Anastasia

Kuro: Before you immerse yourself in these lines, I want to say this.

There are artists who create works. And there are those who create worlds—with their own physics, mythology, and sky. Anastasia is one of them. Her universe is woven from half-forgotten Slavic lore, the whisper of the forest, heartache, and a surprising, piercing beauty that is born precisely in contrasts. In that place where darkness shimmers with light, and fear turns into strength.

While preparing these questions, I thought least of all about technique or career. I wanted to understand what horizons she sees from the windows of her creative workshop. What lies behind these beautiful and frightening images of were-maidens, winter guardians, and forest spirits? Is it just aesthetics, or echoes of something more real and personal?

Her works possess a strange, magical allure. You don’t just "like" them. They touch something intimate, as if finding a hidden key to your own unspoken anxieties and questions. And this interview is an attempt to find that key, to touch the source from which such sincere and powerful art is born.

So, open this door. Listen to the silence between her words. Allow yourself to feel, not just to understand. Because this conversation will not be about creativity in the usual sense of the word, but about a journey inward, where the most terrifying and the most beautiful truly lie in the details.

Welcome to her world.

Anastasia: My name is Nastya, I’m 27 years old. I’m from Russia, the city of Samara.
My creative journey began in childhood (like many others, I think), but it wasn’t a conscious choice to pursue drawing as a career. It was just a childhood hobby.

I loved copying characters from cartoons and fairy tales, making cardboard crafts. That was my maximum, and I never wanted to be an artist; I didn’t even attend clubs or art school.

How did I eventually become an artist?

When I was in 10th grade, I had to choose a future profession and subjects for my exams, and I had no idea what I wanted to be. That’s when this internal and external resistance began. My mom had seen throughout my life that I loved to draw. Even then, without any formal art education, I participated in competitions, drew wall newspapers, etc.

And it was my mom who, you could say, "forced" me to go into art, through my tears and protests. I remember saying, "I will never be an artist! This isn’t for me! I will never just sit and draw all the time!"
In the end, I gave in and went to study for a degree in "Artist — Master, Teacher." And that’s when my life and my inner world turned upside down.

In the very first year of study, I became one of the best in my group in Decorative and Applied Arts. My works were held up as examples, shown at college exhibitions and events. I got so drawn into drawing that one day I realized, "I can no longer live without this." I literally drew 24/7. At college, after classes, on weekends. ALWAYS.

I graduated from college with a gold medal and a honors diploma. Almost immediately after graduating, I got a job as a teacher at an art studio. For 3 years, I taught many people of different ages in more than 15 different artistic disciplines.

My journey in digital art began precisely during that teaching period.

Because of my work, I spent a lot of time on our beloved "Pinterest," and I started coming across digital art more and more often. In the end, I decided to buy an iPad and try myself in this field too. I remember I got one with just 64gb, thinking, "Come on, it’s just for occasional fun, that’s all."

But I got hooked. I started drawing in many styles and for a long time couldn’t find my own. After about 2 years of drawing on the tablet, I began to more or less develop my style, and I actually moved towards it very gradually without even realizing it. It started with adding some details to the same realism or randomly trying out a brush.

How did I get into NFT?

In that period, I was still working at the studio and had just barely started drawing somewhat good art (or so I thought). They were artworks in a realistic style, I think. And my ex-boyfriend suggested trying to get into NFT (2022). The first sales came, and I became passionate about it. I quit my job and fully immersed myself in this new activity. I improved my drawing skills, and only after 1.5 years did I arrive approximately at the style I have now.

Anastasia: Interest, mystery, anxiety.

Anastasia: From films and books. For some reason, from early childhood, I delved into the essence of even the kindest works. I wanted to conduct an analysis and understand, "why did the character act this way? Or that way?"

At a more conscious age, I fell in love with horror films, thrillers, detective films and series with all my heart. There’s always a main rule there: that even the most insignificant and seemingly unimportant detail can lead to an unexpected finale and to solving the crime. I put this same meaning into my art. I always add details that reveal the character and their significance.

Anastasia: This also comes from childhood. I adored watching Russian folk tales, my mom read me books, my grandmother told me various stories. That’s how my love for folklore and legends was born, and I still believe in many creatures to this day.

About the modern context.

These ancient images for me are a connecting thread between the past and the present. Legends and tales have been passed down from generation to generation since ancient times. Parents continue to read folk tales to their children, grandmothers tell stories and legends, and directors continue to make films. These ancient images and the legends about them, I think, will never lose their relevance and interest.

And I am immersed in this much more deeply, as I truly believe in many creatures and characters. For me, it’s not just an invented story or fairy tale — it’s a whole other world, hidden from our eyes and our understanding.

Anastasia: Yes, very often. Every time I immerse myself in a character, studying their story and legend. And when I delve so deeply, I sometimes see certain similarities.

Anastasia: I don’t consider my characters as something only scary and frightening. For me, each of them is the embodiment of strength and allure. I think it’s both protection and warning simultaneously.

