Today we’d like to introduce you to Oksana Badrak.
Hi Oksana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Moscow and had a typical Soviet childhood – idealistic, spartan, devoid of artificial flavors, and full of books. My parents were both creatives – dad a choreographer, mom a theater/film designer. Our small apartment was filled with theatre props, ballet posters, and eccentric, fascinating people. Among them were composers, stage lighting designers, impresarios, psychics, and foreigners that smelled irresistibly of other worlds. Living through hungry perestroika, a complete change in the political system, and a periodic deficit of everything from soap to bananas has left me sturdy, flexible, ready for anything and wanting.
The iron curtain was slowly dissipating and my father was able to accept a job invitation in California. My 2-year high school experience in the US was chaotic, full of misunderstandings due to a language barrier and cultural shock. Making images became my truth, an unbroken language that flowed. My creative journey began at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, where, with the help of my instructors I found my own voice as an illustrator and developed a deep respect for design.
After graduation, I took an odacious trip to New York, dragging my freshly-baked illustration portfolio from one publication to another, falling in love with the world of editorial publishing. Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stones Magazine, Nickelodeon Magazine, and others became my first editorial clients. I managed to also get a few shows in the up-and-coming LA galleries and a foot in the door of the exploding motion graphics scene. Companies like Blind, Digital Kitchen, and Stardust created work that was a playground for someone like me — an imagemaker who wanted to mix digital and traditional mediums, pushing the envelope of what felt fresh. Soon advertising clients like Nike (Widen+Kennedy) and Coca Cola (Venable Bell & Partners) followed as well as recognition from the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Society of Publication Designers, and other fantastic organizations. I was also incredibly lucky to exhibit my personal work in the United States, Germany, France, Holland, Russia, China, Japan, and Australia.
After several years of creating work for established brands such as Apple, HP, Dell, Warner Brothers, Bourjois Cosmetics, and Au Bon Marche, publications such as Oprah, The New Yorker, Playboy, Esquire, Wired, and The New York Times I was afforded an opportunity to try myself as an art director at a 3D visualization firm Transparent House and later as a creative director/CCO in a start-up environment. All of these jobs I conducted as a creative consultant, mostly working from my home studio. As much as I miss doing primarily illustration, becoming a strategist has expanded my understanding of the enormous creative organism we, creative professionals of all breeds, are a part of.
My favorite stints over the years have been teaching a course at ArtCenter College of Design, serving on a jury panel for the Society of Publication Designers and Society of Illustrators, and working with nonprofits like CompassionCantWait.org
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Going through college without a penny to my name, relying solely on scholarships and loans was tough, but it can be done, especially if one’s able to see this struggle as a priviledge and ArtCenter really helped with that.
Once my career got going, I found myself biting off more than I could chew. I literally spent a few years in a row doing 16-hour workdays in front of the computer or my tabletop easel, stopping only because of an intense pain in my wrist and super tired eyes that could no longer see. I did take a week-long trip abroad a couple of times a year, but that was the only self-care that I was interested in. Yes, it felt great having work I loved, but my marriage, health and whatever life I had outside of work eventually deteriorated completely. A recession of 2008 hit hard and I found myself with only a quarter of projects I was used to on my plate, a dead marriage to a good person, a huge upside down mortgage and a crappy diagnosis. I did rebuild those things eventually but there were unrecoverable losses.
The one thing that helped me restore myself was argentine tango. Up until this point, I didn’t have any interests or hobbies outside my work and the result was a major burnout. It has been profoundly therapeutic to learn how to give up total control, work as a couple with a stranger, to be completely present in the moment and for the first time in my life acknowledge and celebrate my femininity.
I think the biggest overriding personal challenge has been creating work-life balance, since separating work and life has proved to be a task near impossible. A huge motivator turned out to be a strong desire to have a child. Once I discovered that getting pregnant wasn’t as easy as it looked, I forced myself to reevaluate the way my husband and I operated as a unit. Only after seven years of hard work including every kind of expensive support from psychological, holistic and traditional medical professionals, I was finally able to conceive and now we’re expecting a baby girl.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When I’m not doing illustration for publications or companies, I’m helping driven organizations and individuals develop their visual identity and build inspired memorable brands.
I’d like to think that my X-factor is infusing the delight and fulfillment I find in my work into every project and collaborative relationship.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Oh luck. That playful, not always consistent energy. Often luck is being at the right place at the right time. I feel like the best way of upping the Fortuna is increasing one’s general exposure. I was incredibly proactive staying on everybody’s radar in the beginning of my career. I must admit I’ve slowed down a ton despite all the media channels available to us these days. I’ve become overly cautious in the name of work/life balance. On the other hand, following my curiosity has always brought an abundance of luck as well. Curiosity is the divine leading me toward my true purpose.
Contact Info:
- Email: oksana@badrak.com
- Website: www.badrak.com
- Instagram: @oksanabadrak
- Other: www.badrak.squarespace.com
Image Credits:
Aurelia D’Amore Photography
