Three years ago, I went through a period when I had so much work on the computer that it became psychologically difficult to cope with it. I really wanted to do manual work — the mosaic was my salvation.

This is my favorite thing that I enjoy doing. Even when I'm physically tired of him, it's always a pleasant fatigue.

I studied on my own: I watched a couple of videos on YouTube and started experimenting with tiles that my friends had left after the renovation. Then I decided to go to the ceramic tile warehouse and ask if I could pick up the broken materials from them: they often have to peel off tiles due to minor scratches and chips.

Many of my mosaics were made from materials that were meant to be thrown away, but I put them to better use. Like my street job.”Dandelion” in Yekaterinburg.

Most of all, I am inspired by the plant theme and urban stories that reflect everyday life. I made a panel for the Melody bar in Yekaterinburg”Security town”: the idea is that there is no bar wall, and you can watch the tram pass by and passers-by go about their business.

My new panel from the same series was made for the Galeev House billiard room in Chelyabinsk. It depicts a janitor who is the first in town to see sunrise. I really liked the movie “Perfect Days”; its main character is a simple toilet cleaner who notices the beauty in ordinary things — that's what I wanted to convey.

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There is one in our city Soviet mosaic, which attracts me with its clear lines. It was designed by Veniamin Stepanov and is located near the Ural Rabochiy building, where, by luck, my workshop used to be.

I watch less modern mosaicists; I'm interested in the works of illustrators and muralist artists. For example, what do they do Dmitry Luchinin from Vladivostok, Mansur Ziyayev from Ufa, Zhenya Zhelvakov from Moscow, Styopa Ifo from Yekaterinburg. And also guys who also worked with the plant theme: Amock Island from Australia and already gone Charlie Harper from the US.

The mosaic is easy for me. Perhaps because she did a lot of needlework as a child and went to the “Skillful Hands” club. Maybe this is the parents' influence: Mom always knitted sweaters and hats, and Dad made furniture and clothes. He once made me a beautiful winter jacket.

I have the feeling inside that I can do anything with my own hands. There is absolutely no fear that it will not work out. Recently I heard a phrase from an English teacher I know: “Learn what you love and what you don't like — let others study.” I think this is universal for all situations in life.

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I would also like to wish something to everyone: don't forget to relax and exercise!

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