Natalie, we are so happy that you share your artistic background and lifestyle with us. So, tell us about your artistic background story and if there was a pivotal moment when you decided to follow your path as a visual artist?
I was born in a creative family, where my mother, having an architect's education, realized her talents through various activities. It was painting, drawing, writing poetry, and interior decoration. Our family even went out into nature with an easel. I was lucky enough to be born in Dresden and was happy to visit the Dresden Art Gallery in my early childhood. It was an unforgettable experience. Having a musical piano education, I wasn’t interested in the artistic direction at all. But the tragic death of my mother changed my whole life. By that time, I had already had a higher engineering education, a prestigious job as a commercial director in a private company, and also my own family. After my mother's death, I took all the oil paints home with me, and it was as if her inspiration and passion for the art of painting descended on me. I had been painting all night long. Knowing the basics of drawing, my hands just intuitively deduced the pictorial forms, and by the end of the work I had already known exactly what was reflected on the canvas. But the most mysterious thing in this story was the call of my own sister, who, after the first night of my immersion in painting, asked me about what I had been doing that night. I was surprised by her question and she explained to me that she had dreamed of our mother that night, who said that she was next to me… Then I realized that my development in this art is my path. Since then, I have been independently studying the basics of painting and drawing in online schools, studying in master classes with artists from St. Petersburg and Moscow, and now I can no longer imagine my life without creativity.
Very impressive. It is admirable that the loss of your mother, despite the grief left in your heart, makes you strive to create valuable artworks, both to calm yourself down and to make her happy and satisfied. So, you have never had a moment of doubt to question your art career entirely, have you?
My career in art began at a conscious age, when I was 30 years old. Wherever I studied in my life, I was always the first and received diplomas with honors. It was easy to study and the spirit of perfectionism has always been my companion. Therefore, when I started drawing, I had very strong doubts about my professionalism due to the lack of academic art education. "Impostor syndrome" accompanied me for several years. And only successful participation in International Art Competitions helped me completely overcome this.
What is your daily routine when working in your studio? This question is frequently asked by our readers because they are curious about whether The artist's every day job is just painting or or doing other things besides.
My career in art began at a conscious age, when I was 30 years old. Wherever I studied in my life, I was always the first and received diplomas with honors. It was easy to study and the spirit of perfectionism has always been my companion. Therefore, when I started drawing, I had very strong doubts about my professionalism due to the lack of academic art education. "Impostor syndrome" accompanied me for several years. And only successful participation in International Art Competitions helped me completely overcome this.
What is your daily routine when working in your studio? This question is frequently asked by our readers because they are curious about whether The artist's every day job is just painting or or doing other things besides.
All my life I have been learning, getting new knowledge, and learning different techniques. My creative process is divided into three parts: the first is learning. This is the study of theory and working out new skills on the canvas. The second part is thinking about new projects, paintings, thinking through concepts. This is an intellectual work that fills my work with new meanings and gives it development. Well, the third part: it is the most significant in terms of time – the process of painting itself. Here I just fall through time and space. Everything just freezes up… My whole being is captured by the idea of implementing what I have planned on the canvas, and until the result is achieved, the work will continue.
Our readers will greatly appreciate the natural beauty of your artworks. So, take us through your process of making your artworks. Actually, how do you move from an idea to an artwork? And where does an artwork begin for you?
I'm a visual artist. And it is very important to me that the work that I create is aesthetic for human perception. It must carry a certain energy of beauty into this world. As for me, the work begins with inspiration of the nature I have seen, which I want to capture on canvas then. And the goal will be achieved if I manage to stop the moment with the help of colors and, without making an exact copy, grab the main meaning, even if I have to exaggerate a little in color and form. This will help to enhance the effect of the work and give it depth.
In your artworks, you have depicted scenic landscape and nature. Even images and any other concept are somehow mixed with nature or landscape. So, can we say there is a central concept connecting all your works together or each series or artwork is unique?
All my works are united only by the delight of the beauty of nature! These are beautiful women's images, flowers, and magnificent landscapes!
Would you like to give a particular interpretation of your work to your viewers or you prefer to leave the whole interpretation to your audience?
I would like every viewer to enjoy the contemplation of my paintings. They should not "break" their brain. Everyone will receive a certain message that my works contain, and it will be quite personal.
Definitely. It seems that showing off natural beauties requires a lot of inspiration and motivation that can guide the artist's soul to see, feel and display. How do you seek and use inspiration for your works?
Every moment, the surrounding space, people can create inspiration for their works – all this I carefully examine, I try to see the beauty and uniqueness. Mindfulness and a broad view make it possible to fill my soul with life-giving energy. And this source is inexhaustible, and my soul demands a new delight in beauty. The birth of the idea of a new picture is always unexpected and completely absorbs my consciousness. From this moment to the last stroke, I am completely at the mercy of the painting process.
