Interviews with Maria Bradovkova

My major experience comes from my studies. because I am still a student. I have graduated from design (BA) at Technical University of Kosice, Faculty of Arts, in Kosice, Slovakia. I have completed MA degree in design, visual communication at Faculty of Industrial Design, Jan Matejko at Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, Poland. One year after my graduation I have decided to do studies in art at the same academy. I am in the fourth year of painting course.

During studies, I was doing some small graphic commissions. For ex. since 2012 to 2016 I was working for WSCF Europe and did some graphic and layout. In 2016, I designed layout to print for Pozytywne Inicjatywy organization.

I was always tempted to study art. On my way to it, I went through design.

It's good for me to articulate at the beginning what my vision, keywords and characteristic and desired atmosphere. What kind of emotions I want to transmit ... I always start with sketch on paper, whether it is artistic or graphic project. On paper, I seek form, composition, balance between dark and light. I am searching for colour pallets. When I do illustration or drawing, I don't use digital tools. If its graphic design f.ex. logo, I switch to computer after the sketch on paper.

I feel excited when having and idea. I am nervous when starting, because I don't know If I manage to put my idea into paper. On the way, the process is fascinating, because the idea is evolving, new possibilities appear how to continue.

I think combination studies of design and painting had some good sides, because I am attentive to colour, composition and material, physical, sensual aspect of design or artwork.

I would like to do good diploma project, series of painting and drawings. I desire to live from my work, to do commissions. There is one dream project I would like to be involved, but it's quite early to talk about it.

This advice is for myself too, because I am somewhere at the beginning of my path. I would say, commit, work hard enjoy, experiment, focus.

Before the quarantine, I have spent most of my day at the academy painting, because I am still student. At the moment, I have moved my work to my room.

Regarding art, I visit exhibitions.

I think good design should be smart, creative, and conscious — attentive.

When I look at my work (personal projects) and I feel something is missing, I keep working, changing. Its very intuitive process. I am looking for a harmony between forms, colours and idea.

Regarding design, I am happy about my diploma project. Under supervision of my prof. Władysław Pluta, together with advices regarding photography from dr. Tomáš Agat Błoński, I designed two albums — photo biography, about my aunt Antonia. Its was personal, not commercial project but it has a value for my family. Its like a memoir with archival photos together with photos I made for purpose of the album, presenting her everyday life and personal belongings. It was a challenge to collect and select material, create layout. I am very happy about the result. It has a charm, handmade touch, under supervision I did bookbinding myself. It was challenging and complex project.

I appreciate polish illustrators Iwona Chmielewska and Joanna Concejo for their sensitive and symbolic narration and traditional tools. Another visual storyteller is polish artists and photographer Laura Makabresku.

I feel responsibility to work on myself. To get better and come up with a good work.

My main idea was not to plan but play. I had a method. Random splash of ink on paper. Observation, inspiration and reaction to what appeared to me from that stain of colour. I continued added details with crayon, pencil, linear drawing.

I was wondering where this method can lead me. It was a challenge out of curiosity.

I would like to continue and do more illustrations, experiment more with materials and technique.

During october 2019 I was drawing one illustration per a day. I don't remember hours exactly.

It is a personal project. At the beginning, there was a push from my dear friend, who suggested me, that I do a challenge, one illustration per a day, as an evolution of my previous work.

For this project I don't have further busines plans.

I wanted to challenge my creativity and see how my skills can evolve drawing daily.

Sure, I was experimenting before with watercolour and linear drawing.

Title links to the method. Splash of ink was the starting point for each illustration.

I used ink — liquid watercolour, marker, pencil and white crayon on paper.

Individual style that comes from traditional not digital tools. Unique irregularity of splash with combination with linear drawing that depends on it, will be not repeated.

I wanted to make minimum input to the watercolour base and at the same time, to make the most of it.

I was contacted by people working for the competition. They have noticed my work on Behance, and encouraged to apply.

I have learned that my subconsciousness can pop up when I don't plan.

I did my BA in design, Faculty of Arts, Technical University of Kosice in Kosice, Slovakia. I have completed my MA (specialization in visual communication) in Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, Poland. Currently, I am in the fourth year of my second master studies in painting in Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow.

Since childhood, I enjoyed drawing and desired to be a painter. On my way, I went through design.

I am not an active designer, I actually focus on art — drawing, painting, illustration at the moment. I do graphic design occasionally.

I do drawing, painting, illustration, occasionaly graphic design.

I would say commitment, practice, constant development and originality, consciousness.

In my opinion it should be original, fresh, practical, ergonomic, engaging, intuitive, and playful. Well-made product that answers problem of many and its conscious, sustainable, last for years.

