Hello Dmitriy and welcome to Dark Folk Nation! You have also the honor to be the first artist of the month in the history for us. Would you like to introduce yourself – who you are, where you come from and what do you do in the field of arts?
My name is Dmitriy Konev, I’m from Russia, the city of Perm. I’m a photographer (@_vvarlock_), illustrator (@russianvvarlock) and medical worker in a state mental institution.
Was is your art background? Did you go to any schools or just learned all techniques by yourself?
I have been drawing since I can remember. I have a professional education in digital design and academic drawing courses. I like to learn about new techniques on my own. It always comes with thought: how can I apply this to my artwork!
When it comes to your art what inspires you most?
Many ideas come in dreams, sometimes in nature I notice shapes and textures that look like images. The branches and roots look like patterns, in stones you can see the images of magical creatures, etc. Music and movies also stimulate the imagination. Most of all, I am inspired by ancient traditions, myths and any ancient art.
How is your artwork born? By using a specific pattern or by trying things out?
It depends on the task. Sometimes I start with research, sometimes I take notes or sketches, and then I go back to them. Often, works are born spontaneously, I just sit down and start developing an idea. Sometimes I draw a sketch, then scan it, and work in the editor. There are works that are completely done in a digital editor, work on a computer makes the process easier. For example, an ink illustration can take from ten hours, and a digital illustration can take up to ten hours!
What equipment do you use for creating art?
In the traditional art, I use ink, watercolor, canvas and paper. In pyrography, I use a set from STAYER (pyrograph). For digital graphics, I use an interactive display from XP-PEN Artist 15.6 Pro + raster graphics editors. I really love synthetic brushes, they are easier to control in the process. I’m also a fan of varnish markers, but I rarely use them!
Who do you look up to in the art world, who’s your ’hero’?
I really like the traditional northern art of the Vikings, Slavs, Komi-Zyryans (The Komi are a Permian ethnic group whose homeland is in the north-east of European Russia around the basins of the Vychegda, Pechora and Kama rivers. They mostly live in the Komi Republic, Perm Krai, Murmansk Oblast, Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Okrug, and Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug in the Russian Federation). I’m also a big fan of Art Nouveau and Art Deco and artists like Harry Clarke and Alphonse Mucha. But I don’t try to get attached to specific artists, because it spoils the personal perception of my style.
Do you do commissions?
I sell my work on https://society6.com/russian_warlock , sometimes I make individual orders (photography, illustration, pyrography).
Is there some technique or so you haven’t tried yet but would like to?
I really want to try linocut printmaking! To do this, you need to have specific tools, and right now I only have half of them.
What is coming next for you as an artist?
Lots of new illustrations! Maybe I will create an account on Etsy. I also plan to make a book – a photo album in the style of a road movie.
Any wisdoms you’d like to share with the world?
Listen to yourself, I know it’s difficult, especially now when society dictates its own standards. But the inner voice will always tell you what is right, and be kind to people and nature.
Thank you very much for inviting me, it means a lot to me!
From Russia with love!!!
You’ll find Dmitriy’s art at:
Instagram: @russianvvarlock, @_vvarlock_
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