‘Hey guys, my name is Oleg Vdovenko and I create fun and horror videos and illustrations.’ — OV
‘Chuvabak (Oleg Vdovenko), based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is a self proclaimed ‘Russian painting bear’ who recently popped up on a variety of western art websites with a collection of truly bizarre, yet technically astounding paintings. Showing off a highly elevated level of talent in a supremely unorthodox fashion. He portrays nightmares in his art work. Basically, the worst things you can imagine. You’re left scratching your head because the execution is just that good.
‘Despite the subject matter Oleg shows off a masterful understanding of texture, light and depth in his pieces with no weird tricks or photobashing, just straight up painting. For someone with such a high level of skill to use his talents for creating such bizarre imagery borders on troll-like behavior, but on the other hand you never know what to expect next from Chuvabak.’ — Robobrain
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Further
Oleg Vdovenko @ Artstation
OV @ instagram
Chuvabak’s YouTube channel
OV @ Facebook
OV @ tiktok
OV @ Patreon
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Extras
PAPAPAPAPA
wip
starwars fanart
good night guys
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Interview (about ILL)
Where Did the Idea Come From?
We have wanted to make a horror game together for a long time. We made a concept to get some feedback, to see whether people liked this topic. Prior to that, we had successfully implemented three projects (Rush Fight, Flippy Hills, and Bouncy Hills) with the same crew. These projects were an excellent ‘run-in’ of the team.
In Short, What Is It About?
It is a survival horror with an unofficial slogan “You can dismember the enemy, but you will regret it”.
Dismemberment Mechanic
The complete dismemberment of any enemy is difficult, but it is one of the main things that we will implement. There are different ways to do so, including the substitution of models, ‘pre-divided’ characters, and many other tricks. One of the challenges is to do it in a realistic way so that when you shoot a leg, it just does not just simply fall off like a carrot. But the most important thing we saved for later.
Transformation Tests
For the transformation scene, we had to make four characters at different stages and additional body parts. We used various techniques, like replacing the geometry and transforming the rig. Since it was a research task, it took quite some time.
Creating the Atmosphere of Horror
We don’t want to make the players feel like superheroes – we will place them in a grim unpredictable environment, show them shocking scenes, and wrap everything in proper sound design. The players should always feel that everything that’s happening around them is real. Also, we are not against screamers but it is important to think them through, place them correctly, and not to overdo it. And the most crucial point – ‘no drug trips’! Hallucinations and other psychedelic things are common in many games but it is difficult for those who are not on hard drugs to put themselves in the shoes of the main character and empathize with them. Horror movies are often full of such elements, and that leaves no room for tangible monsters and brutal body horror.
Inspiration
Old horror movies from childhood, games, comics – inspiration comes from that, like for everyone else. These are things that are hard not to fall in love with.
Everyone on our team loves horror, that is how we met 11 years ago when we were drawing monster stuff on the same websites. But movies are probably the main source of inspiration.
What Are You Planning Next?
Now we are making a demo, and at the same time, we are negotiating with the investors. Patreon is needed to cover minor expenses, such as a lawyer, etc. So far, there are no particular difficulties with ILL, so we are doing just fine.
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ILL (202?)
‘ILL is supposed to be a horror shooter in the style of Resident Evil and Outlast. The latter in particular provided great inspiration for the design of the monsters. There is also a coherent, linear-level design. For some players this might be a knock-out criterion for games, but it gives developers the chance to pump every corner of the level full of detail. The developers are currently not giving any precise dates as to when or on which platform ILL will appear. A completely playable experience is still a long way off.’
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
Teaser
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Forest God (2023)
‘Following a period of relative silence, 2D/3D Artist and one of the developers behind ILL, a WiP first-person horror adventure game being developed in Unreal Engine 5, Oleg “Chuvabak” Vdovenko has unveiled Forest God, a stunning found footage-style short horror film.