Good design serves people and environment. It's educational.

In terms of illustrations, there are books and picture books of polish illustrators Iwona Chmielewska and Joanna Concejo. They use Very sensitive and poetic narration through symbols and metaphors.

I am happy about my diploma project. Under supervision of prof. Władysław Pluta, together with advices regarding photography from dr. Tomáš Agat Błoński, I designed two albums — photo biography, about my aunt Antonia. Its was personal, not commercial project but it has a value for my family. Its like a memoir with archival photos together with photos I made for purpose of the album, presenting her everyday life and personal belongings. It was a challenge to collect and select material, create layout. I am very happy about the result. It has a charm, handmade touch, under supervision I did bookbinding myself. It was challenging and complex project.

I would work in craft potentially. I enjoy handmade process of creating.

Design for me is a good project that is conscious, attentive to people and environment.

I don't consider myself great designer or artists. I am at the beginning of my path. I have met many supportive teachers and professors during my studies, and last but not least, my family and close ones.

As I said, I am not a great designer or artist yet. I am a student. Time will tell, how I will transform into practise all that education I went through.

I am keen on doing more personal work, illustrations and paintings.

Becoming professional and live from my work.

In my opinion design should be educational and conscious about the environment.

If all goes well, there is a project — product design I designed when I was younger and with some help I hope it will go to the market.

Beside that, I am excited when I transform my ideas into images on paper or canvas.

When working on graphic design project, I always start from research, knowing the client and his expectation. When I do personal project — drawing or painting. I need a vision, then I draw a sketch to decide about the composition. As a next step I do it in colour, If I am not sure about colour palette, I do more different sketches.

In my drawing and illustrations, I choose analogue techniques. I like to experiment with watercolour, ink, pencil, crayons, chalk on paper and combine it together. Recently I work with gouache on paper. I do oilpaintings on canvas too. When I do some graphic design projects, I use Adobe Package.

Its important because colour creates atmosphere, mental correlations, and together with material and proportion it defines character of design. Material creates sensual experience, effects economic aspects.

I am happy somebody did that!

Since childhood, I enjoyed drawing and looking through albums about history of art from my parents collection. My educational background was not simple. In college, I focused on fashion design, later I have graduated in design, visual communication. After a one year, I have decided to go back to uni and study art, what I have always wanted.

I dont have my own studio. I am student of painting at Jan Matejko Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow, Poland. It is the oldest Polish fine arts academy. I will graduate next year.

Design is project. It is selection of forms relative to the goal.

I like to draw illustrations and paint.

In general, I appreciate design that is simple, intuitive, playful and conscious. Personally I like minimalistic design made of natural materials with handmade, craft touch.

I designed layout for Mozaik journal, published by WSCF Europe.

I like to work by hand, draw or paint on paper or canvas.

When I get inspired by experience, reading or supported by people. When I work a lot, and I see progress.

The beginning is very important because I need to articulate my goal, vision and decide about how I am going to do it.

Its mix of feelings. I feel inspired, curious and nervous too, If I will be able to put on paper the vision I have.

I feel excited and positive.

Beside the quality of the product, it should connect with people, respond to their problems or needs.

Design should serve the idea. Regarding product design, it must work well, when person can understand and operate it simply and intuitively and product last for years.

For my personal projects, my inspiration comes from meeting people, connecting with myself, observation. When I read or listen discussion, when I relax after sport. If I let stress to let go, it gives space for new ideas.

I draw and paint illustrations that are figurative. At the moment I work with gouache on paper. Pictures are nostalgic in selected colour pallet.

I live currently in Cracow, Poland. There is very rich cultural heritage, artists and illustrators. I feel lucky, because I feel surrounded by many inspirational people. There is no way not to be affected but I think, everybody creates his own style.

When I do personal project — drawing or painting. I need a vision, then I draw a sketch to decide about the composition. As a next step I do it in colour, If I am not sure about colour palette, I do more different sketches. Sometimes I start without the plan — little challenges for my creativity like in awarded project Splash.

Because I am full time student, I spent in my uni most of the day painting. But since quarantine started I have removed my work to my room.

I did some layout design in the past which felt rewarding.

Between 2012-2016 I was working for World Student Christian Federation in Europe, I was designing some small graphics and layout.

I enjoy making illustrations, drawing or painting. I like handmade aspect of it. It's a playful process.

I would like to do good diploma project, series of painting and drawings next year. I desire to live from my work, to do commissions.

I work on my personal art projects most of the time. Besides, I have some logo design requests.

I have my profile on Behance, Instagram or simply through my email: maria.bradovkova@gmail.com.