Artist in Residence
Total art This manga artist believes that what you see on a daily basis adds to a visual library of inspiration. Hence the multitude of art on show!
Manga artist Ilya Kuvshinov believes that what he sees on a daily basis adds to his visual library of inspiration.
Five months ago I moved into a new house. I made sure to set up my workstation as soon as possible, but I still haven’t found the time to unpack one or two boxes…
I like my creative space to be dark and cold. Now, you’re probably thinking, “Er, like a cave?” So what I mean is that painting digitally usually means there’s more than enough illumination and heat created by my screens, and furthermore I don’t want the distraction of external light sources.
My work area has to be inspiring, so I keep all my art books within easy reach, and decorate the space with figurines, various posters, and photographs of my friends. My TV is kept nearby: I’m a bit of a gamer, and I also like to watch Netflix while I paint (Breaking Bad is a current favourite).
My workstation is on the first floor of the house and takes up half of the living room and kitchen. This means I’m able to chat with my house mates while they’re cooking or eating a meal.
I only have to spin in my chair around to access my books, stored in a bookcase from IKEA. Thinking about it, most of the furniture in this room is from the Scandinavian chain. I’m a loyal customer, clearly!
I truly believe that your environment and daily life influences your sense of taste, even if you’re not studying it consciously. That’s why objects like my framed Kim Jung Gi’s original sketch are on show – they’re to remind me that I need to improve every day.
Ilya is a Russian-born illustrator and comic artist who’s currently living in Japan. You can see examples of his art and support him at www.patreon.com/kuvshinov_ilya.