USA Projects

My new project is The Magic of Convergence. I aim to show what happens when musical folklore and my personal heritage collide with Russian Impressionism.
I'd like to take you on that journey.

I was born in Europe to Russian parents and became a United States citizen when I was young. I received degrees at the Fashion Institute of Technology and C.W.PostUniversity in New York. The Russian Impressionists captured my interest early on. After a 25 year hiatus -- raising my son and making a career in magazine publishing, I returned to my love of art.

You can say I am immersed in the joy of painting. Oils became my medium. In the tradition of certain Russian Impressionists, I use the palatte knife and bold contrast of color in my work. Love of the outdoors draws me normally to Plein Air painting, mostly countryside and water scenes. However, I also enjoy painting still lifes and portraits in my studio.

For my new project, I plan to develop a series of 10-15 oil paintings of Musical Instruments commonly used to express the Russian soul. From the piano to the Balalaika, from the violin to the mandolin, each have meaning associated with my heritage. My aim is to explore and capture, on canvas, the essence of the "passion" Russians have for music. This series of paintings will be an interpretation of my vision of my ancestor and how their lives were contoured around music.

My paintings will include still life, figurative and landscape…all will include musical instruments, and all in the Russian Impressionist style. I'll be working under the guidance of several seasoned Russian Impressionist artists who are well known in their own right.

It's my dream to have this work embody my Russian ancestors and bring their hearts and souls back to life on canvas for others to contemplate. Consider it like a musical symphony in another art form.

We migrate across continents and so much is lost. In the last part of my life, I would like to preserve a bit of Russian authenticity…and leave a legacy for others to integrate into their personal lives. My hope is that there will be more people that will integrate their love of family and culture and we'll see an emerging convergence develop.

Your support helps with material, supplies, as well as funding for the artist workshops and set up the final showing.

From beginning to completion, my supporters will be able to see the progress being made in the studio. Once the series is completed, I will have a formal unveiling of the paintings at a private art show & musical event in the Seattle area. 

My heartfelt gratitude goes to my sponsors for the generous participation throughout this adventure. If funding exceeds my minimum goal, I would like to continue my study of this cultural exchange in Russia this summer under two master painters, one of whom is a professor from the prestigious Surikov Institute.

A percentage of the proceeds of my work will be set aside through USAProjects for other fledging artists on a similar journey merging their heritage as they develop their personal expression and style of art.

Dasvadanya and let's get to work.