Zetêrra 1on1 (Interview)

Zetêrra 1on1: Margarita

Zetêrra is not only a streetwear project to promote positivity, creativity, and originality. It is also a way to show the benefit of putting yourself out there and inspiring others to make a change for the better or to do something they might normally be too discouraged to do.

•Zetêrra 1 on 1• is a series of interviews done with extraordinary people to show what life with a positive & driven mindset can achieve.

Zetêrra 1 on 1:

Margarita Seroshtan

Artist

23 yrs old

Instagram: @not.of.this_world

*A note from Zetêrra Chief Creative Officer Ⓩ37* "Margarita is a very talented and original artist who I went to school with! Her skills are easily noticeable in all of her work and I know this personally because she painted an insanely good portrait of me in high school! This girl has an amazing style and outlook on creativity. I reached out to her and had the privilege of catching up with her for an interview regarding her & all of this stunning work!"

-Portrait of me (Ⓩ37) that Margarita painted in 2011

Zetêrra 1 on 1

Ⓩ: What got you interested in art?

M: Getting good feedback from adults when I was a lot younger is what kept me going; it became a way for me to express myself and the more I practiced, I became more confident as I started noticing improvement! It is also an outlet for me. There's a lot going on in my head and I would probably go crazy if I couldn't get it out onto the canvas!

Ⓩ: What is your favorite thing to draw?

M: Recently I have been into drawing facial expressions, and not just on humans. There is one very important aspect to all of my work and it is that everything I draw has to involve life. I like to draw and paint things that are full of life.

"Everything I draw has to involve life"

work by Margarita (find more on her Instagram @not.of.this_world

Ⓩ: Who is your favorite artist?

M: There is a Disney artist named Glen Keane who does great artwork, and most of his art reflects my style of art. Even his black and white sketches are full of life. A big misconception with art is that someone's work doesn't necessarily have to be "completed" to look alive. I've often finished a sketch, and after coloring it in I realized that The rough sketch had just as much life, if not more!

"I've often finished a sketch, and after coloring it in I realized that The rough sketch had just as much life, if not more"

Glen Keane sketch (One of Margarita's favorite artists)

Ⓩ: Any other big influences behind your artwork? (doesn't have to be a person) setting, specific place etc...

M: Most of my work comes directly from my observations of the world.. Whether it's people (friends,movie characters, etc.) activities (going snowboarding, swing dancing, swimming etc.) society, food and/or different cultures! I just tend to draw ideas from reality straight to my imagination to create my own original concept, then transfer that into my artwork. Nature is also an inspiration for me, I like my drawings to be set in a forest, the ocean, the jungle.. Or anything in my imagination! I've always been creative; when I was very young I remember looking at flowerpots full of plants and imagining being small and climbing around inside of them.

Ⓩ: That's cool! Like a fairy

M: Exactly! I actually had a toy fairy I would play with in the flower pots!

"I've always been creative; when I was very young I remember looking at flowerpots full of plants and imagining being small and climbing around inside of them."

more work by margarita (find more on her Instagram @not.of.this_world

Ⓩ: Have you ever been discouraged when working on a project? How did you overcome it?

M: Many times! It happens when you hit a wall and just lose inspiration, but the thing you have to remember is that inspiration comes in waves. Sometimes I have writers block but you kind of just have to wait it out until you get a new idea! One big thing is that I do it for myself, and not other people! The validation I get after I complete a project comes from within. The actual artwork is in your imagination; the paintbrush, canvas, etc are just the tools you use to get your ideas out!

"Inspiration comes in waves."

Ⓩ: Any exciting plans for the future, inside or outside of the art world?

M: Yes! I'm moving to LA soon. One thing about the art world is that networking is important, so Los Angeles is the perfect place for me to do that and start really pursuing this as a career, as well as making new friends!

more work by Margarita (find more on her Instagram @not.of.this_world

Ⓩ: That is so exciting and I'm happy I got the chance to interview you before you leave! I can tell you have real ambition, thank you for taking the time to sit down with me!

Margarita is a genuine person who I know will go far! Check out a lot more of her work on her instagram: @not.of.this_world