Meet Elena Gumeniuk

Welcome to the Roar Meet the Artist Series for 2026! At the start of the year we sat down with our roster of artists and asked them a lot ( A LOT!) of questions and they were lovely enough to take the time to answer as many as they wanted so you the reader could get to know them and their practice better.

Hi Elena, thank you so much for taking the time to sit with me and chat about all things art, career, business, and you! So, let's get started. 

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‍I’m Elena, I’m originally from Ukraine. I kicked off my commercial career after studying in London, although I have been actively freelancing before that and I think that was the point where my style crystallised and I started to work more directionally.

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Roar: When did you know you wanted to be an artist/illustrator?

I am trying to pinpoint a moment but I can’t think of anything. I feel like creative stuff has been an ongoing atmosphere for me since childhood, although no one in my family has any relation to art. I've been surrounded by books with beautiful illustrations and loved to do various arts&crafts and before long drawing was occupying the majority of my time. By the time I was an adult it was second nature. 

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Tell us about the journey to get to where you are today?

When I studied Visual Art/Illustration at University of Arts London, I was mostly experimenting with screen printing and spent a lot of time in the print studio. I worked alongside a teacher/technician who helped me get around and learn (Who is an amazing artist btw Tony Lee )He  advised me to contact a gallery called Skull & Heart because he thought they might like my style, so I did, and that’s how I met Skye (my dear future agent). At the time it might have seemed like one of many little things that had been going on and drowned out by other big events, but looking back it might have been one of the most important connections that happened unintentionally.

Skye @ Roar: Literally crying, it’s kismet. 

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Roar: Tell us a little more about how you work

Everything starts with an image in my head. Most of the time an image pops-up in my mind that I would then sketch out first. If it's a commissioned piece, I will add several other possible versions of the composition but I feel like the initial idea is always the best and most of the time it’s the one that gets chosen anyway. If no image comes I would just browse some of the art books I have and zone out, just looking at things makes ideas come to life. In other cases where I might be struggling,  I will disconnect for a while and go for a walk or take a nap, until an image appears. Doing nothing is a method, forcing ideas usually brings unsatisfactory ideas.

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Roar: Tell us a little bit about the tools you use to create your work; how it works, how they help you work, and just a little about the process etc. 

I used to have a Wacom tablet but then I switched to iPad Pro with Procreate and never looked back. After I finish the piece I would clean it up in photoshop or if some animation is needed after effects. Most of the time all commercial work is done on iPad. As for personal work, I recently discovered fountain pens and sketching on napkins and recipes.

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Roar: How do you prepare for your working day?

My best working day is waking up at 4am and working until around 10/12, then I have the rest of the day free and do whatever it is that I want. 

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Roar: Least favourite subject matter to draw

Not as much a subject but the type of work (if the commission has to do with something I don’t align with). 

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Roar: Favourite subject matter to draw

Everything is a good subject if you are inspired and had enough sleep.

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Roar: Tell us about someone who has impacted your career in a positive way?

There have been several who contacted me out of the blue with commissions that were tailored to my style so much I felt grateful and as if they really looked straight into my soul. 

Roar: These are the best kind of commissions!

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Roar: How did you handle your worst client experience?

I think the two worst client experiences I had were back to back right before signing with Roar. Both involved expecting you to work more than you have been paid for or expecting additional free work to be done. One involved not being paid for many months. After both I started to look into methods of preventing these things to ever happen (as much as possible, as it still happens to everyone in this industry) But after signing with Roar I have been spoiled to not being so stressed about it as there’s always someone who has your back. I think even just having someone in your network who values you and is on your side can give you more confidence to stand your ground. Everyone needs some support, it’s wild out there.

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Roar: What other artistic mediums motivate you?

I love printmaking

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Roar: Who is your dream client to work for?

I don’t think there’s any specific client, more so I would love to try a new type of work.

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Roar: Something you've been itching to draw but have not had an opportunity yet

Maybe it’s the other way round, I would like to get back to doing more analogue work again.

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Roar: What made you want to be part of Roar?

I was lucky to be part of Roar from the start and when it comes to what made me want to be part of it is meeting Skye and getting inspired by her enthusiasm, ideas and kindness.

Roar: OG ROAR 4 LYFE (We love you EG) X

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Roar: Do you have any words of wisdom, or advice for those in their career?

Chance encounters are one of the most important parts of life (including your art career) and you never know when they are going to happen.

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Roar: If you were not an artist, what do you think you would be doing? 

Dolphin communicator?

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Roar: How have the past years been as a working artist, have you found a difference in the type or consistency of work that has been commissioned over the years?

A very inconsistent flow of work, other than that I don’t feel like there’s any change in type of work for me.

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Roar: How has AI impacted your career (if at all) and have you changed your approach to the way you work because of it? 

I’m not sure really, I have had no contact with AI because I live under a rock.

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Roar: What would you want to say to anyone who thinks that AI is a harmless tool esp. if they are a commercial "artist"

It’s much more fun to be human and do human art.

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Roar: Do you have another job other than the work you do as a commercial artist and do you think this helps or hinders your professional practice?

Only commercial artists (if occasional design and related gigs count).

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Roar: Share some artists that you think we should know about

I would like to use this opportunity to confess I have a big crush on Satomi Kazunori (さとみかずのり) his work and ethics are great, he is a big inspiration for how to be an artist in this day and age, I hope more people see his work.

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Roar: What's your earliest art memory of why you wanted to become an artist? 

I think a cupboard full of fairy tale books with beautiful illustrations might have something to do with it. I don’t think as a child I thought it was possible to reach such a high level of skill tho, but probably did something to my subconscious.

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Roar: What is your favourite way to decompress from your work and can you tell us a little bit about your version of work/life balance?

I like to go for a long walk in my Insta pumps (not sponsored) and I mean, a really long walk. 

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Roar: How many drinks do you have on your desk at one time?

Coffee, soy milk, orange juice, watermelon redbull (not sponsored) - I don’t drink it all at once though.

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Roar: Have you ever felt imposter syndrome, and what do you do to fight those thoughts? 

I don’t think I did but not because I think highly of myself but rather I had no time to think at all.

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Roar: If you had to suggest a book (or more than one) that helped you in your career what would it be and why? 

I remember buying Aubrey Beardsley’s art book when I was in school and being impressed to find out how all of his work was done in a very short period of few years, none the less how much influence it had on art history.

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Some quickfire random Q’s

‍Roar: Your fave’s:

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Book: Spring & Asura

Film: Gonin

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Roar: What fictional character do you relate to and why?

Griffith (character from the Manga Berserk). Let’s hope the resemblance is only surface level appearance.

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What do you listen to when you work? 

Gamelan music

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Roar: Share your favourite recipe (if you cook) or if you're not a cook, maybe your favourite takeout? 

Charred padron peppers. 

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Roar: Country you would love to visit 

Tibet.

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Roar: What is something you feel people should know earlier on in their career? 

How to deal with clients, how to communicate your terms, how to put together contracts - all of that stuff. I feel like it’s the number one priority when kickstarting a career in arts and sadly largely overlooked in related circles.

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Favourite snack?

Peanut butter.