(Daria Pogorelaya)

Monsters That Steal Your Heart

by Pam North

Remember those dreaded “monsters under the bed” from childhood? They definitely are a thing of the past if Ukraine artist Daria Pogorelaya continues to have her say about the matter. Her quirky talents have magically transformed gnarly gnomes, droll trolls, ogling ogres, gooney goblins, and other critters into lovable monsters with charismatic, comical charm. Their endearingly toothy grins, smirky smiles, and engaging expressions provide prickly personality to these escapees from bogs and caves and hollow logs, who fully intend to beat the “monster under the bed” rap, and instead take up residence on the bed, or better yet, in our hearts. They do that well; no one wants these adorable creatures to hide away and be unseen.
Daria (she also goes by nickname Dasha) cites no formal training in her background, saying, “I evolved mostly through trial and error, and I additionally learned, via the Internet, by studying the body structures of animals in photos.” There was an earlier, vital influence, however, which laid much groundwork to her present creative works, and also left many treasured memories. ”My most important teacher and mentor was my grandmother, Lyudmila Efimovna,” Daria explained. “She taught me everything she knew about sewing, embroidery, and knitting with the simple children's toys that she made. From the very first, I loved doing those things, but I never thought it eventually would become my main job. By education, I am an economist; I worked in a bank, holding a management position. By chance on the Internet, I saw a picture of a dog made of wool, and I was intrigued by its construction. I got scissors, cut up a sheep’s wool carpet, and at that moment began my hobby with making toys. First, I made them just for myself, but after I had made about ten, I consigned them to a shop, and to my surprise they all were bought within a few days. Exhibitions began, which resulted in orders, and now I can’t imagine my life without this endeavor. My husband gave me his full support, and I resigned from the bank, instead to create and sell what I make. Now, looking back, the work of an economist seems like a bad dream.”
Like most artists, Daria finds some aspects of her work more challenging than others. “The most difficult thing is to make a creature as lifelike as possible. In the fantasy realm, the main thing is not to overload the work with too much detail, but more to keep it as simple and interesting as possible. It’s  different every time. I never know who will turn out at the end of the work! Each of my one-of-a-kind creations is made with great love and care, and each has its own story. They are like a journey to a fairytale place that I want to share with others. Making a toy takes a lot of time- usually from a week to a month. I used to make toys only in the technique of needle-felting, but now I combine sewing and needle-felting. If one of my furry friends comes to live with you, it will bring happiness and prosperity to your house!” 
Daria started making her creations about 5 years ago. “The process of the ‘birth’ of each toy gives me a feeling of happiness. If you want to create your own bright world – you have to do it yourself, and make your own fantasy come to life.” 
All of Daria’s works are produced from a variety of high-quality organic materials: natural wool, faux fur, real leather. She uses glass eyes, and makes the noses herself from polyester clay or porcelain. She prefers working in a size range of 10 cm to 70 cm. While her monsters are a major and unique aspect of her creative endeavors, she makes realistic bears, dogs, and other delightful animals as well. While she describes her products as “toys”, they are hardly that, but rather are wonderful treasures for collectors. 
An artist’s workplace is a personal thing, and Daria described hers. “I try to keep order, but it does not always work out! It happens that the table, the floor, and even the corridor are all covered in all of the materials. After the termination of my work, I engage in a general cleanup; I return each material to its own separate box. I do not start a new toy without finishing the work on the previous one.”
Satisfaction in her work is derived from several aspects. “In my creation of a toy, I enjoy everything from the very beginning to the end of the work,” she said, “all the smallest details of inventing an image, and sewing the clothes. Often after completion of the toy, when I look at it, it seems that it is almost alive as it looks back.” 
Inspiration, an essential ingredient in any artist’s work, is part of Daria’s muse refreshment as well. “Finishing work on a toy often leaves me with no energy to start something else. To get charged up again, I go for a walk in the forest or park. I like to go to the zoo or to animal shelters. Another main source of inspiration is my toy terrier, Chelsi.” 
Daria uses several methods to merchandise her products. “My creations find their homes via the Internet, social networks and trading platforms, Often people who buy my toys recommend me to their friends.”
Teaching workshops is an endeavor that Daria so far has not attempted, but she said she plans to do it someday. “It would be some kind of master class in photos, or video shooting,” she elaborated.
Daria has many ideas for future projects. “In the future, I plan to create a collection of small dogs of different breeds, with maximally lifelike appearance and moving limbs, and there will be many more monsters and animals.” Collectors and fans of her work will be delighted at those prospects.

Contact Information:
Pogorelaya Daria
http://instagram.com/dasha_pogorelaya
https://www.facebook.com/dasha.pogorelaya
Group page: https://www.facebook.com/PogorelayaDaria/
https://pogorelayadaria.bearpile.com/ 
Address:  Kiev, Ukraine
Telephone:  +380688489191