Kiev-based, Sergiy Maidukov has a particular eye for collections of forms and colours, and ways to relate and mould them into stand-out illustrations. He is constantly playing with palettes and compositions, with a fresh approach for each project.
Sergiy talks to us about his love for working hand-to-paper and the satisfaction that brings, but needing to rely on speed-efficient digital methods for most commissions. But you can still see his skill with a brush and leaning towards the marks that it brings throughout all of his work.
Below, Sergiy describes his approach of working quickly, trying to maintain the momentum in an illustration.
It’s interesting to hear that he tries not to labour over one image too long given the seemingly carefully planned structural qualities in his engaging compositions.
I draw my illustrations with a few different techniques. My favorite way is to draw a picture on paper, then scan it and finish it in Photoshop.
However, for me a ‘hand drawing’ is not always possible, because (of course) most of projects have tight deadlines and I have not got time to make a mistake and start again. So, most of my drawings are almost completely digital.
I love gouache, black ink, and black charcoal for drawing. Sometimes (rarely) I use a plasticine. I like to go without line sketching, with the colour spots at once. I mean, when the client approves my sketch, I almost never base the final illustration on its lines.
I work fast. I can finish a picture in 5-6 hours. However, an illustration taking 2 or 3 days does happen. And I usually do not like it much because I see it as tiresome. I love it when a picture bounces with energy. Then I’m happy.
© Sergiy Maidukov, 2015
