This week, we are thrilled to spotlight a special guest, @himlain, a talented artist known for her stunning drawings and illustrations. With a vibrant creative style and a strong artistic voice, she has built a captivating presence through her expressive work. Today, we are honored to have her join us to share her passion and insights into the world of art
1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your artistic journey. How did you find your illustration style, and when did you start committing to it?
My creative journey is not really a path, but rather the air I breathe. I don’t remember myself without drawing — a pencil ended up in my hand before I could talk, at around the age of two. Art has never been a hobby or a phase for me; it’s a basic necessity, as natural as sleeping or eating.
My first serious steps began in art school, which I started at the age of 12. There, I learned to see form, to understand the magic of line work (hatching), and the laws of composition. But within those walls, there was one thing: we weren’t taught how to draw portraits. And I desperately wanted to bring faces to life on paper. That’s when my own personal journey of exploration began — I took it upon myself to study anatomy, trying to understand how the human body is constructed, not just to capture a likeness, but to convey character.
The next important stage was art college. That’s where the real school of life began: endless life drawing sessions, dozens of hours working on plasticity and proportions. And the deeper I immersed myself in academic foundations, the freer my hand became. The stroke, which was once just a way to apply tone, gradually became my voice. My works became bolder; they began to feature not just precision, but also character and that unique “my” style that you can’t train, only feel. That’s how the academic foundation evolved into an artistic signature, where anatomy lives in harmony with emotion, and every line sounds confident and honest.
2. What's one work that you're particularly proud of?
Perhaps the work that is dearest to me is an animation I spent six months on. I brought a girl to life, and she truly seemed to come alive: she followed the drawing process with her eyes. It was incredibly painstaking — thousands of frames, hundreds of hours.
But the result exceeded all expectations: the video got 28 million views and an overwhelming number of reactions. This piece is the best proof that perseverance and love for what you do always resonate with people.
Check it out here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5g4H9PN06S/
3. When you’re not making art, what are you into lately—and does any of that sneak into your work (themes, settings, textures, humor)?
Lately, my main passion outside of art has been walking and nature. I simply love to stroll and notice everything around me: the texture of tree bark, reflections in puddles, the way people look different when they’re in motion.
And this inevitably seeps into my drawings. I catch myself trying to convey the same naturalness in my portraits that I see in nature — lively lines, no stiffness. Also, during my walks, I soak up visual silence, so that later I can return to the studio with renewed energy to create my animations. That’s probably why my works often feel alive and breathing — because I make sure to get plenty of fresh air myself.
4. When did you first start using Ohuhu products? What do you love about them?
Ohuhu came into my life a little over six months ago, and I’ve been an active fan ever since. I was drawn to the huge variety of shades — especially those airy, pastel colors that create incredibly soft transitions.
And I’m absolutely delighted with the wooden storage boxes. They turn the markers from simple tools into a real collection that you love to take out and show off. My collection is growing now, and I really want it to become even bigger — because the more colors you have, the more interesting the experiments!
5. What do you do when you hit a creative block—what’s your reset routine?
My main way to reboot during a creative crisis is going for walks. I put my markers away, leave the house, and simply observe nature and the light. It clears my head and brings back inspiration. Usually, after a good walk, my hand naturally reaches for a sketchbook.
6. What’s something people assume is “easy” in your art, but is actually the hardest part?
Everyone thinks the hardest part is rendering all the details. But in reality, the most difficult thing is knowing when to stop. People think my drawings are light and quick, but the real challenge is preserving that freshness — not overworking the piece, keeping it alive and breathing. Stopping at the right moment — that’s what requires the utmost focus.
