Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you?
My name is Sergey Maidukov. I’ve been working as an illustrator for three years. I was working as a designer in a small design company until me and my chief Alex decided to produce a small horror zine. This idea absorbed us and we were discussing it when the question appeared: who will draw? Then there was silence. I think I began my illustration career from that point. Now 80% of my job is illustration.
Your current job:
I draw for Esquire Ukraine, Boston Globe, Calgary Herald, Architecture Review, Forbes Woman and some others. Sometimes I
draw for advertising agencies, but I like it much less because of their specific ‘positive’ mood — everyone should smile. I draw the storyboards from time to time. It helps to be fit in fluent drawing. Just now I have finished the picture for the British mag Architecture Review, where I had one of unusual briefs. The article is about Italian architecture Giancarlo Decarlo. The Illustration should look both — like the man and like his work. I have had a lot of pleasure solving this task.
In which city are you located?
For now I live in Kiev, Ukraine.
A word to define what kind of worker you are:
Fast.
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
When I work I use Wacom, Photoshop, paper, ink, gouache, scanner and plasticine from time to time. A sketchbook is also an important part of my work
What does your office space look like?
My office space is one of the rooms in my apartment. It looks like 25 square meters room with two windows and one table 3,5 meters long, for two workplaces. The second person is my wife who makes ceramics.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working?
I like the music which I can sing loud with. Such as Beatles, Cesaria Evora, Feist, Saint Privat, Chilly Gonzales, Bregovic, Paris Combo, Nina Simone and a lot of french, Japanese and soviet music from 50-70s.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work?
Yes, I have one. I write the whole list of tasks for the upcoming day in the evening. Not just about work. Running, cleaning house, Skype with my Grandfather, etc.
What tips would you give to improve productivity?
Do not work in haste. Also walk (or run) outdoors if the head is tired.
You’re better than your colleagues to:
Productivity is my thing. I have drawn 120 full illustrations for the past year.
What is the best advice anyone has given you?
Draw more, draw all the time because it is only the quantity that turns into the quality. This is an advice from Victor Melamed.
What is your best tip for saving time?
Start the working day the same time each day, do not get stuck in the Internet.
What is your routine start and end of the day?
I start my day at 7.30 AM (6.30 in summer) with a shower, and an hour of yoga. Usually my working day is from 10 AM to about 8.30 PM. Then I like to walk or run, or read the book.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
There is no such thing. Fortunately.