[FRAMED]: Nikola Yordanov, Concept Artist

4 min readJul 24, 2020

[FRAMED] exists to shine light on Framestore’s most fascinating cast of characters: its people. Presented with a probing list of questions and a demandingly short deadline, this feature puts the hopes, dreams, and desktops of our MVPs on the digital wall, for all to see. Welcome to [FRAMED].

What are you guilty of?

I can be a bit obsessive about random things. I become obsessed with things one week and then move on the next.

What was your last brush with danger?

My girlfriend gave me a haircut the other week. Never been more afraid for the safety of my ears

Your last brush with greatness?

I walked past Andy Serkis in Crouch End. He seemed quite angry about something and he was carrying huge bags full of take away. I’m a big LOTR freak and it was the beginning of my time in London, so that was a big rush for me

Your worst character fault?

I take things a bit too seriously sometimes. Unwinding requires effort for me

If you had taken a different path, what would you be doing now?

Perhaps physics? I’ve always had a big affinity towards maths and science in general

You’re on the run from the law, where are you headed?

Somewhere deep deep in the Bulgarian mountains, where I will start a cult of artists and we just do plein air paintings all day.

Who’s your partner-in-crime?

My family and my girlfriend

What’s your favourite movie/TV show and why?

Lord of the Rings. It’s the film that got me interested in concept art and films. Huge props to John Howe and Alan Lee!

Your greatest achievement?

Solved a Rubik’s cube once

Most valuable skill?

Reading? It’s a fairly common skill, but it’s pretty valuable.

Go on, say something bragging:

My high school chose myself and a friend of mine to do big pencil portraits of Marie Curie and Pierre Curie, which we then presented and gave to Marie Curie’s granddaughter — Hélène Langevin-Joliot.

Name your vice/pet peeve?

People being really loud on buses…

The DREAM project would entail:

Any form of original worldbuilding, preferably working off of a great fantasy/scifi novel. Orrr an Authentic historical project.

Your career highlight to date:

Working on A Christmas Carol was a wonderful and challenging experience for me.

This week I learnt that:

All British tanks since 1945 include equipment for making tea.

What’s your current view?

The wall?

Give us a desk tour

I usually have a bunch of sketchbooks lying around, as well as whatever book I’ve been reading. Next to those, I have my pencils and pens. In terms of software, I primarily use Photoshop for 2D and anything else for 3D (Zbrush,C4D, Maya, Substance, Blender, Marvelous etc).

What do you need to work, on the daily?

I try to do daily studies (more often than not, it’s not really daily) — anatomy studies, master studies, environments etc. That, combined with a stupidly strong cup of coffee is a good start to the day.

Framestore is, to you, in three words:

Creativity, Enthusiasm, Growth

Best thing about your work environment? (at home!)?

Healthier/Cheaper lunches, Less Commute, I don’t have to wear headphones to listen to music.

Framestore is great at:

Combining the efforts of hundreds of talented people in one, seamless, final result.

Favourite artform?

Sketching with a pencil

Favourite image?

Rachenitsa (1894) by Ivan Mrkvička