[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Hi Victoria, it’s great that you could find the time to do an interview with us. It’s a great honour and we’re excited to get some interesting insights into your life and work! So let’s get started\u2026[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
Hello everyone!<\/p>\n
Thank you for reading the Hahnem\u00fchle edition of the blog about me, I hope my story inspires you to draw and challenge yourself.<\/p>\n
My name is Victoria Kagalovska – I am a fashion illustrator, an artist from Ukraine. In addition, I am a mother, influencer, TikTok and YouTube blogger, entrepreneur and founder of my own clothing brand with my illustrations.<\/p>\n
I have been an artist all my life (like all of us) but I started learning and mastering this profession in 2016. I am a historian by education, and an economist by secondary education. In the art field, I am self-taught and started drawing while I was on maternity leave. I paint mainly in watercolours, less often with oils, digital and markers.<\/p>\n
For six years in the art field I collaborated with famous brands such as MAC Cosmetics<\/a>, Saks Fifth Avenue<\/a>, Escada<\/a>, Fashionary<\/a>, Florasis<\/a>, Snapchat<\/a>, Wine Enthusiast<\/a>, Verve Records<\/a> to name a few. I was the ambassador of Royal Talens<\/a> and launched da Vinci<\/a> branded brushes.<\/p>\n I also sell my paintings. They are bought for private collections and printed on clothes and accessories. I get good reach across my social media with thousands of people reposting my pictures and videos on Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>. My illustrations are published in books and well-known magazines in Ukraine, China, Brazil, Canada, Ukraine, Japan, etc.<\/p>\n The heroines of my paintings are beautiful women in bright colours. These can be real or unreal people of different nationalities and cultures. I like beautiful female features. Sometimes I can be inspired by a beautiful profile, a casually noticed reflection on the face, a beautiful show from fashion week…<\/p>\n Art for me is a way to make the world a better place, to inspire others to create and to incite happiness in those who stop to admire it \u2013 even those who have no idea that they like to draw.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”21815″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”21818″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]I am a historian by first education. Therefore, I want to tell you that all artists who draw people in clothes are to a certain extent fashion illustrators. Fashion is one of the most vivid markers of eras; from clothes we immediately understand which period the image belongs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the 17th century, when the first fashion magazines began to appear directly, fashion illustration became a separate art form. Designers and fashion designers began to depict sketches of future dresses or drew guests at social events. This is where fashion illustration as a genre started.<\/p>\n Initially, these were illustrations to show the customer what the clothes would be like. Over time, illustration turned into a separate form of art, and now many brands not only draw clothing collections, but also order illustrations for their advertising campaigns.<\/p>\n What is the difference between a fashion illustration and an ordinary image of a person? In Fashion illustration, the model is always shown more advantageously (as well as on catwalks, this is usually a tall model). The proportions of a person have changed and the legs are elongated. Also, the proportions of the body are often completely changed and the face, thin build, etc can be changed. In the illustration, full stylization of the figure is allowed, almost everything can be changed (this is why I like this genre).<\/p>\n The main idea is to portray beautiful clothes and convey the mood, not to show a realistic image. Among fashion illustrators, we now know many leaders of fashion houses such as Christian Dior<\/a>, <\/a>Yves Saint Laurent<\/a>, <\/a>Karl Lagerfeld<\/a> and artists such as David Downton<\/a>, legendary in this technique.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”21821″ img_size=”large”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n I can’t say that I chose Fashion illustration. I think fashion illustration chose me. As I mentioned, I am a historian. My first fashion illustrations were redrawn dresses from 19th century fashion magazines. I drew historical dresses with pageants, as well as clothes in the Empire style. A little later, I started to draw modern fashion illustrations.<\/p>\n Since childhood, I drew people, myself, and I also sewed clothes for my Barbie doll. In high school, I drew clothes for myself, and a seamstress brought my ideas to life. I love drawing all those curves of fabric on a woman’s body.<\/p>\n Clothes are not just a fabric that covers the body. Similarly, fashion is not only about trends. Through clothes, we show ourselves: our mood, attitude to certain events, our belonging to a certain culture or simply a way for us to speak to the world without words. For example, when women took off their corsets or put on men’s trousers and revealed their ankles – these were revolutions of consciousness.<\/p>\n Maybe that’s why I’m so attracted to fashion illustration?