Anastasia Tsapko: “You can’t limit yourself! Interview with the creator of the online school Arttsapko Art studio Anastasia Tsapko.

If you have ever dreamed of having your own studio, but never decided, then today’s interview is for you! This is an inspiring example about a girl who made her dream come true in Moscow - she created a drawing school under her own name, which began with a studio-workshop. The name of this girl is Anastasia Tsapko-Filimonova.

- Tell me about your school? How long has it existed, what classes are held there and for whom?

— I taught painting classes for children and adults in different studios in Moscow. And the idea of ​​school itself did not come immediately, but rather gradually took shape. To begin with, I was looking for a place for my creativity, where I could draw to order, drawing not at home, but coming to my creative workspace. One day I met Polina Polukeeva (a jewelry designer), and she had her own workshop on Novoslobodskaya and this meeting turned out to be fateful. She invited me to her place to get acquainted with her work aaaand…. I stayed there. We stayed there for 2-3 months, but within three months I had already completed a couple of my classes and realized that I needed to continue. We moved into a studio near the Dostoevskaya metro station, repainted the walls, made cosmetic repairs, we moved in, it was the May holidays - a lot of sun and happiness! The workshop was located near the metro, we had windows, before that there was a workshop in the basement. Joyful, we began to create - Polina brooches, I commissioned paintings and teach classes. Gradually, the number of classes became more and more, every evening girls came to me to create and draw new beauty - oil paintings, acrylics, watercolors, collage techniques, you name it...

— At some point, Polina decided to move out, since she didn’t need the workshop, and she had new creative plans, which, by the way, she implemented. I started renting a studio alone, at first there was a panic that I would be alone, but there was little time to think, I had to act. And 7 days a week I introduced painting and drawing classes for small groups. Writing them down, reminding everyone about classes, coming up with a lesson plan. At that moment, I started dating my future husband, and thanks to his support, his help with the site, with all the technical details, with the internal structure and organization, everything worked out! Without this, the school would probably not exist today! And I am sure that in many successful projects there is always external support, since it is difficult and difficult for one, especially when you are responsible for many actions.

And after six months of the existence of the school on Dostoevskaya, I finally found the first teacher - Alina Roenko. And this became a new impetus! Alina brought new knowledge, new topics, and I was able to breathe a little. And gradually I began to recruit a group of teachers, some are still teaching with me, some have gone on free swimming or discovered new types of activities, but I am grateful for every experience of working with them.

The arttsapko drawing school has existed for 2 years now; during its existence, about 15 teachers of different directions taught at the school. The school's focus is now shifting to online courses. At the moment, there are 13 online courses in different areas - basic drawing, watercolor, botanical painting, creative techniques... Our audience is girls over 25 years old, who are interested in creativity in their free time, living in different parts of the world. We also train professional artists who want to improve their skills. Each online course is designed so that everyone can learn the technique, material and new topic step by step. Through an overview of materials, the concept of chiaroscuro and the color wheel, smoothly moving on to a sketch and drawing of the final illustration.

—Where did you learn to draw?

— I studied at the Moscow Art and Industrial Institute, Faculty of Environmental Design. Personally, I did not graduate from art school or college before this, but immediately entered college. Many people ask me if there is any point in an art institute? The answer is: it is purely your personal choice. I know cool artists who have no education, they are self-taught. I also know cool artists with higher education. The main thing here is your goal of getting an education: for some it’s just for the crust, for others it’s really interesting to study, meet different people, and plunge into the atmosphere. I am grateful for studying at my institute; it was new for me.

— What are your favorite materials for creativity? Do you keep art books or only draw on large formats and individual sheets/canvases?

— My favorite materials for this month are oils and graphics. This is how opposing materials are combined into one whole. And, frankly, I believe that we need to experiment with materials, look for different methods, methods, techniques in order to understand ourselves better. If it’s oil, then I paint on canvases ranging from A3 size, but it’s not about the scale, it’s about the idea of ​​what I want to paint. If it’s graphics, then it’s A5-A4 format, no more. I don’t regularly keep a sketchbook, but now I do it using graphics, as I’m taking a course in experimental graphics. An interesting experience, I’m sure it will be interesting to review this sketchbook in a few years.

