Name: Mysa
Crew: Don’t have
Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
Active since: 2003
Favorite surface/medium: Walls and canvas
Personal motivation:
Contact (site, instagram, tumblr, fb etc):
Instagram: olmaigoosh
FB page: Mysa
Q: How long are you into street art/illustration? Give me little background of your starts.
I was 14 years old and together with one my best friends we decided to make a graffiti crew. We named it BTS and started tagging all around the city. We were like brainwashed, because everything we did was for the graffiti art. Our crew was with 6 members and everyone of us had his role in the crew and my role was characters. Later I became close friends with writers from the best graffiti crews in Bulgaria: NTN Crew and LBC. All of my teenage years passed around them. My life was graffiti walls, fests, people, artists, paint, canvases. I’ve met some of the best graffiti writers in the world: SatOne, Rok2, Peeta, Tats Cru, Nomad, Dave the Chimp, London Police, Tika, etc. So it was pure magic for me, a whole different world, full of colors, fun and traveling, making friends, listening to hip hop. It was the best teenage years every teenager could live. When I grew up, I started making walls rarely, most often canvas, but graffiti art still lives is in me, so eventhough I’m not very active, doesn’t mean that I gave up on that.
Q: How did you learn the drawing skills? Do you have formal art training?
I was in art class for a year and a half. But my skills are mostly learnt from my man, my friends, my crew and from other international artists. Everyone, who wants and loves to do something, could become good at it, if he doesn’t stop and keeps trying.
Q: How would you describe your style?
Colorful, lovely and sensitive. The characters in my works send you love and tenderness. They want you to feel calm.
Q: Is there any particular message that people should read from your art?
I don’t know. I think everyone finds his message. I don’t have some particular one.
Q: What’s your favorite medium to work with?
Spray cans and acryl paint.
Q: You love to travel and paint. How much does the current place you live helps you to get inspired? Where do you feel most comfortable?
The city I live in (Sofia) is a post communism city, so it is grey, chaotic, but still fun. I get inspired from its walls, its people and the reactions of people, when they see me painting. Everyone likes it, because it makes the city better place. If you see a colorful wall with a lovely character on it, instead of a trashy grey wall, you’ll like it, too. That’s why I feel inspired from the city.
Q: As an (female) artist, what are some of your greatest challenges or obstacles you face?
For every artist which hobby (not a job) is painting the greatest challenge is time. I have less and less time for that, because that’s how life works. The other thing is that most people don’t make a difference between vandalism and graffiti art, but that problem is relevant for all the graffiti artists.
Q: What’s your best motivational lesson for the beginners?
Keep trying. Find your style and paint!
