October is Pens, Ink + Illustration Month on our Customer Engagement Calendar so we connected with talented ballpoint pen artist Pavlo Scherbatyuk. Pavlo is a self-taught artist based in Ukraine. He spoke to us about how he began his journey as an artist, what materials he likes using, and what some of his favorite pieces are. Check out the interview below!
Where are you from and where do you currently reside?
I was born in Luhansk, a city in the east of Ukraine. After Luhansk was occupied by Russia, I moved to Kyiv, where I currently live.
What drew you to working with ballpoint pens and why do you enjoy working with them?
I started drawing in university when I was bored during lectures. Initially, all I had was a couple of notebooks and a pen. Over time, I began to draw more often during my free time. I realized that I didn’t need anything other than pens. I like the fact that when drawing with a pen, you don’t have any room to make a mistake. This makes you block out distractions and immerse yourself in drawing completely.
What has kept you engaged and committed to your craft over the years?
I initially began drawing (and continue to draw) because I enjoy the process itself and the results of the process. About three years ago, I began posting my work on Reddit, where I get a lot of positive feedback. This is also very inspiring for me.
How have you grown as an artist in the past five years and what are the major contributing factors to your growth?
It is difficult for me to assess my own growth as it’s probably more visible from the outside. But I am now feeling more satisfied with my work and seeing fewer flaws. Also, five years ago, I drew only for myself. Now my pieces are sold and I receive orders. I think this also shows the growth of my skills.
As for growth factors, I spend a lot of time practicing and rethinking mistakes. Every time I see something that I don’t like in the finished piece, I try to understand how I let it happen and how to avoid it in the future.
What are some of your favorite pieces you’ve done?
My favorite pieces are those where there are many small details. Here are my top 3:
1. Fiat 500.
2. Bus 142. Not because of the details, but because of the atmosphere of the drawing and the story of Chris McCandles, which inspired me for this drawing.
3. Portrait of Nergal.
What materials do you most commonly use?
I use Derwent paper for A4 size drawings and paper from a Ukrainian brand for A3 size. I plan to try Fabriano paper in my new drawings. I also use a regular mechanical pencil for sketching and a whole bunch of different pens. My favorite brands are Schneider, BIC, and Paper Mate. Unfortunately, they are very difficult to find in Ukraine and almost all of my pens from these brands were obtained abroad. I sometimes use cheaper, lesser-known brand pens when I need to get a specific texture or a less vibrant shade.
Do you have any advice for up-and-coming artists? Are there any tips or techniques you can offer?
My first tip would be to practice a lot and work on mistakes, as I mentioned earlier. Using quality materials is also very important. It is unlikely that my drawings would have been at the same level if I continued to draw with a pen for 25 cents on office paper like I did at the very beginning.
Sometimes it is difficult for me to speak about technique since I am a self-taught artist. But if someone still wants to know something about a specific aspect of my drawings, I will be happy to answer them through my social networks. 🙂
What are your website and social media links?
I don’t have a website. My social networks are available at the link:
