Do you know someone in this agency?

- No, I do not know anyone there. Lack of communication - an old problem. In Kiev, a long time I could not show off, because every time I had heard the same thing: "Who are you? We work only with those who know. " When asked if I could become the artist with whom you work, whom you know, the answer was always negative. Artists and gallery owners - a vicious circle of people working to make contacts. Tell you a little secret: I still can not get into this clip, so the work itself.

Always rely on themselves?

- Since she moved to Kiev. Initially worked as a manager in a foreign company. In general, everything was very good. But over time, became frightened at the thought that a few years later I can go to the next stage of development in that case, which I do not like. So six years ago, decided to change the scope of activities. I wanted to be closer to what I love.

And what do you like?

- I love to draw. FINANCE, painted the house from time to time. Although after graduation I have lived through a period of hatred for painting. The fact that I have learned to draw more than eleven years. At thirteen, graduated from high school and enrolled in art school. After six years of the institute and a year internship at Germanskoy Academy of Art. But learn to be an artist, I hated this profession.

For what?

- It seemed that my profession is just making fun of me. I gave herself so many years without drawing the entire balance: the days studied, painted at night, attending all classes. I had a so-called complex of an A: everything must be done either "excellent" or shame, I sink into the ground.

Diploma, left alone with his profession. By that time I already had a family, baby, and we lived in abject poverty. Try to realize themselves, realized that the ability to earn a draw is impossible.

Is this profession is to blame?

- Understand, I was fanatichkoy. Carefully listened to the advice of teachers. Of all the students who studied at our department, to defend the thesis were three. Some settled down to work and dropped out, others have changed completely and specialization, realizing that the profession of the artist's heavy. I think all professions difficult when too seriously to the point.

I tried to look for jobs painting, which is not always coincide with my school schedule. Our family was the main breadwinner husband, he studied at the designer, and find some project it was easier. However, among the designers in our native Kharkov same esprit de corps, as well as in Kiev with the artists: there are designers, we work with, and designers, which do not work. Therefore underworking husband were also irregular. Well, I am with my painting in general, no one was needed.

What are you drawing?

- Drawing is what I was taught. You know, I was able to draw such Repin Realism: formulation, the portrait, the portrait in the interior, nudity, naked women from two or three people, which is generally considered aerobatics in painting. But it turned out that the nudity in general, no one needs.

It would seem, on the contrary, - around full of interest ...

- No, you're wrong. There is such a thing as a salon painting, popular in Kharkov galleries. Sold mostly unpretentious portraits, still lifes, daisies, strawberries with leaves. Again, the gallery owners have worked only with familiar artists.

Not trying to be "their"?

- It was not possible. Who will take the salon to sell the work of the student, when we are confronted by forty of his teachers, which portrays roughly the same thing and do it better? In addition, many teachers - renowned artists, local scale, their work sells well. Gallerist disadvantageous to change something.

But the same-grade teachers to recommend a friend to dealers?

- Obviously, the teachers were reluctant to share their earnings.

Did anyone did not manage to break this vicious circle?

- That I never found out - had gone from Kharkov. Lack of money brought to desperation, I dropped his hands. Until now, I well remember the day when the family council, my husband decided to move to Kiev. I got another rejection from the barbershop, where trying to get manicurist. I have had hysterics.

Then I realized: We must urgently change something. Decided that my husband will go to Kiev first. He called friends, who long before we decided to move to the capital, and agreed that they will live a month. The next morning, resigned from work and on the same day went. I defended my diploma, sold Kharkov apartment and her daughter moved in after him. The money raised from the sale of housing, bought a one-room apartment in Darnitsa.

Dima helped me get a job in an advertising agency, which has already worked himself. But I quickly realized that the husband and wife must work together: household conversations each time were limited to a discussion of what happens at work. Therefore, soon moved to the Mission of the Czech company "West Plastic" trading in plastics for the manufacture of outdoor advertising. Over time, became deputy director of the office, customs clearance for goods. This lasted until until I realized that the beginning of "thaw" and again ready to doing things you love - drawing.

How to get to a TV

How long protracted period of dislike for drawing?

- Approximately two years.

That is, in Kharkov painting no one was needed, and in Kiev, suddenly all needed?

- No. In the West Plastic found in his organizational abilities. Working deputy director, realized that I can find the right people, new opportunities, I can beautifully represent any idea. And since I am well versed in the art, first decided to try to organize art exhibitions. The first exhibition of my husband and I organized at home. Exhibited black and white pictures of our newborn daughter. Photos were original, creative, so to speak - a baby, four days old, in the morning sun.

Who and how were invited to this exhibition?

- We made invitations hand-made (in the form of clouds card tied with a straw), which I spread through the different organizations: the newspapers, television stations.

