September 23, 2022Artists

Meet Bali based artist Tasya

Tell us about yourself?

Hi, I am Tasya. I'm a freelance illustrator, designer, and surfer. I was born and grew up in Saint Petersburg, located by the Baltic Sea coast. It is a very beautiful city, with European-inspired architecture and culture, home of Ermitage and hundreds of museums. I love that place; it's very beautiful, charming, and inspiring. A year after my university graduation, I went on my first trip to India. Since then, I haven't returned home.

Bali had been one of my yearly travel destinations and where I discovered surfing. Since then, I can not be far from the perfect Balinese waves for a long time. My love for surfing brought me back to the island again and again - so one day, I just stopped planning my next trip and stayed here.When did you first get into art, and what was it in particular that most inspired you to do so?

I have always been into art. I went to art school when I was a kid, and graduated art university. But it was only 6 years ago I turned it into full-time work! I have been traveling since 2012. During that time, life was about exploring new places, cultures, and people - bringing new knowledge about my life and myself. The moment I discovered surfing in 2016 brought my superpower to create back again. Are there any creative endeavors you're still hoping to tackle?

I love printmaking in many forms and am always trying out new processes. Now I am passionate about screen printing and would love to get more into it. The process is so alive and unpredictable; each screen print is unique as the colors are layered up one by one, often misaligning slightly, adding to the charm. Do you have a favorite artwork/ or creation that stands out to you the most?

I always try to work honestly and create things that reflect my state and the context of the moment.

I love my work about dedicated women surfing in Sri Lanka as an instrument for changing social and gender roles for women in that country. When I was working on it, it was my favorite work.

I love the first surf girls patterns created. I made it when I'd just discovered the beauty of surfing but had to be apart from the ocean for some time. In this work, I expressed all my boundless love and passion for my newfound love.

Some work I loved was back in 2018 for the Seea. I designed a bunch of illustrations about their recycled fabric line, how the materials are turned into surf-ready swimsuits, and solutions for reducing environmental impact.

A beloved project at the moment is my surfboard fins project. I've always been searching for the perfect product for my prints. Finally, I came up with Kookumbra - fiberglass fins brand made with a passion for surfing and art. It's so magical to surf something you have created yourself!

Your biggest achievement so far?