We recently connected with Valentin Sivyakov and have shared our conversation below.
Valentin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I went to Savannah College of Design. For Graphic design and Photography. The best way to speed up the process and learn more will be to get internships or find photographers you can assist. Look around to see what others are doing it. Meet new people and try to go out of your comfort zone and try new things. The essential skills are knowing your tools and clear communication in the team and with clients.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Valentin Sivyakov is a unique artist infusing his skills, talents, and creativity into multiple mediums. His passions shine through in photography, painting, digital art, printmaking, and woodworking. In a world of similarity, Valentin brings his distinctive twist to every project.
How did this Russian native land in Savannah? After spending his youth in the town of Palekh, Russia, 150 miles northeast of Moscow, which is renowned as the epicenter for Russian miniature art and religious iconography, it was time for him to spread his wings. Toting within him a rich family history of painters, a community full of arts and crafts, a natural born inclination to create, and a budding love for the eclectic, Valentin headed to Savannah College of Art & Design. He graduated with a double degree in graphic design and photography.
While this is an admirable achievement, what further sets him apart is his overcoming spirit. Born with radial and hip dysplasia, a condition that caused underdevelopment in his forearms and hip bones, Valentin spent his childhood undergoing thirteen operations, each one improving his ability and mobility. Through it all, he learned how to live fully and achieve despite extraordinarily challenging circumstances.
Valentin enjoys all photography, although has a greater passion for events, concerts, portraits, and wedding photography. In painting, he has made a niche for himself by creating compositions on skateboards, and this creativity flowed over into designing t-shirt graphics for his brand, Gritventure skateboards. For the past ten-plass years, Valentin has also enjoyed the opportunity of working as a photographic designer, retoucher, and photo editor for Greg Ceo Studio, a Savannah-based company providing photography services for hotels and resorts.
Valentin is always looking for ways to intertwine several different art mediums in projects and has been happy to call Savannah home. After 20 years of living in Savannah, Valentin moved to new ventures in Atlanta, Ga.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Be passionate about what you do, stay true to yourself and others, and be on time. Always gave 100% and have fun.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Creating new work, working on personal projects, and meeting new people in person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://valentinsivyakovphotography.com/
- Instagram: @visualsage, @shoutpixel, @gritventureskateboards
- Linkedin: Valentin Sivyakov
Image Credits
Valentin Sivyakov portrait by John McKinnon