Incredible adventures of a self-taught Ukrainian artist and wedding crest designer in the ever-changing world.
I'm Benya Molodan, a self-taught Ukrainian artist born in Kiev and currently based in the UK. I moved to the UK in 2022 due to the war, together with my girlfriend of 12 years. We are trying to build a new life here, and I'm incredibly grateful to each and every one of my amazing customers for all their lovely messages of support I’m getting, and for the opportunity to work on my wedding crests, illustrations and other art projects. That really helps me a lot!
Growing up as an artsy kid in Ukraine
I have been fascinated with art and drawing since I was a toddler. Mum says she once caught me drawing all over my dad’s face while he was sleeping, with a sharpie. Our family was never well-off financially. My parents couldn't afford any brand new art supplies, so I had to get creative in my constant chase for things to draw with and draw on. I used old nail polishes, pencil stubs, cheap school notebooks, basically every scrap of paper I could lay my hands on. The crown jewels of my art supply collection were colorful gel pens. I used to buy them with the money I was supposed to spend on hotdogs and tea in our school cafeteria.
As a kid, I could never afford going to an Art school, but I took occasional drawing classes whenever I had a chance. Later, I was thinking of enrolling in a Fine Art course at the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Kyiv, but my mum didn't approve of my choice of career. She was worried that I won't be able to make a living as an artist, so I ended up enrolling in an Art History course in this very same Academy instead. After graduation, I had worked in a few different museums and galleries for several years before I finally switched careers and started working as a freelance graphic designer creating art exhibition catalogue projects.
My first ever custom wedding crest
All this time I kept drawing and improving my skills, until one day a friend asked me why I don't do custom art pieces. She pointed me in the direction of Reddit and particularly to the r/HungryArtists sub. That was the place where I met a wonderful lady who wanted to have her custom watercolor wedding crest drawn. At that point, I didn't even know what a wedding crest was, but the whole idea sounded inspiring and compelling. After three weeks of extensive research, chatting with the lady about her ideas and sending sketches back and forth, my first ever crest was finally complete. I was so proud of the piece, the lady was so happy and the whole project was so exciting to work on that I decided that I need more of this!
and finally...
Fast forward to today, and I have dozens of custom wedding crests and illustrations to show off in my portfolio. I made it my full time job and I love it so much! I feel endless gratitude to all my customers, my family, my girlfriend, who helps me keep this studio running, and to my wonderful partner Victoria who creates gorgeous & elegant semi-custom invitation suites (with my humble help).
2021:
• «Mini Watercolor», the 4th International Festival of the watercolor miniature, Ukraine
• «Mini Watercolor», the 4th International Festival of the watercolor miniature, Ukraine
2022:
• «Fabriano In Acquarello», the watercolour international convention, Italy
• «Ukrainian Artists Help», an online auction, Dorotheum, Vienna, Austria
• «Supernova. Art of Ukraine», the collective project «Unbreakable Wall», Basel Art Center, Switzerland
• «The Invisible Costs of War», ARC Gallery, Chicago, USA
• «Fabriano In Acquarello», the watercolour international convention, Italy
• «Ukrainian Artists Help», an online auction, Dorotheum, Vienna, Austria
• «Supernova. Art of Ukraine», the collective project «Unbreakable Wall», Basel Art Center, Switzerland
• «The Invisible Costs of War», ARC Gallery, Chicago, USA
Me holding a large custom watercolor crest I made
My first ever custom wedding crest
A review this wonderful first customer left me on Reddit