Left an invitation to the reception or to address a friend?

- Left in the waiting room. I knew no one in the capital. Of course, had to endure many humiliations. But there were people who normally reacted to the invitation. The best I had in the wording of the new channel.

You hoped that staff will come and make the TV program on your show?

- Not that counted, just had a thought: why do the exhibition, if so no one will know. I wanted to make every effort to ensure that our photographic came to see. Invitation has been more than fifty, but responded only to the new channel: TV people came with cameras, they took off the plot of the show. A few days later we were invited to the morning air on the transfer of "Rise", which told about our event. As it turned out, they are interested in the idea of a home exhibition.

Yeah, really. A small studio apartment, a child, some things are goods - as you are all linked to the exhibition?

- Things were a little, we slept on the floor, on mattresses, bed was not. Repairs in the apartment was simple, but we liked the walls, painted with white paint. So with this there were no problems. A week after the airing of the transfer to New Channel invited us on the radio "Continent", where we talked about the exhibition. Incidentally, the event has visited a clothing designer Lilia Pustovit. Subsequently it was found in the West Plastic working girl attending, along with Lily yoga. Therefore we can say that I achieved the desired - have learned about the exhibition.

And it give you?

- Interest in life. For me, it is important not to sit on the ground. I came up with this exhibition, developed a design of invitation cards, made them, hung up ads on the district. Life has become more interesting.

You sell something on that show?

- No, but we have not tried anything to sell. However, once a folder with those photos and newspaper clippings reporting on our exhibition in handy. I loved working on the organization of the exhibition, that I decided to get a job in the gallery. Opened the directory "Golden Pages", found under "Gallery" and for half an hour obzvonila interesting for me organization. Phoned the store decor, gifts, flower shop and gallery "Sribni dzvoni.

Fortunately, having come there immediately met with the director of "Дзвонів" Oksana Shapiro. She told her that he had recently resigned from the company and the dream is to organize exhibitions. Do not forget to mention that little experience in this matter there, and invited to view photos and report on our home show. Head of the gallery said that now the room renovation, but when it finishes, my organizational abilities will find application. Meanwhile, I was invited to work in a flower shop, located on the other exhibition halls.

Thus began my first day in "Dzvonah": shop staff member participated in the floral exhibition, and I became their personal assistant - collecting bouquets, decorated booths. But two months later opened gallery, and I began organizing exhibitions: to develop concepts, models of invitation, to advertise in the media. Oksana Shapiro, his kindness and attention has prepared a fertile ground for my further creativity. I liked what was doing, and I felt happy, has found peace in his heart again began to paint.

Slowing sales

It began selling his paintings?

- As soon as I have gathered fifteen works, decided to organize his own exhibition in the "Dzvonah. I was embarrassed to use his official position, so later organized exhibitions in other galleries. Since that first show and started selling my paintings. Come to me people who enthusiastically about my work. To me, their responses were an incentive to move on, to draw more. But I never made efforts to sell their work. I would be ashamed to approach and persuade the customer: "Buy now, it's a good job, it will be you look great.


Remember the first to sell the painting?

- Of course, it was a painting called "The Elfik. Sold it to a mediator, who took me to sell some works.

How is the price of paintings?

- At first, mindful of how much money for me it would be a pity not to let work. There is something in between those, how many do not regret to give and how much the buyer can pay. I try to call such a sum to the picture "is not hung." Gradually the price of my work is growing, as willing to buy the picture gets bigger, but mine, so to speak, production capacity will remain unchanged.

When are shaping the price, can you imagine who can buy and how much money he has?

- No, I'm not a marketer. All of my business decisions based on intuition, on the children's level of perception "I want - I do not want." Therefore, never compute who my target audience, and do not assess creditworthiness of potential buyers.

But you yourself said that in forming the price, consider how many can pay for now.

- Well, maybe not so straight. I remember that had to raise the price for the first time: my work sold for $ 100. Came some foreign tourists who wished to buy one now, but decided that for them is expensive, and left. A few days later, when they came back, I raised the price to $ 150, because it is very needed money. Customers long resented, for what reason is the sharp rise in price. In the end, I took that picture of the home and decided not selling it even for a million. The next rise in price had risen to $ 400. Paintings exhibited in the cafe Antresol. " This time, his leadership was deeply outraged by the new price of my paintings.

What do they care about the cost of your paintings?

- Apparently, they liked it too. Perhaps something that they've decided to buy. Therefore, it is fiercely indignant: "Eugene, what happened to you that you are so sharply increased the price?"

And really, what happened to you?

- This is what happened. Paintings, which cost $ 100, some visitors were buying five or six pieces at once. And when the next day I phoned and asked to show their work, to show there was nothing. Agree, the situation is stupid. That is why the prices of paintings gradually increased. I try to keep at least 50%of their work. Thus, raising the price, regulate the rate of sales.

