If art is an escape from reality, Mr.Werewolf’s paintings are the gateway. Step into his imaginative worlds, and you’ll find menacing mechs roaming around the idyllic countryside, blood-hungry werewolves prowling the winter nights, and reimagined folk stories, as captivating as they are eerie.
In this week’s On The Spot, we emerge into the unknown with Mr.Werewolf himself as our guide.
Have you known since an early age that you want to become an artist?
I was born in western Poland and grew up in rural areas, in a small village surrounded by forests and lakes. Ever since I remember, I’ve loved to draw and paint and treated it as my escape from dealing with reality. The same goes to fantasy and science fiction which have always been my passions. That’s why to me it felt only natural to choose artistic studies.
But even though I have a fine art background and education, I’d still call myself a self-taught artist. It’s the books I read, movies I watch, and old masters’ paintings I study that help me shape my artistic vision. This is a process that takes a lifetime and I couldn’t really pinpoint one specific moment in my life that has impacted me the most.
What did your career path look like?
I started out as a graphic designer in advertising agencies and later on switched to freelance work, designing jewelry and watches. Back when I started my professional career, the world looked completely different, especially the gaming industry.
I spent many years working towards achieving artistic independence. It wasn’t an easy path, but I finally managed to reach that point in 2014. Since then, I’ve been able to focus exclusively on my own projects, fully immersing myself in the worlds I created.
Where do you live and what does your studio look like?
I live in Poland, in the Western Carpathians, high in the mountains, surrounded by forests and wild nature. This place is very inspiring for me and has a huge impact on my work.
As for my studio, it’s a fairly regular art studio. I have two easels, but I admit that I haven’t used them for a long time. These days I mostly do digital painting on my tablet, just because it gives me more artistic freedom and more space for improvisation and experiments. To me, this feels much more relaxing than traditional painting, where you have to plan the whole composition really carefully and don’t have much space for changes during the process.
Your artistic nickname is Mr. Werewolf. Why exactly did you choose this mythical creature?
Well, it’s because I’m affected by the curse of lycanthropy! Werewolves have always been my favorite creatures. They’re the epitome of wilderness, this brute strength that’s the original force of nature. I see werewolves not as evil monsters but as mythical guardians of the true primal order. They exist somewhere between the two worlds of humans and animals, and I find it deeply fascinating and inspiring.
As an independent artist, what does your typical day look like?
It depends on whether I’m working on something or not. I spend most of my days painting and have little time for other activities. I don’t even remember what my PS5 looks like anymore – and I’m a hard-core gamer! When it comes to the creative process, for me the most important part is creating stories and picturing images and compositions in my head. Once that’s done, the painting itself is just a formality.
One of the things that inspire you are myths. Do you have a favorite one?
Yes, I love myths. I grew up on Greek mythology and used to know it almost by heart. It stimulated my imagination a lot, especially the myth of the Minotaur. But my favorite mythology by far is of course the Norse mythology. It’s an endless source of inspiration.
You’re an illustrator and a storyteller. What’s the story behind your favorite artwork by Mr.Werewolf?
I don’t really have my favorite piece, but I do feel a strong sentiment about many of them. Some hold a very personal meaning to me, especially those picturing my beloved wife. She’s my irreplaceable muse and a source of inspiration.
Many of my works are inspired by everyday life and the situations I have witnessed. Take the paintings with cats, for example. Cats are truly magic animals for me and inspire me a lot. Just like werewolves, they live between two worlds, the civilized one the one that’s primal and wild. I often imagine what adventures our cats have during their journeys, what magical creatures they meet. They see so much more than us.
If you could choose one fantastic place to live in, what would it be?
Oh, that’s a very good and tough question. Probably Middle-earth. As a dwarf, haha!
Do you have any other hobbies besides art?
Yes, I love diving. Also, mountain hiking and playing video games.
What are your artistic plans for the future?
I don’t really like to talk about future plans and dreams, as I try to focus on here-and-now, my current projects and work. Life and the world we live in are just too unpredictable, especially these days.
I can say that I’m lucky to have been working only on projects that are my own and not someone else’s. I’ve been very passionate about movies from an early age and it’s my big dream to one day make a movie set in the world I created. So far, I have been offered many interesting propositions, so keep your fingers crossed!
Instagram: @mr_werewolf
