream! Illustrating them was just so much fun!2da: How do you deal with a challenging
project? Do you have any tips for our readers?NI: As many Ancient Greek tales tell us, you
cannot defeat a giant with your strength alone.
You need intelligence, and careful planning. So
my advice is to take your time when conducting
research; it’s time well spent. Carefully outline
each step and build strong foundations. Once
you’ve set your goals the hardest part then is
maintaining motivation and staying committed.
Big projects can be long and energy consuming,
but they’re also the most rewarding ones. Be
inventive, stubborn, and most of all passionate.2da: Are there any other skills and techniques
you would like to learn in the future? Are there
any materials you would like to experiment with?NI: I have to admit I have a secret crush on
oil painting. We had a brief affair years-ago,
but I would love to turn it into something
more serious. Oil painting has a depth and
smoothness that watercolor lacks, and that
has always fascinated me. I hope I will find
some time in the future to work a bit more
with it! I’ve also been experimenting with tea
painting for quite some time now, and I’d
like to keep that up and see where it goes!2da: What has your experience as a freelance
artist been like? What lessons have you learned?NI: As we all know, freelancing comes with pros
and cons. Flexibility on one side, uncertainty on
the other. Not having fixed hours can often lead to
over-exhaustion if you’re unable to separate work
and free time. So you have to figure out what
your ideal balance is; freelancing isn’t just art, but
also admin, research, accounting and promotion.
All in all, it’s a small price to pay to be able to
work on what you’re really passionate about!2da: What does a working day
in your life look like?NI: I’m a big fan of to-do lists, so my working
day starts with a list with a cup of tea on the
side. I find that’s the most effective way of
getting through the inevitably large pile of work
sitting on my desk, and it helps to maintain a
strong sense of direction and precedence.“Once you’ve set your goals
the hardest part then is
maintaining motivation and
staying committed”