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“SERIES: HOMAGE TO THE YOUNG, THE NEW & THE EXCEPTIONAL CREATIVE TALENTS AROUND THE WORLD”

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Andrzej Masianis work attracted me because of the current theme of “Angels” he has decided to focus on recently, and this subject matter is really a personal favourite of mine.

Masianis’s execution is reminiscent of Gothic manuscripts and works of art especially in the majestic and glorious styles of Albrecht Dürer and Gustave Doré where one is given to perceive concepts of immense beauty yet horrifying doom and suffering in a religious or faith related scene. The images capture and bring to us something heavenly and spiritual yet tangible and magnificent when the use of the shadows, lights and lines are manipulated to full advantage and impact.

Masianis explains: “In my drawings, I attempt to return to the classically simple formula of artistic expression which refers to the historical styles of the
 baroque and the gothic art and one which, in my opinion, may move contemporary audiences. 
In my works, I often refer to the subject of the Last Judgment.”


Masianis is influenced, as he further adds, by writing – theological, biblical texts, fantasy writing and even science fiction films.
 Although his works refer to biblical themes, Masianis doesn’t consider himself a religious artist: ” The kind of artwork which is typical of religious art seems to me rather churchy and schematic. Christian subjects are very close to me but my work isn’t restricted to them exclusively.”

I ventured to ask Masianis myself some more questions regarding his work:

What were you inspired by in your early years as an artist? And these days, what inspires you?

Masianis: An inspiration for me were interiors of churches and also sculpture, especially Berinini and the interior of Vatican Basil. 
In minor works – “Cycles with Angels” – there is the creations of Dürer and Dore.

“George And Dragon”

By referring to their works I want to create my own style. I like the creations of early masters very much as I find them more interesting than most of modern art.

From contemporary and living artist I like the creations of Giger and in Poland Starowiejski and Beksiński who has passed away.

Apart from early art, the environment is also an inspiration – interiors of forests and primeval forests, old trees.

“Angels”

What is the art scene like in Poland, tell me something about your life there and your real world.

Masianis: The artistic scene in Poland is, in some sense, big, because there is often many, almost unknown artists. On the other hand, it is small because very few of them make a living from their artistic creations due to the low income of Polish inhabitants. 


Do you find it hard to prepare your work? How long do you normally take for one complete drawing?

“Playing Angel III”

Masianis: While creating my own works there are moments when I feel at ease with the process of realisation, but at the same time, I experience tremendous effort and tiredness. I work most eagerly during the nights and late afternoons, never right after awakening.

“Archangels Cherubin III”

The creation of a single work of 100cm x 70cm format – a picture made by a drawing pen or acrylic takes about 3 weeks, whereas a picture of 30cm x 40cm format takes 3 to 4 days.

What projects are you working on?

Masianis: Right now I am working on two acrylic paintings, the reproduced work I will showcase in two weeks through my website.

“Archangel IV”

One of the painting is a 184cm x 64cm format and it presents an Angel.

Masianis is a graduate of the Fine Arts Faculty at the Nicolus Copernicus University in Toruń. He obtained a scholarship from the Tadeusz Kulisiewicz Foundation, and was awarded the second place in 1998 at the Polish Drawing Biennale of Fine Arts in Katowice University. In 2001, Masianis received an award from the President of Toruń for work he submitted in a contest in 2000.

For the beauty that Masianis brings to us from an old world that once was able to move and touch generations of people, we should do what we can to support this incredibly gifted artist from Poland – it would be uplifting in a way to know, in our own way, we can play guardian “angel”.

When did you realise you had an interest in illustration? What or who influenced you?



Karolina: You all remember the first time when you got crayons and some sheet of paper when you were 

kids, don’t you? Well, some kids ate a whole set and I started drawing. Maybe because it was 

after I had lunch.

You originally started doing extremely interesting anime characters, how were you exposed 

to anime in Poland?



Karolina: The first anime-like movie I saw was ‘Robin Hood’.. It was shown in the early morning when I 

was in the middle years of my elementary school. Before that my mom sent me to junior art 

courses but painting autumn leafs and hedgehogs carrying apples on their backs every single 

year was kind of … boring routine. I’ve always wanted to create characters of my own and so 

I quit the courses and from then, drawing comic and manga style characters became my main 

hobby.




