We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stanislav Moshkivskyi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stanislav below.
Hi Stanislav, thanks for joining us today. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
There came a moment when I realized I needed a change in my work. I was beginning to burn out. As a 3D Generalist in the game development industry, my days were spent working on projects, and in my free time, I continued creating 3D art—still related to game dev, but more for myself, for artistic expression. It felt like an endless loop of work, and I knew I needed to learn something new.
I’ve always loved expanding my horizons, and since I wasn’t ready to leave 3D graphics behind, I decided to approach it from a different angle. That’s when I discovered the world of 3D modeling and sculpting for 3D printing. The idea of creating custom miniatures for board games or figurines inspired by movies, anime, and pop culture captivated me. I dove into YouTube tutorials, eager to explore this new field.
However, just watching videos wasn’t enough. I found them inspiring, but they didn’t push me to take action. That changed when I received my first commission—a request to create a small figurine of a red panda-like creature. The payment was low, just $25. Looking back now, with my current experience, I wouldn’t even consider such an offer. But at the time, I was just starting to build my UpWork profile, and more importantly, this was my first real opportunity to work in the field I wanted to develop. I truly wanted this.
I accepted the project despite my doubts about my skills. That’s just how I am—once I commit to something, I see it through, no matter the challenges. Interestingly, I even offered to do the job for $15, wanting to prove myself and get this project. The client, surprised by my proposal, instead offered me $20, and so the project began.
Since I was new to freelancing, I had no prior experience working with clients, but I gave it my all. I kept in touch with regular updates, stayed dedicated, and within a week or two, I completed the figurine. The client was happy, and so was I. It felt like a perfect start.
This experience taught me an important lesson: as a beginner, earning good money right away is tough. But early on, real projects are learning opportunities. You get paid to improve, to experiment, and even to make mistakes. In the end, it’s a double win—so don’t be afraid to start.
Stanislav, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Stanislav (Stasser), and I’m a professional GameDev 3D artist and character artist. My passion for 3D art began as a hobby but eventually evolved into both a career and a lifelong creative pursuit.
I currently work at a small game development studio in Poland while also growing my presence as an artist on social media platforms like Instagram, Behance, TikTok, and YouTube. I specialize in creating visually striking characters for short animations and 3D printing, constantly pushing my skills to new levels.
Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)
A lot of my friends jumped on this opportunity early and made good money. At first, I was very skeptical about it, but looking back, I think that was a mistake. Now, I see it as a great opportunity for both digital and traditional artists—not just to earn, but also to grow and evolve creatively.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
In my opinion, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or a creative is the ability to see the same thing differently. Every situation, object, or effect isn’t just what it appears to be—it’s a tool, a piece of something bigger, or even the hero of a story. It’s like a multiverse, similar to what we see in Marvel movies and comics—multiple layers of meaning existing at the same time. I hope you get what I mean.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stasser_art/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCopcROT0K9sB8EVaqN0yXuA
- Other: https://www.behance.net/Stasser
https://www.tiktok.com/@stasser_art?_t=8lyrimmye1y&_r=1
Image Credits
Zuzanna Kowalczyk