— I know that your school now has online video courses. Tell us more about what topics? In your experience, how effective is such training?

— As I already said, the focus of the school is changing to the direction of online courses. At the moment there are more than 13 online courses in different areas: watercolor, creative techniques, drawing basics, art book... This training is effective, depending on your desire and desire. Many people write to us from other cities in Russia and even Europe that there is no such plan for schools and such topics as ours, that they really want to come to you, but there is no opportunity. And our online courses allow you to stay in touch with us. The main advice for those who have chosen to study online with us is to create a creative corner at home, buy materials in advance, and start devoting 20 minutes to studying. Start small, so you will gradually get involved and want to continue. If the drawing doesn't work, stop. The main thing to remember is that the process is important here. If you are drawing online and watching the same lesson for the second time, you can put on your favorite music in the background for complete relaxation and concentration at the same time. Staying in line with like-minded people, post your work on Instagram with the tag #arttsapko_online! In general, I think that the future lies in online learning, erasing all the boundaries of the world; when you press just one button on your tablet, phone or computer, you are transported to a completely different atmosphere, be it a drawing, cooking, or makeup school!

— What advice can you give to those who are just starting to learn to draw?

- Begin. Don’t put it off until tomorrow, holidays, vacations, evenings, weekdays, and so on. And just start here and now. For example, start with our free newsletter for classes, where you receive letters with tasks and examples of what to draw, post photos on Instagram when completing them. Or just start with a pencil sketch on a napkin, by attending the first master class, gradually you will get involved or not, because after trying it in person you will definitely understand whether it’s for you or not. So quickly pick up a brush/pencil!

We all love to put stamps on ourselves. "I can not sing". "I can not draw". "I will never become an actor." And without even trying, we sincerely believe that all this is true. And we elevate people who have the talent to do what we like so much to the rank of celestial beings. And we don’t think that maybe it’s not so much about talent, but about the lack of fear of the new, the desire to develop and the confidence that a person can do anything. It is with this confidence that Nastya Tsapko, a teacher at the “I want to draw!” studio, captivates us. . The studio's motto is "Everyone can draw" Nastya applies to all areas of life. In addition to working in the studio, she opened her website Art-sreda, helps people make their holidays stylish and unforgettable and, it seems, is not going to stop!

- You teach at the “I want to draw!” studio. Tell us about your work.
- When I first came to the studio, I began teaching classes for children and adults. Now I am an art director at a children's studio. That is, I am responsible for all children's classes - I recruit groups, discuss programs with the presenters, watch how classes go, and help. I remember well how I myself started working here - ten children in a lesson, each saying and doing something different... Therefore, I help the girls, I advise them to draw with the children for 15 minutes, then rest for 5 minutes. We turn on the music, each presenter brings his own music, the one he likes. This is how our mood is conveyed to the guests.

- Do you bring your favorite music? What if someone likes Limp Bizkit or Rammstein?
- Well, I have both Nirvana and Metallica in my player. Of course, I don’t put it this way, it’s too harsh for both children and adults. We need something calmer and more fun. The kind of music you can dance to with your kids, get distracted and continue drawing. Children's attention switches very quickly - they start telling something, going about their business, but we need them to at least draw a little. Therefore, from time to time we try to switch their attention. But we never force you! If a child doesn’t want to draw at all, I can take the lesson in a different direction. We are not a school, there are no exams or tests. We want both children and adults to relax here and enjoy what they do. If a child wants to paint an easel, let him paint! That's why we have all easels and painted ones!

What I like most about the studio is that there are no restrictions. I can take live roses and make a cartoon out of them, we can draw with plasticine or draw a picture on the asphalt. I have always strived for such freedom. Everywhere I worked before there were boundaries and work schedules. And here each presenter chooses a time convenient for him, a convenient format for classes.