Do you feel your style has changed since about two or three years ago, if yes, why?



Karolina: I’m too young to say ‘Yeah, that’s my style of art’.

Maybe I will be able to state that when 

I will be like 60 or older. It’s too soon to say such things because my art keeps changing 

as my life does. I’m a seeker so after I spend some time continuing one style I feel a need 

to change it. Otherwise I get bored and lose my joy that comes from creating things. I’m 

still searching. 




How would you describe your style these days? What are you experimenting with your illustrations?



Karolina: Flat textures and patterns – that’s what I am obsessed with right now. They give so many 

possibilities and unusual effects. They are unusual to me anyway – maybe because I’ve 

started experimenting with them recently. Sometimes a simple pattern or texture can change a 

picture in 360degrees – even after you though it’s already finished.




Your two illustrations “Repose” and “Wanderer”, what was the inspiration behind them?



Karolina: The inspiration for ‘Wanderer’ was a photo by Zwir (zwir.ru) who is an amazing artist with a 

unique sense for composition. It was an interpretation of his piece. Repose was created one 

late evening when I was sitting at my desk and sipping hot coffee – it was a really relaxing 

piece and relaxing was something I needed to do at that time.




Are there any difficult illustration for you, and why?



Karolina: There are no difficult illustrations. There are pieces that can take you only a moment to 

finish – and there are pieces which require hours of hard, detailed work. I think that 

an illustrator should be able to draw anything – objects, people, technical concepts. We 

should never limit ourselves. New things are always hard and tiring to work on but the 

satisfaction when a picture is finally finished is the most important thing.




Of all your illustrations, which ones, name three, do you feel is special to you and why?



“Musica Valley” “Nocturne Blanc” “Excelsior”
Karolina: Actually the drawings and paintings that are most precious to me are the ones I don’t 

display on the internet. That’s because they are personal – mostly doodles and sketches.
 If I had to name those, which are on the net. That would be ‘musica valley’ because it gave 

me much joy and still makes me smile when I look at it. ‘Nocturne blanc’ – a first vector 

piece in illustrator that went out almost exactly as I wanted it to. And ‘excelsior’ – 

actually this one was created for my darling.




When you draw, is there something of your personality or spirit that you feel you bring 

to your illustrations?



Karolina: When I was a kid my mates from elementary school were strolling round the neighbourhood and 

demolishing local benches, trash cans, bus stops. Some of them started doing drugs, were 

smoking and asking people to buy them beer in liquor stores laughing out loud>> I wasn’t like that. I 

preferred returning home after school and drawing. That always was helping me to relax, calm 

down and cheer myself up. It hasn’t changed since then. I mostly create things when I feel 

pissed off or the other way – when I feel totally happy and satisfied with my daily life. 

Some people draw and doodle when they simply get bored and have nothing better to do. I 

can’t do that, I can’t draw when I feel bored or blank.




Have you done any commercial work before? Or are you working with a company at the 

moment? Is it design related?



Karolina: I have had a regular post as a graphic designer and illustrator twice. And both times I got 

eventually tricked and deceived. From that time I’ve decided to be more careful when choosing 

 who I’d like to work for. And what papers I sign. I’m taking care of my own ‘business’ 

right now as a freelance illustrator. I have some clients with whom I cooperate on a regular 

basis. Beside that I’m taking other commissions. That’s what I earn my life from.




Are you working on any project at the moment, or planning one?



Karolina: Right now I am working on a press illustration for a Polish lifestyle magazine and notebook 

covers for a well known beverages company. Beside that I have to finish my work for a 

chewing gum producer. That can seem like a lot of work – and that is correct but if you 

once decide to take your own way you have to learn to cope with such ballast of work.

Beer Sheva, Israel
STANDING STILL I

STRANGER AMONG US

“Nature has a way of accepting the changes around it.

We learned to feel comfortble with sky scrapers among the clouds, power plants on the beach, high wire in the desert…

But when putting on the Infra Red filter, it’s easy to see, we have a stranger among us.” –Gilad Benari