Yulia Drobova is such a talented artist and we’re very proud to have her work on ImageZoo. I got the wonderful chance to interview her. Read on to find out more about her.

How did you get your start as an illustrator?
I got my first illustration job, when I was 20-year old student. There was a vacancy in a little publishing house; they produced school books for children.  It was a part-time job and I used to do some little drawings which accompanied the texts in those books. Now I see that my work wasn’t really good and professional, but anyway I gained a lot of experience from this collaboration. Sometime later I compiled some of my graphic works and uploaded them to the internet.  Also I tried to update my portfolio with new illustrations as often as it was possible. I started to communicate with other illustrators, to receive comments about my work and clients began to find me.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
I think that I can get a lot of inspiration from the works of artists whom I admire. I’m sure that there is a certain similarity and connection between me and my favorite artists. So, if I want to get some inspiration, I take a look at their works and I really feel that energy that comes from their art. Also, I if I need to illustrate something, I search for the photos, and that helps a lot. Sometime even a word or a phrase can inspire me…Briefly, you never know where inspiration can come from!

How do you describe your sense of design style?
My work is bold, vivid, decorative and joyful. I like to create something that gives the feeling of a good mood and positivity.

Can you describe your creative process?
I don’t do a lot of sketches. I prefer to think a lot about the project, to imagine it in my mind. It takes me two or three days of thinking. The most brilliant ideas come to my head when I take a shower or before I fall asleep. When I have a complete picture in my mind I can start working.  Also I can describe my creative process as a spontaneous one. I often begin from one little element and other elements string like beads and form a composition.

What has been one of your most memorable illustration projects?
It was in 2010, I was involved in the illustration project with Mitre Agency. I made a poster and some other graphic elements for Positive Action for Children Fund for the 2010 International AIDS conference in Vienna, Austria. It was very inspiring and I loved to work with Mitre.  My work turned out to a very nice series of different deliverables, like dolls, canvas bag, coloring books and many others.

Also I can say here about the contest, which was launched on theydrawandtravel.com this summer. It was a map contest proposed to illustrators from all around the world to create a map of their favorite. I decided to participate and to draw a map of our country house (datcha). I was really surprised when I saw my name among 6 winners! (Take a look at it here)

Aside from illustration, what other passions do you have?
I love take photos, I’m fond of gardening, I like to cook, and I love to meet with my friends.  I think that almost everyone likes the same things.

What would be your dream project?
I’m not sure that I know the precise answer. And I try to do every project like a project I dream of.

What is your idea of the perfect weekend?
Get up at 12 p.m. or something. Have a tasty breakfast. Do nothing from the morning till the evening.  No phone calls. I think that I dream about this all because now I’m overloaded with work.

Thanks for sharing Yulia! Most of Yulia’s work on ImageZoo is Rights Managed but she also has a royalty free collection called Cornucopia, see it here.