I was born in Moscow, in what back then was still the USSR. Growing up, I loved roaming the local woods and dreaming up stories. Today, I do my roaming on Oregon trails with my dog Boltie who is very helpful with story-making process, although he gets a bit impatient when I sit down to sketch. A lot of my artwork starts with those sketches. I am inspired by Oregon and my city of Portland. I also rely on my memories to bring to life the scenes from the past. I am inspired by talent. My characters are often dancers, musicians, artists and athletes. Not an audacious person by nature, I am grateful for words and images that, at the drop of a hat, could send me on a wild adventure or down a memory lane, and when I come back, the dinner would be waiting for me, still warm.