You said you want to show this beauty to the viewers and transfer the energy to them. To fulfill this purpose, how do you select your artworks subjects? Where they come from?
My work is divided into three areas: flowers, landscapes and women's images.
I know it's kind of hard for you to decide which artwork or series you like the most but it is the most of our curious readers’ question that “Is there an artwork or series that you would like to be remembered for?” And if yes, what is it?
Sure, I have an extraordinary mystical painting called "Towards Yourself". This is a fantastic landscape about a girl floating in a boat on a water surface with reflecting clouds. The painting is uses unrealistic colors and seems to be divided into two symmetrical parts horizontally. The idea of the picture is to realize the meaning of life, which boils down to the fact that this is the way to yourself. The world that surrounds us is much more voluminous, wider, brighter, deeper, wiser and there is an immeasurable amount of Love in it! And we are an inseparable part of it. And the mystique of this picture is that by drawing it horizontally, I unconsciously drew the image of the Higher Self. This can be seen by turning the picture vertically. Moreover, I even didn’t notice it by myself, those were my friends who paid attention to it! By the way, this picture has immediately found its owner and moved to Canada.
Our readers can’t wait to know about any upcoming works or future projects that you would like to share with them.
I have already had several projects in my head, but first of all I would like to create an art project "Pearl Sequence", where women's images will live in eloquent poses. And all the images will be connected by one pearl thread. I don't want to give out all the details, but it should be an original series.
Our readers are willing to know your key art influences during your artistic path. Who are your favorite contemporary or historical artists, and why?
I am fascinated by the paintings of the Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. His style is characterized by sensual symbolism. A special role in the work is played by women's images, which are made in an original monumental and decorative manner. Also, I would mention the Russian artist Ivan Slavinsky, who is the one of the contemporary artists in the world of art. I am so close to his style of painting. This is a synergy of realism, postmodernism and surrealism.
Have you ever thought about having a chance to meet artists from ancient times? If you could meet one of your ideal artists from the past, who would it be and what will you ask about?
If I really had the opportunity, I would be immensely happy to meet Leonardo da Vinci. The genius of this great man is undeniable. And my question would concern the painting "The Last Supper". The most discussed secret of the fresco is the figure of the disciple, located on the right hand of Christ. It is believed that this is none other than Mary Magdalene and her location indicates the fact that she was not the mistress of Jesus, as is commonly believed, but his legitimate wife. This fact is confirmed by the letter "M", which is formed by the contours of the bodies of the pair. Allegedly, it means the word "Matrimonio", which means"marriage". What would Leonardo have said to me???
Let’s talk a little bit more about creating a spiritual and inspiring artwork that comes from the nature. Our readers have been curious if in your experience, it is like a spark growing into a flame, or it just happens one day at once?
My research on the level of human spirituality shows that our fast-paced time, with its insane saturation of information and material overconsumption, has changed nothing in the category of true beauty. Man is still inspired and spiritually cleansed by contemplation of natural nature.
The idea of a new painting is born unconsciously and suddenly, at the moment when the perfection of nature completely captures my being and turns off my mind. From that moment until the last stroke, I am completely in the power of the painting process. It is as if everything around me is in the background and the search for color and form on canvas becomes the main focus.
My mission in painting is to return people to the origins of natural beauty, in which they will draw energy and their own inspiration for further development.
In some of your artworks, if someone is going to accompany the scenery and nature, like “Fermata” or “To Meet Myself”, it is a woman. Our readers are would like to know whether there is an essential philosophy behind this expression.
Yes, of course, this female image is in a sense a metaphorical manifestation of me. It illustrates the current moment in my life and tells about my inner state.
“Fermata” is kind of interesting concept from some of our readers’ viewpoint. For those who do not know, please elaborate what is “Fermata”? Also, why do you think you are so attracted to this subject?
A fermata is a sign of musical notation, prescribing the performer to extend the duration of a note at his discretion. In the interpretation of the image in the painting, it is a time filled with the sound of music, which is left within the space, but without the participation of the instrument. For me it is a kind of pause in life, filled with your inner melody.
Some of our readers are emerging artists trying various careers and mediums. If you mentored younger artists who are beginning their art careers in Realism or Naturalism, what single most important piece of advice would you offer?
If you feel that without creativity your life has no meaning and it becomes gray and insignificant, find the strength and tenacity not to turn away from this path! Draw inspiration from nature, from amazing people - mentors, and surround yourself with those who support you and don't doubt your success. And then, when you get up to the canvas, you will always only be filled!
And a frequent question from our readers: As you picture Autumn more than other seasons and in “Autumn Rhapsody” you mentioned “such mature beauty is possible only in autumn”, what does Fall exactly mean to you?
Thank you for your question. In my worldview, autumn metaphorically represents a time of awareness. A time when a person, by going through a certain cycle of development, comes to very important life discoveries.
No comments:
Post a Comment