We were lucky to catch up with Katja Ivanchenko recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Katja, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I never really came up with the idea. It found me. All that was missing was the medium, which first appeared in photography and now lives on paper, skin, and canvas.

There are three short “full circle” stories that mark where illustration began for me—the earliest moments I can remember. The first time I drew was possibly with my grandfather in Ukraine: we copied forest mushrooms from a fairy tale book. The second time, I drew clouds in kindergarten, and the teacher scolded me because “the clouds looked like flowers.” The third time, I illustrated a naked couple, capturing the moment when the busty, caught woman pushes her lover out of the frame.

How the circles close:
1.Today, I illustrate and explore magic mushrooms alongside themes of consciousness expansion.
2.The very same clouds I drew as a child are now clouds I tattoo on people.
3.This year, my first graphic novel will be completed—a story about dating, love, and shadow work.

There’s no logic to this, not really. To be honest, it feels as though the journey is only now beginning. Directing my focus toward magic and the wonders of this world is a worthwhile endeavor in itself, I think. Whether I live for a while on nothing but buckwheat and rice, or later indulge in weekly massages, it doesn’t matter. Once, at university (I was studying communication design), a professor asked me who my dream employer would be. I just stared at him, while a voice inside me said loud and clear: “the universe.”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an illustrator, artist and storyteller. My work combines graphic novels, children’s books and illustrations that are meaningful and transformative. I create stories that spark imagination, awareness and emotional connection, with a special focus on the expansion of our consciousness.

My work is about storytelling, about making the invisible visible and building a bridge between the material and the celestial. I recently heard the quote that sharing art is transformative for both the artist and the audience. If what I create resonates with the viewer and brings them closer to what they are seeking in their lives, then my work is done.

I am particularly proud of my graphic novel on energy and consciousness, as well as my unique acorn-shaped children’s book, which combines classic poetry, special materials and a magical reading experience. I want my clients to experience that art can be more than decoration—it can touch, move and make the world a little better.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Expanding personal and collective consciousness.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I can’t limit it to just one thing. On the one hand, it’s the moment when someone tells me that one of my illustrations or artworks really resonates with them and makes them feel understood and less alone — and on the other hand, it’s the freedom to do whatever I want, truly feeling the last part of the most famous Rage Against the Machine song.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Katjaiva.com
• Instagram: Katja.tatja