value creative careers, some think that it is just a
hobby and it is easy to do. I am very lucky; I work
mostly with foreign clients and galleries. I do not
need to prove to anyone my work has value and
that creative people have to be paid the same as
any other professionals.
YOU ARE A MASTER AT WHAT YOU CREATE.
HOW DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION AND
WHERE DO YOUR IDEAS COME FROM?
I find my inspiration everywhere in the world
around me. Nature is a great source of inspiration.
All colours and patterns... Plants, water, fog, and
rain. I am also inspired by historical fashion and
architecture. But I also find a lot of interesting ideas
in the modern symbols of our time.
HOW DOES LITERATURE PLAY A PART IN
YOUR CHARACTER DESIGNS?
I really love the tragic characters of Dostoevsky,
they are so full of pain, but at the same time they
strive for justice and beauty. Dostoevsky was the
person [that] said that beauty would save the world.
And I love the mysterious and even scary
atmosphere of some of Gogol’s stories. He of
course took a lot from Russian folklore: witches,
mermaids, etc. I think folklore in general is a great
source of inspiration for artists.
FASHION PLAYS A BIG ROLE IN YOUR
CREATIONS. ARE YOU INFLUENCED BY
FASHION DESIGNERS?
Fashion designers are a huge part of my
inspiration. My two most loved designers are
Alexander McQueen and Eiko Ishioka who created
costumes for movies... Historical fashion plays a
big part as well.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL SEPARATES YOUR
ARTWORK FROM THE OTHERS?
It will sound surprising, but my personality. Even
through my work, I believe that the most important
part is to evolve as a human being, and when I
develop my personality it will reflect in my work
too. It’s a win-win situation. My work is not about
my visual talent, it is more about adding tons of
tiny details. Most importantly it’s about good
communication with your client and people around
you, having a helpful attitude, solving problems,
staying organised and not overloading yourself. I
try to do all of these things.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE FOR YOU TO
COMPLETE THE ADOBE REMIX PROJECT AND
CAN YOU SHARE THE PROCESS?
Well I do not remember exactly the time frame
now since it was almost two years ago. I used
myself as a model and made [a] special photo
session for that in the photo studio. And then I
worked with those images to create scenery. I had
EYE ON DESIGN PORTFOLIO INTERVIEW
to incorporate the Adobe logo into my usual style of
work. I decided to create a beautiful garden, where
the logo is a topiary covered with flowers, which
supports two girls leaning on it. With that I wanted
to show that Adobe is really supporting creatives all
over the world.
HOW DO YOU CAST THE MODELS THAT
APPEAR IN YOUR PROJECTS?
Here in Lithuania we have so many beautiful girls
who work part-time as models. We also have
several tall people. So it is not really difficult to find
great models. But the main part is not even the
looks, but the ability to open up to the camera. Some
people may be so shy that even being beautiful will
not help them look great in photos. Thus I try to find
those who really enjoy being in front of the camera.
YOU HAVE APPEARED IN SOME OF YOUR
WORK, WHEN DID YOU FIRST DECIDE TO DO
THIS AND WAS THERE A SPECIAL REASON?
Actually, I was my main model for all my first
projects, and I continue to do self-portraits today. For
me it is very easy, as I know exactly what I want to
express in my work.
WHAT SPECIAL TECHNIQUES DID YOU USE TO
CREATE THE PIECE IN DISGUISE?
It was done for a ballet about Red Riding Hood.
Where she was actually a scary werewolf. That’s why
Some people may be so shy that even being beautiful will not
help them look great in photos. Thus I try to find those who
really enjoy being in front of the camera
Inside A Dream:pieces are thematic in Period
Natalie’s work. Combining elements from the Victorian
era help to create a world that is very dream like. A study of specific time
periods can enrich your artistic style