In addition to paintings, you're selling a lot of printed materials.

- Yes. Once I realized that among the visitors of my exhibitions, there are people who do not have much money to get the picture. More than once I was told that the reproductions of pictures cut from magazines. So I came to the conclusion that we should make calendars and catalogs for those who can pay no more than 100 UAH.

Not a word about marketing

In vain you do not consider yourself a marketer. Is not marketing in its pure form?

- You'll be surprised, but I did not have a clue what the marketing. My husband calls me the business baby. After all, he knows how I make decisions without thinking through any strategies. Just do what I like or need. For example, recently opened a gallery on St. Michael Street. There was no marketing move. I had a studio on Gorky, who came in wishing to see the pictures from morning till evening, and because I worked there. And if before the day took no more than three who want to see the pictures, then after the exhibition in the Russian Museum to become ten. As a result, all of my working day was devoted to the reception of visitors, rather than drawing. However, many would just look, not buy. But I did not say: "If you do not want to buy, do not come. I am pleased when my work like. Therefore, the powers-that no potential buyers, has opened another gallery.

Find time to work - this is management.

- I have never thought about it. I am business baby around, even in advertisements. Want to give advertisement in Vogue Russia and went straight to the Advertising Department. They were in shock: an unprecedented event - advertising in their magazine does not give even a picture, not just to artists. And for me, the decision to advertise in this magazine was easy, I accepted it without much thought about who would see her there, and how it will work. I said to myself: "You weak?" And did. I chose to advertise your favorite picture of "Kitaeza.

How much does it cost you this fad?

- Strip $ 30 thousand regularly published since October last year.

Advertising work?

- This advertisement has given to me was interesting to live, I want an extraordinary proposition. Just to make money I have no interest. Today at 12.30 to me is visited by representatives of a Moscow company, find out about me from advertising in Vogue. They want to make linen, towels and home textiles with reproductions of my paintings.

Besides that every day there is the mass of their own business ideas, I'd regularly get different interesting suggestions. And many do not for the money. I recently came from Samsung and offered to paint the phone for Iryna Bilyk. Caution asked how much I want for it. I said: "Not at all. Just leave the colors that you brought. Similarly, with children's books - they do not bring much money. But it's interesting.

You work at promoting his name?

- Do not even think about it. Although you may not believe me. I just do not want and can not sit back, relax on the couch watching television - a pastime boring and uninteresting. I always have something to do, without stopping. Thinking to give advertisement in the English Vogue. Let's see what interesting prepodneset my life after this advertisement. And if you do not emerge, I will know that is no longer published in foreign journals. In August, opened a design studio, however, ended all very silly. I realized that it was not mine. In addition, I lied to the head, whom I hired. So, to say that Gapchinskaya - very lucky, you can not. Of the ten projects, start me, five are failures, others - successful. Of course, sorry for the money spent on the design studio, equipment, furniture, advertising, printing, but my husband is right when he said: "You are not computers and desks to buy, and experience." I think he's right. Therefore, without much fear behind KievGallery decided to open a gallery in Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa and Moscow.

How to choose the city for the galleries?

- Random. For example, in Dnipropetrovsk, to a certain point, I've never been. Lives there, my old friend of the institute, which is often invited to visit. Ventured once to visit him, came, and it is not in the city. Call a friend that bought once a few of my works. We met, chatted. Speaking of galleries. I asked, it is difficult to open a gallery here. She immediately took me to her friend, the director of real estate agency. That has issued a couple of good choices. After a few days, I just drove through the streets of Dnepropetrovsk see where I could buy a flat under the gallery. In one house were round window, they impressed me so that I understood - this is what you need.

Production capacity will provide content galleries?

- I think so. Now I always have a picture. Now my exhibition in Lutsk and Odessa, Moscow will be soon. I always have work, which at this moment I am somewhere showing. But, probably, soon the prices will rise again.

You yourself called themselves the number one supplier of happiness?

- No, I was so called my fans. I have often said: "With this work you supply us with happiness." Hence, all the slogans.

In all textbooks on marketing, says that the brand should reinforce the slogan.

- Maybe. But for me it was another childish decision. For me, it is important that everything was nice and fun. These criteria guided the life and work.

What do you think, if you do not become bored after a few years?

- My friend Yuri Nikitin (producer of bands. - Auth.) Saying that I am now in a dangerous point, comfort zone, a lot can not afford to live in a nice apartment and have all that in this case it should be. At this point, easy to lose the creative tone and ill stellar disease. But I think no danger. Because I have such a character that simply can not stay alone. I even slept with 5 to 7 am. In normal people it should be treated. And to me this state of permanent "nepokoya" gives us confidence that more will not be bored.