Illustrating Skateboard Culture in Bulgaria w/ Mihaela Karadjova

It’s not everyday you run into a girl from Bulgaria who illustrates skateboard culture as she see’s it. So we passed her the mic and got what’s good from Europe’s far east. Introducing the talented Mihaela Karadjova…..

1) What is it about skateboarding that makes you want to illustrate it?

You know when you meet someone for a first time, but you have the feeling that you’ve known him for years ? It’s the same with skateboarding to me. I feel connected with it – the style, the culture, the scene. I don’t know if it’s for real that way but that’s what i’m feeling. And that’s why i illustrate it , because of what skateboarding brings me – which is happiness, love and freedom and that’s what i ‘m seeking for.

2) What’s the Bulgaria skate and art scene like?

Does it look to North America and the rest of Europe or more inwards at what it’s own scene is doing?

I think both of those scenes are getting bigger and better. People here seems to be more interested on what is happening in our country or in the world. But still i think we are afraid of doing something that it’s only ours and that is new because of a lack of self-esteem or because of the feeling to be misunderstood. I know it may sound cliché , but the people who are really good at something think they don’t have the ability and other people that they know they aren’t good but still they have a confidence for it without coverage.
We have like really great artists and skateboarders that have their own way of doing things but as a whole i think we look to America and Europe , and get inspired from it. Because you know.. you always think that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

3) Who are your favorite skateboarders to illustrate and what draws you to them? Is it more their personalities and style or what they do on a skateboard?

First i have to say that i really adore drawing people. I’ve been drawing them for years. I love doing portraits of them or just some quick sketches. I like catching their emotions at a current moment. So that’s how it goes with illustrating the skateboarding scene as well. When i draw skateboarders sometimes it’s because i saw a really nice photo of them that gave me a feeling to make me want to draw or i was part of a moment or an emotion that i want to express on a sheet of paper, and yes, sometimes it’s because of their personality, style and skate moves. And sometimes can be everything in one. When I start drawing, usually i don’t have a plan and that’s why every time is different. Sometimes i just draw, because i feel that i need to do it.
Woaah, i have so many fav skateboarders… But my most favorite to illustrate are and always will be Dylan Rieder , Lizard King, Aaron Jaws Homoki , Blondie McCoy , Leo Romero and Sean Pablo.

4) There’s always controversy over non-skaters wearing and appropriating skateboard culture. Thoughts? Do you think people should have to skate to wear or be involved in the skateboard world?

I remember this illustration of Henry Jones about this topic where a girl is wearing a Thrasher hoodie and a boy is wearing NASA t-shirt and he says to her ” Take that hoodie off, you poser! Do you even skate?! ” and she says : “No, have you ever been to space?” haha. So that’s what i think . I don’t mind people who don’t skate wearing skateboarding brand’s clothing, because if you can’t skate but you really want to be involved or to be part of that scene ,because you like it and you want to support it – that’s the way…