Hi Kristyna, thanks for taking the time to talk to us! Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your work?
Hello! Well, my name is Kristyna Baczynski and I’m a freelance illustrator, who makes comics, posters, typography and design. My work is often character-based, decorative, detailed and draws strongly from my Ukrainian heritage.
Most people know your work through your pen and ink (and colour) comics. Was there something in particular that appealed to you about the idea of working in pencil?
It was a 0.5mm mechanical pencil that made my heart and hands unite. I love the precision it gives, while being smooth and light. I use very fine pens, too, so the ever-fine pencil tip is perfect. I don’t begin to sketch or draw with anything else, as it’s my go-to drawing weapon.
Could you tell us a bit about your creative process, from the initial idea to the finished piece?
My ideas start in sketchbooks. I draw for entertainment as much as for work, and use my sketchbooks to collect all these characters and images into one place. The nature of a book allows for a natural chronology of material – there is a start and end – it is an archive for ideas. I use my sketchbook as a bank of material, (characters, faces, scenarios, patterns, typography) which I tap as a resource when working on bigger projects. I draw and draw again, many versions and arrangements, I also tend to make lists of elements and content to include before drawing a final pencil design. I ink with Micron pens on a home made lightbox, then scan the drawing in to finish and colour digitally.
What size do you tend to work at? Do you have a preferred scale?
I work small. Too small. I have to really force myself to work any bigger than A4. My sketchbook drawings are tiny, so the process from start to finish involves expanding on little things.
Do you have a favourite subject matter?
Animals and nature are always a part of my work. Creatures and foliage are key players, but also hands, shoes, eyes, paper ephemera and all things cosmic.
What are some of your favourite materials to use?
Aside from mechanical pencils and micron pens, I enjoy watercolour pencil crayons, embroidery, crochet and gouache painting.
As an artist of “Yorkshire tongue and Ukrainian blood” your work has a very distinctive feel to it. Could you tell us a bit about your influences and how they’ve come together in your work?
My Ukrainian heritage can sometimes feels like a hollow space inside of me that I need to actively fill. I was born in the UK, in Yorkshire but into a Ukrainian family. Our home was full of exotic crafts, embroidery, wooden folk-art, religious iconography and cyrillic typography, which I didn’t see elsewhere in school or in town. I’m essentially english, my northern accent is strong, but I know that my heart pumps blood from a far-away place and that drives my interest and exploration of Ukrainian and slavic folk art and narratives, to get to know the absent part of my own family’s heritage.
Can you tell us about a favourite piece of yours, or a favourite creative experience?
I was honoured to be Thought Bubble’s first Artist in Residence, and the comic “Due Returns” was the result of that residency, and is a story I’m proud of. It was an exploration of the Leeds Central Library building in which the residency took place, and uses books, archives, slides and ephemera to build the story and visual content.
I also loved being part of the Girl’s Who Draw collective’s last postcard book, contributing 2 illustrations and the cover art too. The theme was ‘Mythical Creatures’ and that let me delve into slavic fairy tales even more than usual.
Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes, I keep many sketchbooks. I have a formal one for working out ideas and planning particular pieces/briefs, as well as one for fun which is full of wild stuff.
Is there a particular direction you’re interested in taking your work in the future?
Longer form comics, book covers and illustrated storybooks. Is that just three versions of books? Oh dear.
Physical, hand made objects and characters – so jewellery and sculpture.
Lastly, what are you working on now and what can we look forward to from you next?
Lots more comics, zines and clothing apparel designs. I’ve just launched a handmade range of necklaces and brooches, and am working on a few new risograph art prints, as well as a published sketchbook in the spring.
To see more of Kristyna’s work visit www.kristyna.co.uk and on twitter/instagram @kbaczynski. Also check out Kristyna’s Etsy shop here!
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