As for my life — I think my moral and psychological state needs protection. Immersing myself in this world and these stories — I feel "in my element." These strong female images that I draw — that is the strength I would like to express in real life. But I am too kind, and most often, it backfires on me. You could say that by studying the characters' stories, I process them through myself, and I adopt some traits to become more confident and change my character.

Anastasia: I’ll start by saying that on some days, a wave of inspiration hits me, and I make a list of characters that are close to me and that I would like to explore. The process before starting work begins with the emotions I am experiencing at that moment. I open the list and start choosing a character who is very close to me at that moment, and I understand that it is precisely they who will evoke in me the feelings I want to experience right now.

Anastasia: For me, it is definitely therapy, because before starting work, I always study the history, image, and character of this character. How they were described in legends and folklore. And I really immerse myself in it deeply, and during the drawing process, I experience quite a lot of emotions.

Anastasia: It does get scary, yes. Especially if the features and the very essence of the work conceal a frightening meaning. I am a very impressionable person, so I can think about what I’ve drawn for several days afterward.

Anastasia: That I have experienced a lot of emotional pain. I have been broken many times, and to be honest, I don’t know how I got through it. My art is a reflection of strength through female images. I think one can notice that the characters in my art reflect strength and loneliness. That is exactly what is inside me. And yes, I have accepted it.

Anastasia: At that moment, it’s specifically a meditative state. It relaxes me mentally. I think that’s why I came to this style. I’ve always loved strong detailing.

Anastasia: Unfortunately, they reflect precisely the bad states of my inner world and experiences. Shades like these seem to help me close off from the world and become less noticeable. It doesn’t matter if it’s clothes, everyday items, or accessories.

Anastasia: Struggle. More likely my internal one, precisely. And I really want to convey the essence of the fact that light and darkness are inextricably linked and one cannot exist without the other.

Anastasia: Each mythical character is a reflection of internal struggle, mental state. At one time, they were on the side of light, but betrayals, the pain that was once inflicted on them… it all broke them so much that darkness consumed them, both externally and internally. The attributes are their protection.

They reflect me very strongly. At one point, I got tattoos, thinking it would help me. I wear dark clothes to avoid attracting attention. So yes, precisely this dark art — it is truly a reflection of my soul.

Anastasia: "WEREWOLF"

I have a special love and attraction for this piece. Animals, in my opinion, are the only creatures incapable of betraying humans. Their love is sincere.

I would stay in that world of a fairytale forest, surrounded by nature and animals.

What would I do? Just LIVE. Without thinking about the problems of real life. About having to fight for a good life and go through emotional suffering.

Anastasia: Yes, they are lonely. Mostly, they are precisely surrounded only by nature and animals.

It does reflect. I have felt lonely for a long time, despite having close people, friends, acquaintances. It doesn’t help. I dream of finding a person who will fix my soul and fill the void.

Anastasia: Actually, no purchase can replace when a person has truly connected with my art, with the details. When they felt what I wanted to reflect in the work. I feel it when people write a detailed, emotional review in the comments or in personal messages. Every time, it brings me to tears (in a good way).

Anastasia: Actually, I don’t think at all about the fact that it might push someone away. I will never adapt to others. Because this is MY art, and it reflects what is inside me. Of course, I want my art to attract only those people for whom it is close and who will truly process the work through themselves.

Anastasia: Probably the darkest thing was the realization that darkness is precisely my element. I drew in different styles and tried to make less frightening art, but I didn’t feel that inner spark. When I started creating what I do now — I even scared myself. I tried to understand, why precisely this? Why darkness and pain?

To do this, I had to dig around in my head and realize how emotionally unwell I am. And I still have to hide it, smiling at people. So I express my state only through art, and it really makes me feel better.

I also had doubts about what I create. But I decided not to pay attention to what others might think. If it’s important and necessary for me, then I will draw it.

Anastasia: When artists and collectors started writing to me personally.

Artists wrote that my style and level of drawing are a huge example for them.

Many major collectors also initiated communication with me themselves, and some of them began to support me on an ongoing basis.

Anastasia: Yes, I would really like to create something like that (perhaps an animated film) in my own style and with my own vision. I would also like to become an illustrator for mystical books.

The main emotion — acceptance. Self-acceptance. Acceptance of the fact that one needs to go through darkness to find a new self.

Anastasia: More likely melodic with an anxious undertone. This music should reflect beauty, calm, and simultaneously frightening tension.

Anastasia: "Inside the Darkness."

I don’t think there will be an end, because darkness exists in absolutely every person (character), just like light. You just need to dig inside yourself and discern it. And of course, ultimately — accept it.

Anastasia: Self-acceptance, acceptance of my inner world. Peace and self-expression.

Anastasia: I would tell her not to be afraid to try and show her true self. Sincerity and openness (even if through art) — help you love yourself more.

In the eyes — a spark. The very one that was once missing.

Anastasia: Don’t be afraid of your inner darkness.

Anastasia: People. Their self-perception and rethinking.

Anastasia: Love.
I simply sincerely love what I do.
I would even say it’s my little world and my meaning in life.