Vasse Art (Vasil Vasev) (Bulgaria)

Vasse Art (Vasil Vasev) (Bulgaria)

I am still looking for a priest singing on regular basis in his church and able to draw posters, but,n let's face it, all kind of music lovers are designing rock posters nowadays. This is the reason why I am pleased to introduce you to a part of the Balkan hardcore scene, Vasil Vasev aka Vasse originaly from Bulgaria.

Hello, of course as every Crewk interview, first question: what are we listening to when we come to visit you?

Hello!! :)
Hmmmm.... All kinds of genres - Hardcore, Metal, Hip-Hop... Mostly alternative music with energy

Can you tell us more about yourself, who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

I'm Vasil Vasev - Vasse, 32, Bulgarian, but I've been living in Belgrade with my girlfriend for some time now. I work as a freelancer for what are mostly Belgrade agencies and some Serbian and Bulgarian promoters.
Also, I play bass in a hardcore band, Cut Off.

When did you start drawing?

I've been drawing ever since I can remember!

Did you follow any course or did you improve by drawing in the margins of your schoolbooks?

I'm an Art Academy graduate,Graphics, but during my school years I've tried most of the art types,
for example I can draw religious icons,carve wood, make sculptures, do mozaics...
But I've found my path in digital art.

Today are you living from your art, or do you do something else for a living ?

I live from my art, I make good money with what I do, for which I'm very happy and thankful, because I do what I love most for a living.

Are you collaborating with magazines/fanzines, regularly?

I am, I do illustations and covers for magazines.

Where does your influence come from? Is there any artists/graphists you particularly like, what are your influences?

Mostly I find my inspiration in street art and music, it could be a horror movie too,and other things I see in my every day life,
there's no one in specific that influences me, but I like the art of Hydro74, Tara McPherson, The Stuntkid, Trevor Brown....

What are the principal steps in your work ?

It depends, but before I have started I talk to the client, ask them if they have any ideas, we discuss them.
Then I make a scetch, which possibly changes a lot in the process.
If they don't have any ideas,and leave it all up to me,I still send them various stages of my work,
I consult them if they like it or want something changed.
After I'm finished I usually leave it for a while, and when I see it with "new eyes" I make some final changes.

Do you do everything by hand or on computer?

Well, in recent years on computer only, but I work with a tablet, and almost everything I do is drawn by hand.

How long does it take you to do a poster?

It really depends, I can make it in a day , but when I have the time I can do it up to several weeks.

You have a very distinctive style, are you doing only what you feel like or if tomorrow somebody asks you an oil painting with horses running out of water with a sunset backdrop, is it a problem or are you up for it ?

Well, I don't really have a distinctive style- working in just one style would bore me. You can see on the links bellow.
I preffer creating art for magazines, commercials, bands and such, and as for the oil painting - I haven't done such things in quite some time.
But, for a lot, a loooot of money, I might consider it.

For which band have you already worked for?

I've done posters, merch and album cover designs for a lot of Balkan bands,
and I've made posters for concerts on the Balkans for Sick Of It All, Parkway Drive, Terror, H2O, Die Toten Hosen, Death Before Dishonor,
No Turning Back, Trial, Death By Stereo, Obituary, Unleashed, Testament... and many more.

For which band would you love to work?

Biohazard, Bolt Thrower, Deftones, Korn, Morbid Angel, Limp Bizkit, Ajs Nigrutin, The Prodigy, Terror, TUI, Obituary, Lollobrigida, Soulfly, Slipknot, Machine Head, Parkway Drive, Walls Of Jericho, Cypress Hill, ATR, (hed)p.e., Cannibal Corpse, Elvis Jackson, Vrooom, Lacuna Coil, Madball, Eyesburn, Chimaira, Maximum The Hormone...and basically all the bands I love,
but I think the gratest challenge for me would be to work for M.I.A. :)

Do you choose the artists yourself?

Band and promoters call me.

What is the most difficult part in designing a poster ?

I can't really say... It gives me great pleasure, nothing's difficult.

Do you think you are part of a "Graphic Scene", if so who else ?

I'm a part of the Balkan hardcore scene - with my band as well as with my art.

A bit of self-promotion, take advantage of it, it's free, where can we see your work , on the web or in real life?

You can check my art here:

http://vasse79.deviantart.com/gallery/

http://www.gigposters.com/designer/135477_Vasil_Vasev.html

Also search for Art by Vasse on facebook and myspace

The best praise you received lately?

I did a poster for Parkway Drive concert in Sofia, and the day after the concert I met Winston McCall, the vocal, at the Exit Festival in Serbia, we talked a little,and he told me my poster was the only one from the tour he kept!

What can we wish you for the future?

Working with many more bands and big important clients :)

Thanks for answering my questions and see you soon on the website !!

Thank you for the support and the interview, I enjoyed answering it!!! Keep up the good work!