- Besides the studio, what do you do?
- I have my own website. It's called Art-sreda. It says everything I do now and what I did before. I am an environmental designer by training, that is, I work on the external and internal appearance of buildings. For a year and a half I worked as an interior designer in a store. "Old Man Hottabych". There was a certain schedule, I spent 12 hours a day at work. I realized that this is not my thing, I can’t sit at the computer so much time, painting and graphics are closer to me, I like to do something with my hands. And communicate with people. The studio helped me start doing what I like. But I don’t want to limit myself to just the studio. Now I am also designing children's parties and weddings. I never do classic weddings with swans and balloons. A wedding or holiday can be done, for example, in the Dior style. Remember the Natalie Portman commercial? There were tea roses. You can use them, a Dior bow, and other elements. I recently decorated a children's party in a space style. I came up with the idea that stardust from sparkles from Christmas tree garlands would fall on the children, and there was also a rocket from which the children looked out. The parents were also very pleased, maybe even more than the children. But in general, it is very difficult to push people to something new. Many people think in a standard way and are afraid to experiment. Therefore, a designer must know psychology, be able to persuade a person, and show what is truly beautiful. I don’t limit myself to just design either. I myself host weddings and holidays, I try to come up with something original, and not hold the same type of competitions that everyone is tired of. The last wedding, for example, was entirely in verse. That is, everything in general is important to me – both the design and the atmosphere.

-Have you ever studied psychology?
- Professionally, no. I read books on child psychology, motivational books, and watch films. And I try to make sure that it’s not just like that – I read it and forget it. I save what I liked and find useful and review it periodically.

-Are you going to do anything else?
- You always want something more, but you don’t always have enough time and energy. But I tell everyone and try to show by example: you can’t limit yourself. If you want to draw, draw! If you want to dance, dance! We must constantly expand our horizons. I think so. And I try not to limit myself in my desires and aspirations. There are very versatile people around me, but the environment is very important. The kind of people who will be next to you, the same way you will be.

- The studio’s motto is “Everyone can draw!” Do you think this applies to everything?
- Yes! Everyone can do anything! And draw, and sing, and dance. The main desire. It's just that some people have talent from birth, and some need to develop their abilities. I also haven’t drawn since childhood, I didn’t go to art school. I actually started drawing very accidentally.

- How?
- In 11th grade, I was going to become a translator, I wanted to travel. But then I thought that this work would be related to documents, and I wouldn’t want that. I was also interested in history. You see, very far from painting! But there was no desire to sit in the archives either. My dad helped me choose to draw. Apparently, he felt that office work was not suitable for me at all. He suggested that I take up painting or join the choir.

- To the choir?!
- Yes! We must pay tribute to my parents, they also never limited me - if you want, draw, if you want, learn mathematics. And they themselves are mathematicians by training. My mother and I chose the institute together. In the end, we chose MHPI (Moscow Art and Industry Institute) because it is very beautiful - there are paintings hanging everywhere and beautiful paintings. I have never seen such institutions. Before that, I went to RUDN University and Moscow State University. Everything was very serious there - high ceilings, gray walls. And here - red, gold, paintings! I went to preparatory courses and began to learn to draw. I had no idea what it was to draw from life.

- But you still had the ability and inclination to draw?
- Nothing like this! A person can start drawing at any time. In the first lesson we drew all sorts of plaster things - cubes, pyramids. Maybe you've seen that artists sometimes close one eye and measure something with their finger. We all had no idea why artists do this, but everyone was very smart and did it too. Then they confessed to each other, it was very funny! The first three months were very difficult for me. My brain turned 360 degrees. I had to learn to see all these shadows, penumbras, how one color is reflected in another. I constantly wondered what they wanted from me?! At first it was not at all clear to me where I had plunged into. After studying for three months, I told my parents: let me finish the six months that you paid for and leave. But another three months passed, and things started to work out for me, I got involved. The entrance exams for this institute were earlier than the final school exams. So I entered before I even finished school. I did poorly in the drawing exam and went to appeal. The only one of them all. And she assured the teachers that she had drawn everything correctly. Now I understand all my mistakes, but then I had a lot of ambitions!

- Could you imagine yourself as someone else now? Not an artist, not a designer.
- If you imagine it well, then yes. This would definitely be the field of art, for example, music. I would really like to take vocal classes someday in the future. Just for myself. I once studied vocals, and my teacher said that 80% of success is technique, and 20% is natural ability. And they can be developed at any time, from any age. A woman came to see her and started singing when she retired at 60 years old.

