Marta Klachuk

Since early childhood I have always liked cartoons, especially their characters. It was my first source of inspiration. Having watched a lot of cartoons, I tried to draw them on paper or make them from playdough, all windowsills in my house were full of characters. So my parents understood that they had to take me to the place, where my creative work could be developed. So, my creative life began from the art school and continued in the Academy of Arts. But my specialty was not Digital Artist, my specialty is Textile Design.Somewhere in the middle of my study I realized that I want to be a designer, a bit later I understood that I wanted to be a digital artist. I had almost no idea how to do it and what is needed for it. I liked different works of design, cartoons etc., but I thought that it is too far from me and I would never get in this sphere. All the more, digital art was really underdeveloped in my country in 2003. But still I started trying to use all chances to get closer to the world of design and gradually, beginning from digital enhancement of photos in the photographic studio, later from web-designer and interior decorator, I finally got into the world of digital art.

I am a freelance digital artist, more specifically Game Artist , Character Designer, Concept artist, Illustrator. I work with different companies all over the world.

For me design is the starting point for visualizing ideas. It is something that makes our life more interesting and colourful

Practically everything where you need to create something, to draw, to think over the idea. But a special place in my work is occupied by creating characters. When I am drawing them, I feel as they become alive, they become personalities. Every character is special for me.

It is surprising, but having no experience in the game industry, my first work was drawn for McDonalds. It was a mini-game for children on their site. I still don’t understand how it has happened, but it might have been some kind of luck, because in my portfolio there were only web-designs and one character, which I drew for myself. But the programmer who worked on this game liked something in my works and he offered this job to me. As a result, I didn’t let him down. It was really very difficult for me, it took me much effort to make my first experience in the game industry worthy.

It’s like a new challenge. The feeling of thrill, interest and pleasure of the process.

When you see that, as a result, your project was liked not only by the client, but also by a large audience of people, they accepted it and are interested in it, then come a feeling of happiness and a feeling of warmth somewhere inside.

The skills, experience, developed vision, ability to analyse and anticipation.

The duty to be responsible. Designers, artists create amazing things, that may be either material or virtual, but doesn’t matter, as every work touches people, that is why we can influence them, their feeling and emotions and comfort, and it is very responsible.

No doubt yes. It will be even more colorful, but it will be closely intertwined with future technology. P.S.: I don’t believe in the rumours that designers and artists will not be needed, they will be substituted by robots.

An inner harmony is very important for me, that is why I try to do everything to have my inner balance – this is a source of my creativity. My sources of inspiration are everything around me, what I see, what I feel. Also I am inspired by works of other artists and, of course, cartoons.

I was born and I live in Ukraine. Definitely, Ukraine influences my creativity in a positive way with its warmth, nature and nice people.

The task, the idea brainstorming, realization, getting pleasure. :)

Sport, coffee, work, learning or reading about something new, learning a foreign language, communication.

Don’t be afraid of anything, don’t expect that somebody will teach you something, learn on your own, be determined, positive and work hard.

Positives: being a designer is a state of mind and the opportunity to create something amazing.Negatives: there are no negatives. There are, of course, some unpleasant moments everybody faces in their work, but it is not a reason to say something negative.

Patience, responsibility, ability to analyse, communication skills, positive attitude, work on mistakes, ability to differentiate a good design from a bad one.

I am very serious about time. I respect time of other people and I want others to respect my time. In general, I have no problems with managing my time. I work a lot, I go in for sport and I created work-life balance long ago. There are, of course, force majeure situations, for example, the clients gives your very tight deadlines and the work is very urgent, then your schedule is a bit interrupted, you need to work long hours, sometimes without days-off, but then I decide myself whether I can cope with the task or not, in not to disappoint the client.

No exact answer, it depends on the large scale of the project and the task.

“How do you do this? We thought people from other planet do this ” :)Or if the client asks a question: “I like your style and your works, are you available now to work for me?”

Different companies and entrepreneurs from all over the world, creators of computer and mobile games, board games, advertising companies and others …

It depends on the project and the customer, sometimes I work alone, sometimes it’s a team work.

I have received my education in the Academy of Arts in Ukraine, in the sphere of textile design. But I wanted to work with computer graphics, so, I had to study it on my own.

We have our own world, where we live. It is beautiful and amazing. But if you are a designer (an artist), you can create quite different world or flesh out the existing one. And it is wonderful, as people will see your world, it will make you emotionally connected to them, because creative work definitely influences all of us.

It was my own choice for sure. I have chosen design, design has chosen me. :)

I draw graphics for video and mobile games, create concept designs, illustrations and design of characters. I really want to participate, as an artist, in making of feature-length animated film.

“A design legend” is a bit too much. I can say that young designers should be very patient and hard-working. At the beginning of their career a lot of them think that it is very easy. And when they face first difficulties, they get frustrated and quit. That is why I advise you to work hard, develop your skills, analyse, be curious about many things, don’t give up when you face a failure, believe in yourself and everything will be all right.

A good designer just draws the picture, but a great designer solves the problem, elaborates the idea, advises how to make it better, draws and creates emotional connection with a person.

I would like to create an animated film. Many of us were brought up by different cartoons and in our childhood they teach us something, sometimes they lead us and influence us, they form understanding of the good and bad and in such a way they help us take the right side and foster our better features. That is why an animated film creation is a big responsibility and I would like to do it with a team of like-minded fellows.

To be always observant and curious, to try to see more that other people can see in everything that surrounds you.