Meet Vasilina Mikhaylova

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Vasilina Mikhaylova a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Vasilina, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I believe that confidence grows with time and knowledge. In high school, I was an extremely shy person, fearful of public speaking and expressing my opinions, as I thought people would judge me. But, with time, I stopped trying to impress others and focused on impressing myself. In other words, I began caring less about others’ judgments and embarked on a path of self-appreciation — my opinion matters, my skills are strong, and my experience is valid. I’ve invested a significant amount of time in becoming a better artist, so I’m going to stop doubting my artistry and show the world what I’ve learned over these years.

Positive affirmations certainly contribute to building confidence. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by a supportive group of friends and family who value both my art and me as a person. Even a simple message from them like ‘This painting looks amazing’ makes me feel much stronger as an artist.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a traditional artist and animator, working at an advertising agency as a content creator. Most of my artwork draws inspiration from the nature and the world around me, with a particular focus on bird life.

I began learning traditional painting with my grandma at the age of 6. She was a self-taught watercolorist, and my passion for that art medium is thanks to her. I remember her saying, ‘The beauty of watercolor is that you can’t really control it. The pigment flows so freely in water, and you don’t really know where it’s going to land. So, in a way, it paints itself, and you never know what the result is going to be.’

The first painting we did together was of a sailboat. I remember how she used candle wax to paint the clouds, which was so new to me. The wax resisted watercolors and left white marks for the clouds. So smart, yet so simple. She taught me other painting techniques like that. Years later, my grandma was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and could no longer paint. So, it became my mission to continue our favorite craft on my own — to carry on her legacy.

I attended an art school from ages 15 to 18, where I learned various mediums like oil, acrylics, gouache, charcoal, and more. I loved spending hours experimenting with different art tools, listening to art teachers, observing what others created, and honing my skills and artistic versatility. It was a time of both failure and success. Oh boy, the number of BAD paintings I made during that time was enormous. But it was all part of the process. I never painted to make things look beautiful; I painted to learn and simply for the joy of it. ‘Never stop learning’ is what my parents and my grandma always taught me, and it’s my favorite rule in life. We are fortunate to have so many learning resources available to us — YouTube tutorials, blogs, Instagram. So, when you feel like, ‘I don’t know how to do it,’ remember that you can always learn it on the internet.

After art school, I went to college to study animation, which shifted my focus from traditional to digital media. The fundamentals I learned in art school definitely helped me adapt to this new digital world, and I fell in love with it. I felt like a magician, giving motion and life to my characters. It broadened my creative possibilities. Now, I could take my work beyond just paper.

During my senior year of college, I directed an animated film called ‘Grey,’ which represents my most significant personal project. It truly showcases all the various aspects of art that I have learned throughout my life. ‘Grey’ received the Golden Lion Award at the SFTV Industry Awards in 2021 and was featured at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2021, the Animotion Film Festival in Florence, Italy, in 2021, and the Animation Film Festival in Paris, France. It is now available on YouTube. My next major mission is directing ‘Grey’ Part 2, so stay tuned for more!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Curiosity, empathy, and discipline are three qualities that have been most impactful in my artistic journey. To evolve as an artist, maintaining a constant curiosity to learn new things – new mediums, tools, skills – is essential. The world is evolving around us, and staying informed and versatile is crucial to avoid being stuck in the past. Discipline also plays a vital role—ensuring that you avoid procrastination and maintain a balance between life and work. Finally, empathy is key to being a good person and artist. Understanding others’ perspectives and being empathetic toward their situations not only enriches your personal life but also makes you more enjoyable to work with.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Always! I’m in the process of developing Part 2 of my short animated film ‘Grey,’ which explores the duality of man. You can watch Part 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQEE1gmYEro&t=4s

Currently, I’m searching for 2D animators interested in collaborating on rough and clean-up animations, as well as coloring. If you’re interested, feel free to reach out via email at vasilina.mikhaylova@gmail.com

Contact Info:

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