- At what point did you finally understand that painting and design are exactly what you would like to do?
- After working in “Old Man Hottabych”. It was interesting for me to discuss the design of the apartment with clients and come up with it. But mostly people didn't want anything special. But there were also those who wanted to cram a lot of things into one room: black and red tiles, the walls were covered with something... I tried to dissuade people from this. In “Old Man Hottabych” I realized that I wanted to work in the field of design and painting, but in a slightly different direction.

- How did you get into the “I want to draw!” studio?
- On the site Look at me I read an interview with Masha, who created the studio, and wrote to her. We met, talked, then I came to Masha’s class. And she says: “This is your job. Lead." That's how it all started. I started teaching classes, then writing programs. That is, I wasn’t specifically looking for anything. I just liked Masha, I liked what she said in her interview, we agreed. Not everyone you read about on the Internet will be the one you write to. But it is quite possible to find something worthwhile on the Internet.

- Who is easier to work with – children or adults?
- Differently. Adults can be very closed. They are afraid to take a brush, mix paints, they don’t want to paint in front of someone. Children, on the contrary, can be very rowdy. They might throw something at you ( laughs). They may not listen to you at all, and start telling some of their own fables - where he was, what he did with his mother. Someone can sit under a chair and cry, one boy covered me in the studio. There are very different children. For example, we have a boy who really likes to draw roses and princesses.

Some guests come here just to relax, while there are those who paint professionally. People who study at the British School of Design come to me, here they work on their portfolio.

There are very closed people who are difficult to reach. These people want to say: “Relax! I’m not giving you a grade, I’m not taking your diary, I’m not scolding you!” As we get older, we develop some standards and frameworks. The studio exists to liberate people and show that at any age you can communicate freely with everyone.

- What was the most memorable incident with children or adults?
- Just with the boy who locked me in the studio. One time he came out of the toilet without pants! I tell him: “Go to the toilet, put on your pants and come back.” And he laughs. Then he climbed onto a high stool and began to jump off it. This was my first guest in the children's studio. After it I’m not afraid of anything, and all the children seem like angels.

There was also a boy who called me “Babe.” He came in and said: “Hello, baby!”

Don't you get tired of constant communication? It happens that you are not in the mood, you don’t want anything, but everyone expects you to light up and inspire them.
- Vice versa. When I start communicating, my mood lifts. There are days when I don’t want to communicate with anyone, but fortunately I have enough days off. And the job is constantly changing. I work on the computer and draw myself. Because of this shift, I manage to get less tired. If I sat in the office at the computer all the time, I would be much more tired. The worst thing about office work is when you have already done everything, but you have to sit until a certain time. And the weather is good there or you need to go home. So what should I do? You start inventing some stupid activities for yourself. This always just killed me! Many people work like this all their lives, but it just doesn’t fit in my head!

- Do you draw for yourself?
- Yes, but not as often as I would like. I usually draw while traveling or with guests. It's easier for me to draw surrounded by other people than alone. It is usually believed that the artist sits alone, meditating. I can't do that. I feel more comfortable when there are people nearby.

- Do you have your paintings hanging at home?
- No. I don’t have a single painting of mine at home. They still hang in my brother’s office, in my grandparents’ apartment, and in “Old Man Hottabych” to this day.

- As a matter of principle, you don’t hang your paintings at home?
- No, it doesn’t matter. I just don't have much in my room at all. My room is very bright and there is nothing hanging on the walls. One designer once came to our institute and said that when he needs to come up with something, he doesn’t communicate with anyone, doesn’t watch TV or the Internet, isn’t interested in what others have come up with, but just sits in a bright room. room and begins to draw. That is, his inspiration comes from within, and not from without.

Anyone can learn to draw, and this does not require natural talent or many years of training in a special school. Just 1-2 lessons with a professional, and you will feel confident with a pencil and brush, even if you have never noticed your ability for fine art.

Arttsapko – online drawing school

In Arttsapko school courses you:

• Learn the basics of painting and drawing.
• Master the technique of drawing with a marker.
• Learn to work with watercolors.
• Get acquainted with experimental graphics techniques.

The Arttsapko online project is a drawing studio for adults, so online courses and intensive courses are dedicated not only to beginners, but also to professionals. The training will be of interest to artists, designers and illustrators seeking new forms and ideas.

All training programs include free lessons so you can make a purchasing decision based on your experience. Courses are available for viewing around the clock, and after purchase they remain with you forever.