[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n I don’t know if I have my own style. But I know that most artists are looking for it, sometimes they even concentrate on it more than on the drawing process itself. I would really like to have my own distinct style and I think I’m still searching for it. But my followers always recognize my illustrations. Therefore, I think that after all, I already have a certain style.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”21819″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”21820″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Of course! Fashion is something unique and original. It is the driving force of progress. In search of better, more interesting, higher quality, people create new technologies and make breakthroughs in science.<\/p>\n Fashion has changed a lot in recent decades. Some people like it, others don’t. There is couture fashion, where clothes are works of art that can\u2019t be worn every day such as unique styles created for the Met Gala. Then there are everyday things. Everyone can choose their own. I like this freedom and variety as well as styles in drawing.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n It was not a dream in the literal sense of the word. This is one of those professions in which I thought I would like to try myself \u2013 similar to the restaurant business which I also do. I tried to realise my desire of becoming a designer starting with a brand promoting my merch. My illustrations should be able to continue life on clothes and to be available to a large number of people.<\/p>\n I think many illustrators will think about this idea. Before the war, I actively developed the brand, but not now.<\/p>\n In fact, it takes a lot<\/em> of time and money. Therefore, at some point I had to choose between drawing, brand and other businesses. Grow into big offline stores or stay online.<\/p>\n I decided to change the concept and release limited capsules, I no longer aim to develop a network of stores.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n Of course! If dreams can be realized by earning money with hard work, then you just need to work hard \u2013 that\u2019s exactly what I do! I dream of higher and global ideas that may be beyond my reach and that I cannot so easily influence\u2026 but that’s another story.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_single_image image=”21822″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”21812″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]It was and is a great honour for me to have created such collaboration like signatured brushes with da Vinci<\/a>. I am very grateful to each brand for choosing to work with me.<\/p>\n What does it mean to see my name on a brush? It’s like having a personal magic wand. Moreover, with its help, artists create magic all over the world.<\/p>\n Thousands of reviews, notes, recommendations for and from my community … I want these brushes to be one of the most popular in the world (it sounds modest), so I do everything to get this brush seen by millions of people in my videos.<\/p>\n This is a really versatile, very high-quality and incredibly beautiful brush. I would 100% use it even if it had another artist’s name on it.<\/p>\n Seeing my name and illustrations in magazines, books, on clothes or on brushes is always somehow strange for me. Sometimes I can\u2019t believe it is me until 2 years later when I see the brush in stores.<\/p>\n It’s a cool feeling, really. Gratitude to everyone involved and the Universe.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”21814″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_column_text]The first time I tried Hahnem\u00fchle paper was in 2018, when I came to the exhibition in Frankfurt for the first time. I tried the Leonardo paper and it was a complete hit. I found my paper. For the next year, I spent time getting to know which stores in Europe sold it (this was when we were travelling a lot and I would bring back art materials from my trips). I tried other series, sketchbooks, and everything I wanted.<\/p>\nSo, you are a fashion illustrator. For all those who have no idea what that means: What exactly is that?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Illustrating and fashion are of course two things that go wonderfully together and harmonise with each other. But why did you choose fashion as your motif?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Would you say that you have your own style or approach to your illustrations?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
People often say that fashion itself is also its own form of art. What is your opinion on this?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
For some time now, you even own your own fashion brand for clothes and accessories – KAGALOVSKA<\/a>. A great idea to be able to wear your impressive works. We can only congratulate you! <\/strong><\/h5>\n
Has it always been your dream to own your own fashion brand?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Did you ever think that this dream would become a reality?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
In your career, you have worked with many different brands. One of them was our partner da Vinci<\/a>. With them you developed the unique “black & white Signature Edition” artist brush with your own fashion illustration layout. <\/strong><\/h5>\n
How does it feel for you to hold something with your own name in your hand – whether the artist brush as your own signature edition or your own fashion brand KAGALOVSKA<\/a>?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Speaking of artist materials… Which Hahnem\u00fchle paper do you personally prefer to work with and why?<\/strong><\/h5>\n