maker: yevgeniya of yevgeniya’s prints

On the bookshelf in my living room when I was a child, there was a series of books that I used to pull out and look at whenever I had a chance. They were older books that were filled with fairy tales. The words filled my mind with pictures, and the pictures took my imagination to another level. When I looked at Yevgeniya’s pictures, I was right back there again. 9 years old, looking at a picture, and seeing a whole story unfold.

-Angie Andre

please introduce yourself.  

My name is Yevgeniya Mikhailik. I’m originally from Russia but I’ve been living in the States (Southern California) for about half my life. I live in Orange County and work out of my studio – Mutual Aid – in Downtown Santa Ana. Mutual Aid is a gallery and a shared studio space for five artists working in different disciplines.

what do you make or do?

I am a painter, illustrator, designer and printmaker, among other thing. I hold an MFA in Illustration from CSU Long Beach and my craft work is based heavily in image making. I mostly make paper goods like stationery, prints, journals and zines, and am also starting to work with fabric. There is a lot of printmaking, collaging, sewing, cutting, that’s involved in the process of creating the finished product, but the beginnings are definitely rooted in good old drawing.

where can we find your creations?

You can find my things at www.yevgeniyadraws.com, or www.etsy.com/shop/yevgeniya

how long have you been creating and is it your full-time job?

I have been making things for as long as I can remember, but only started thinking about craft as a business around 2010. Both art and craft have been a big part of my upbringing and everything in my life revolves around it. Even though crafting itself is not my full time job, being an artist and working in different aspects of the field, is.

when you’re not making things, what do you do?

When I’m not in the studio, I teach illustration at CSU Fullerton and work as a curatorial associate at the CSUF Grand Central Art Center. And when I’m not there, I’m out at art openings, craft fairs, or the swap meet scavenging for treasures.

where do you find inspiration?

“Everywhere” would be a cliché answer, but it’s really true. Blogs, books, music, art exhibitions, antique markets, vintage fabrics, talking to fellow artists and my students… I am also a big fan of leaning new processes, whether it’s a new printmaking technique or using a new drawing tool. That is always a great source of inspiration.

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