Every car owner knows that as soon as their precious vehicle gets dirty, it becomes a target of street mockery. Think of the classic ‘Wash Me,’ its millennial twist ‘Y U No Wash?’ or something much more sinister. But for the Russian artist Nikita Golubev, they are blank canvases waiting to be turned into incredible, surreal works of art that are destined to fade away in rain or get swallowed by a new layer of dirt.

The Moscow-based artist, better known by the nickname Pro Boy Nick, calls this unusual artistic technique a way of “digging art out of dirt,” and his works speak for themselves. The dirty car artist currently has 107k Instagram followers and his audience is constantly growing.

“I just wanted to start up something new, to work fast on big surfaces. And dirty trucks helped me with that. It became some kind of giant sketchbook, which I share with people,” he told in an interview with Bored Panda that you can read in full below. And after you’re done, don’t forget to check out our previous posts on Pro Boy Nick ‘vandalizing’ dirty cars on Moscow streets here and here.

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Image credits: proboynick

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Image credits: proboynick

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Image credits: proboynick

Nikita told us that the most difficult part of the creative process is to start, but so it is with any art, he added. “Another thing is that you can’t undo what you painted, but I find it to be beneficial since it helps me to finish my work and learn when it’s the right time to stop.”

The artist said that he always tries to make his dirt drawing simple and clear, but he also enjoys making “a depth in the images.” “Dirt is always different. It can be dry, or wet, or frozen, thick or thin, and that makes me work with a different approach.” And for those who’re wondering how long it takes to produce one dirt painting, Nikita said that on average, it’s one hour.

“I get lots of feedback from all around the world, and many come directly from truck drivers. It seems that most people are impressed with that and understand my messages, which is inspiring to me."

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"Don't panic"

Image credits: proboynick

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Image credits: proboynick

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When asked if he's ever gotten in trouble for ‘vandalizing’ cars with dirt drawings, he assured us that it's never happened. “Although I have never asked any permission to do that. I never make anything insulting. I also never discuss ideas for my drawings with anyone, but I keep in mind that someone will find my drawing on his truck and it will go on the streets.”

It turns out that some drivers keep Nikita’s artworks for months until they get covered with new dirt. “A couple of times, I started my new drawing when the previous was still visible (for example, a swimming girl and kid in the dirt).”