Meet Daria Skrypnyk | Illustrator & Art Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daria Skrypnyk and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daria, why did you pursue a creative career?
From a young age, I always felt a bit limited by the everyday real world. I started reading books early, and my imagination would run wild—searching for elves hidden in the forest or waiting for that letter from Hogwarts, which, of course, never came. When I discovered video games, it felt like an even better escape. The characters and worlds I had been imagining suddenly came to life on the screen. That’s when I realized how much I craved visuals. I knew I wanted to be part of that world somehow—part of creating those experiences. Books and games became my way of escaping reality, and after high school, I told my parents I wanted to create graphics for video games. It was a big shock for them. Growing up in Ukraine, there weren’t any universities teaching game development, and there weren’t many gaming companies to work for. But even though they were stressed, my parents were incredibly supportive of my dream. So, I applied to study Computer Science with the idea that I could start as an engineer and learn computer graphics by myself along the way since it was the only option available at the time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As I mentioned earlier, I had learn art by myself because there weren’t any Digital Art education options available at that time. My parents bought me one of the first Wacom tablets, and I started doodling without any real plan or knowledge of what I was doing. I would spend hours on DeviantArt, admiring incredible artists and trying to replicate their work just to understand their techniques. I watched streams, studied workflows, and quickly realized—it was going to be hard. Very hard. But oh well, there is no way back.

To improve, I had to put my work out there and get feedback. That meant posting online—and the internet 10 years ago was… brutal! It was tough, and progress felt painfully slow, especially since I had no one to guide me. But I kept pushing myself. I watched more streams, participated in art challenges, and just worked. I knew – the artists I admired had gone through the same struggles.

As artists, we’re rarely satisfied with our own work, and that self-doubt can be paralyzing. I didn’t think I was good enough to apply for jobs, but my partner at the time pushed me to walk into a small indie studio and ask for an internship—no appointment, no nothing. I was so nervous because I knew my portfolio wasn’t great, but I basically said, “Hey, here’s my work. I know it’s not good, but I just want to start working—even for free—to get some experience.” And, to my surprise, they said yes.

I spent about a year at that indie studio, and while I worked there, I kept pushing myself after hours to improve my portfolio and aim higher. The truth is, success comes from constant hard work. For a long time, I was putting in 8 hours at work, then another 8 hours at home to keep learning and growing. I barely went out or socialized. I even remember working on art challenges while my friends played board games at my place. There were sleepless nights, stressful deadlines, and even a moment where my render crashed at 5 a.m., just hours before a challenge submission.

Participating in art challenges really helped me grow because I’m competitive, and it pushed me to finish my work. Eventually, I sent my resume to every game company in Kyiv and finally landed a job as a 2D artist at a company that made casino games. While working there, I learned animation and a bit of 3D, which turned me into a generalist artist. That was a scary realization because most big companies want specialists, not generalists. But I kept pushing forward, hoping that every skill I picked up was valuable.

I spent two amazing years at that company, surrounded by a fantastic team of artists who helped me grow through constant feedback. But, as comfortable as I was, I wanted more. I wanted to work on AAA games, and I wanted to shift from 2D to 3D. So I left my job and spent around an year freelancing and outsourcing, which was incredibly stressful but another huge boost for my skills.

Eventually, I got back into full-time work, joining Snap as a 3D artist while still in Ukraine. After three years, I got the opportunity to move to LA and join the Spectacles team, working on the next generation of AR glasses and I couldn’t be happier now. It was success as for my generalist artist skillset, I use all of it now: concept art, design, 3D and animation. So all the hard work was totally worth it!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
LA is an amazing place to explore, and I have the perfect plan! I’d start with watching the sunset on Malibu Beach. It’s absolutely breathtaking—the colors of the sky and the way the water reflects them are unbelievable. Even though I’ve been there many times, it still impresses and inspires me every visit.

Next, I’d take them to Griffith Observatory, especially in the evening. The view is stunning, and I love exploring the observatory itself. It’s such a peaceful spot to take in the city.

For food, we’d definitely stop at Tacos Delta—it’s hands down my favorite spot for tacos in LA. And of course, an evening tour of Little Tokyo is a must. The food is amazing, and the overall vibe is so fun and lively.

One night would be dedicated to Clifton’s Republic bar. In my opinion, it’s the most beautiful bar in LA, and it has such a unique atmosphere.

During the day, I’d take them on a big walking tour of Venice and Beverly Hills—both areas are super interesting and full of character. Downtown Santa Monica is also great for food. Melrose street is very interesting. So many interesting stores and cute coffeeshops! I’m a huge fan of walking, so I’d include plenty of walking tours throughout the trip.

A visit to the Getty Museum is also on the list. The art is incredible, but even the little tram ride to get there makes me happy every time! It’s such a peaceful and beautiful spot to explore.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who deserve recognition. I truly believe that I wouldn’t have achieved my dream without the incredible support I’ve received. First and foremost, my parents—they didn’t always agree with my career path, but they supported me 1000% every step of the way. Then there are my friends, my partner, and my colleagues. I’m incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such amazing people who encourage me and inspire me daily.

Website: https://www.artstation.com/daria_skrypnyk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dariaskrypnyk_art/

Image Credits
artworks – me, photos – Isaiah Kang