Russian-born digital artist Alena Lazareva, studied painting, art history, sculpting and strategic management, and discovered digital painting in 2008. She has been enthralled ever since, creating mainly fantasy art using Photoshop and a Wacom drawing tablet and now works as a freelance artist.
How long have you been illustrating and what made you start?
I have been drawing since childhood. I studied at the school of arts, using traditional techniques with paint, watercolour and pastels. Around 2009 I started to master digital painting. I started drawing illustrations for books and magazines and in the summer of 2016, I drew my first colouring book.
Where do you get your inspiration?
The best inspiration for me is a journey, even a small one. I am inspired by nature, new experiences, the sea and my family. When I start drawing a colouring page or illustration I know what I want to draw - I have a finished picture in my head. Sometimes I add elements and it changes slightly but I always know what result I want to get. If I want to colour the page that I drew it means it's a good page! There are times when I can't come up with an idea, to regain inspiration I forget about drawing for 5 days and do other things. Then the best option is a journey, even small and not far away.
Where is your favourite place to illustrate?
I create illustrations at my workplace, at home. It would be great to draw on the beach, be calm and take your time, but with young children it remains a dream…
What are your illustrating/colouring material essentials?
Artworks that are to be printed at a later date (colouring books, illustrations for posters, postcards, cover books etc.) it is better to use digital methods of drawing. For drawing colouring books and colour illustrations I use a graphics tablet, Wacom Cintiq and Photoshop. This gives more opportunities for the artist and more quality for the works that are printed. When I have time I colour my illustrations traditionally with colour pencils and for the background I prefer soft pastel.
What’s the piece of work that you’re most proud of or enjoyed doing the most?
I like to draw fantasy illustrations more, my favourite illustrations are mermaids and fairies.