‘Depicting several researchers walking through a creepy forest and observing unnatural and grotesque occurrences, the film is based on the artist’s eponymous two-part illustration series, first revealed several years ago via ArtStation. Unfortunately, the production process behind the project, as well as the software used to create it, were not disclosed by the author.’ — 80.lv
Excerpt
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Digital paintings
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p.s. Hey. ** Harper, Hi, Harper. I’ve read ‘Malcom’ and agree it’s excellent. ‘Cabot Wright Begins’ is one I’ve intended to read for ages but haven’t yet. I’ll get that one. Thanks, pal. ** _Black_Acrylic, Hi. I’m still looking for a stream of ‘Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros’ with English subtitles, but no luck yet. Oh, that’s really rough, that poor midfielder. Must be hard to shake off all that responsibility. I hope Leeds conquers with his considerable help on Friday. ** Bill, Hi. I’m such a looky-loo on Goodreads that I didn’t know it has a social media aspect. Interesting. And interesting about the Bridge thing -> Renee Gladman discussion. Huh. I might just look deeper. Weissman can get long, especially recently. The one about the NY Public Library feels endless. A recent one of his that’s shorter and really great in ‘Monrovia, Indiana’ if you haven’t seen it. Yeah, I want to get that Luther Price book. Thanks for the nudge. ** Sarah, Hey. That is a rather strange combo: ‘TF’ meets Black Metal. Of course now I’m trying to imagine it, and it doesn’t feel displeasurable. Thanks, yes, the Rimbaud one was fun to do. It took me ages to figure out and make that Rimbaud crossword puzzle, I remember. A year, okay. I think most of my novels qualify as novellas. Self-publishing is totally legit. A bunch of novels I’ve liked in recent years were essentially self-published. Sure, I’d like to read it. How can I? Knowing you to the degree that I do, I don’t think you’re capable of doing something that’s only okay. I’ll try to find ‘The Trees’ or ‘Erasure’. He sees like an author that would have books at the big English language bookstore here, which isn’t often the case with interesting books. Thanks so much! ** Charalampos, Thank you. I didn’t know there are LC issues online either, although I suppose there would be somewhere. Thanks, thanks. Preemptory greetings from the sound mixing studio where I will spend my day. ** Mink, Hi, Mink! Welcome! I actually had never heard of Gertrude Abercrombie until you mentioned her. But I just looked her up, and she seems fascinating. Now I’m very interested to investigate her work and her. So thank you a lot. How are you? What’s going on? ** Darby☕, Oh, I’ve seen people do that on trampolines, but I didn’t know it had a name. Nice. The name prettifies it. Do ask, if you need. I do really love the idea and concept and stuff a lot. Potato pancakes, I need! And Naan. Cheese Naan is one of my favorite mouth enhancers. Happy day! ** Steve, Great, glad things are getting sorted and you’re feeling better. You’re right, it is Haile. I had Tompkins Square backwards in my head. Thanks for the link! Everyone, Steve shares a link to the great ok.ru site where you can stream a lot of Frederick Weissman’s films. It’s here. ** Brightpath, Hey. A New Wave summer would be a great summer. So, so much great work in that phase. I’m happy if what I wrote helped. I feel confident you’ll know what to do. Very nice pick: that The New Blockaders album. That’s a tough and fascinating subject. Great! I’m excited about that book now. Great luck with the writing if you need it. ** Uday, Hi, Uday. I’m happy you started the Kristof, of course. I don’t have scans or pix or hardly anything of mine over here in Paris. It’s all either in storage in LA or at NYU. Maybe when I go to LA soon, I’ll try to see what I can find and document. Thank you for wanting that. Yes, there’s some problem with the hosting site of the DC website that has caused it to be down for months. The guy who does/runs it knows that, and he’s trying to figure out how to get it back online. Hopefully he can do that. Ha, nice, thank you about my towel. The simple pleasures. I hope your next stack of pancakes is a Guinness World Record achiever. ** Okay. I thought I would fill my galerie with horror today courtesy of a young Russian artist/horror provider. See you tomorrow.
Now available in North America 
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Hi!!
I’m recognizing some of Oleg Vdovenko’s paintings, but I’ve never known his name. Thank you so much for this post; it’s brilliant!
My social batteries are seriously depleted, but it was really lovely to have our friends here. And during a bookshop visit, I picked up Melissa Broder’s latest book, “Death Valley,” so I think I know my weekend plans, too. Have you read it?
And, of course, I’ll tell you all about Prater when I finally, finally get around to seeing it – sometime next week!
Ah, well, not an easy thing to do, love! Love fretting about not making enough money and then spending half his paycheck on books on a whim, Od.
There I was calling a halt to watching the news of late, because I find it so depressing. Oleg Vdovenko then comes along with something even worse! His stuff is all a bit more bearable though, somehow.
Looks as though I’ll start the writing class again in May. Short stories this time, and it’s just as well because I’m slipping out of the habit a little. I’m looking forward to getting this back into my routine.
Dennis, Omg, I bet the cops are saying that to you every day with all the kerazy shit you get up to in Paris on the daily. 😛
Or not.
I hope people see Vdovenko’s art and don’t miss his dark humor.
Uh oh, time for me to proofread three documents. This will be fun. Or not.
Hope your day is great, Big D.
Hey Dennis, the generosity was yours! (Heart). I don’t think my process has changed all that much to be honest. Some projects need more of that prep stuff than others, usually the ones where I’m less sure of how to start and what the shape of the thing is going to be. The new book I’ve just finished writing, Alehoof, probably required the most amount of prep and weird experiments I’ve ever done to date. And the most amount of ruthless and difficult editing. And I think it’s the best text-only book I’ve ever written. It’s also the longest. HEAT DEATH Journal was meant as a way for me to continue with the form I was using in my early stuff, but I can tell you that it being hard copy and not pdf is a major and multifaceted limitation. No surprise there. I expect and hope that that limitation will ultimately benefit the material therein and positively influence its character. — I remember you were uncertain about uncovering the Marbled Swarm prep when it was first mentioned. At the time I’d just read the book so I was super-curious, and of course remain so. Hugs back, Joe x
I looked and I have to work through the Titicut Follies showing. We need to figure something out to fix this slight. Like societally…
I tried to make a crossword a while ago and it was impossible, seriously very difficult, so I gained a lot of respect for crossword people. I gave up super fast.
I haven’t put it out anywhere so I can just email it or whatever you want. Pdf or something. Thanks for saying that, also! I’m definitely capable of mediocre though. I know this one is interesting at least, and that’s more I can say for most things I’ve written. I think. My only worry is it comes off like YA. But whatevs. Thanks, though, it’s very nice of you to say that.
I got home about 30 minutes ago. It’s been pouring all day, so I’m glad the trip was smooth. It was a good day to look out the window from a train.
I just ordered Ethiopian food delivered (from a West Village restaurant.)
I noticed a MENUS-PLASIRS LES TROISGROS stream with subtitles on ok.ru as well, although not at the channel I linked. PBS’ website was also streaming it for a while.
On the train back, I watched the first hour of Alejo Moguillansky’s POR EL DINERO. The blog Lucky Star recently published an article on the director (as well as a piece by him about Jacques Rozier.) Apart from Jean-Claude Biette, I don’t know any filmmakers who are this interested in how art gets made on a tiny budget, with a desperate search for any source of financing, and the effects of that search on the artists. (With the Milei government abolishing state funding for Argentinean film, El Pampero Cine, who produced this, TRENQUE LAUQUEN and Mariano Llinas’ films, was ahead of the curve in refusing to work with those funds.)
I’ve been watching some haunted place/space investigation videos lately, so this post is perfect. I like Oleg’s work. It’s visceral.
What’s the plan for the new short fiction collection? 🤗
Hi Dennis. Just re-watched James Bidgood’s ‘Pink Narcissus’. I don’t know what it is but I think there’s something very visceral about some movies which give me a kind of inspiration that’s different to an inspiration I can get from reading. In books I think I can become focused to the point that I can lose myself but with movies your mind can wander. I’ve read you talk about Bresson on the blog and how he’s influenced your writing and I remember it was very validating for me to read because at least from what I’ve seen, I think a lot of writers are reluctant to admit when films have influenced them. Anyway, I was wondering what you thought about that. When I was studying filmmaking and experimenting with making movies but came to the conclusion that writing was what I always intended to do, I made the stupid mistake of thinking that I’m not allowed to watch movies in the same way anymore. I don’t know why I thought that. I didn’t intentionally have that opinion, it was just something that was vaguely at the back of my mind. Now I see that I’ve never written anything that was only influenced by one medium.
Hope you’re having a good whatever time of day it is when you’re reading this, and I’ll definitely keep note of Vdovenko.
Hi Dennis, how are you? I’m back from my vacation, and I’m struggling a bit. I think I dislike this country. After filling in so many forms and tolerating intrusive conversations on the phone, the health care people informed me that basically I’m too messed up for them so they won’t give me any therapy sessions…! I now have to host a friend who kind of invited himself over for Easter, and I don’t have the energy. I want to apply for this exciting residency in Paris, but I don’t have the time & energy to make an application either and the deadline is very much approaching. My beautiful slave can’t come over for June, perhaps we’ll meet in July, but he’s struggling financially, so I’m not counting on anything. My sexy sword instructor gave me a vicious stare when I did just one wrong move last night. I have been nothing but friendly and dedicated and hard-working in his classes, but after being struck by his violently long stare, I fucked up the rest of my moves too…. Been getting into pointless fights with my partner too… Kind of don’t know what to do with my life at this point. Everything feels too much and too wrong; I also feel unusually fragile, inadequate, and weak like I could break and shatter like a china vase any second. I hope you are well. Sorry to rant at you! Can’t connect with many people in this country. It could be the eclipse that fucked me up or just the reality of my life. Any advice from my wise genius friend? I wish I had access to an endless number of your poems, and I hope you’ll send me a kiss.
Ditto on Dominik recognising the paintings but not the name. Pretty cool. I don’t know if I’m a pancakes guy. More in love with crepes. It’s been a great day; found out I’m getting to go home this summer which will be wonderful. Many things to look forward to! Do you like Blondie?