DPW Spotlight Interview: Valerie Lazareva

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Valerie's painting, "Red Poppies" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Valerie's DPW Gallery:

My name is Valerie and I am a self-taught artist. A little about my work: All my work (with rare exception) are made from nature. I chose impressionism because it is «an explosion of emotion» and «feelings from the other side», respectively, in this direction, I develop my creativity. My works are made in my own original technique. It is a mixture of materials such as gouache, tempera and acrylic accents. I prefer all the tools -- used palette knife. As well known artists distinguish more shades of color, always in the process of contemplation. You may find it hard to believe, but all the colors that I use in the work I do see on a subject that I depict, but mostly pale shades. I deliberately exaggerating the color so that you will have been able to see what I see, I see what an incredible number of colors in world around us! Welcome to my world!

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

It's hard for me to remember what became the catalyst or starting event for the beginning of drawing. The most interesting thing that did not foreshadow anything and did not lead me to painting, in spite
of the fact that I was always a creative person, loved to sew my clothes at school and wanted to become a designer, was I created hand made jewelry and for some time sold it quite successfully. But all these passions quickly ended, became obsolete and became not interesting. After graduation, choosing a university and a further profession, I first thought about painting, but I followed a different
path, which, I thought, was also quite creative and interesting.

However, faced with the realities of life, I once again realized that I was wrong. And in 2012, when I was twenty-five, I started drawing with a pencil and looking for lessons on the net, I participated in various online flashmobs, including "365 days of drawing", I tried different materials for the first year and understood what I like about painting palette knitting - in particular Impressionism. I admire the French Impressionists of the late 19th century, I am close to their ideas, aspirations in painting and impressions from the world around us. In this direction, I have been developing my work for the fifth year collecting knowledge and information of interest to me. Now I dream of going to Paris, visiting museums (in particular the Museum d'Orsay) and see in the living paintings of Monet, Renoir, Degas and other impressionists.

Red Poppies
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Valerie's interview.

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

I think that stops are a part of process and are present at any creativity. I consider myself the cheerful person, but we are only people and are powerless over bad events which sometimes happen in our life. I am emotional and I take everything very much to heart - probably therefore during the difficult periods I can't draw.

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

In due time, I tried almost all picturesque materials, such as pastel, acrylic, watercolor, but most of all I like gouache, love it for dullness and velvet. Recently, was fond of oil as it gives boundless opportunities for painting. I tried different genres, but always had thirst for the nature, landscapes and a plein air at heart.

Peaches
(click to view)

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

The "still life" for me is one of my favourite genres, and architecture doesn't especially inspires me as well as portraits (it is possible this will change).

Which ones are you looking forward to exploring?

Now all my desires and a creative power are directed to studying of a landscape and  plein air painting. Summertime passes too quickly. The nature and space live their own life and constantly change, and what you can't draw today - tomorrow already looks a little differently, differing in both color scale and the made impression.

What does procrastination look like for you?

Therefore, procrastination is a missed opportunity, which can no longer be ever.

Black Cat and Blossoming Apple
(click to view)

Who or what inspires you most?

Already about three years, as I was with my family (my man and our little daughter), we moved from the big city to the Karpatian mountain country on other end of the Ukraine. I studied all this time and I admire the nature surrounding me, but only now I find forces to try to represent the beauty of the world surrounding me. All of this is very difficult. Man in his history has created many beautiful things, including cities, and a majestic and stunning architecture, but human creation can not be compared to what the Lord God created - His majestic mountains, incredibly beautiful breathtaking sky, the sea, nature in all its Diversity. To at least try to portray all this, we need moral strength and a lot of courage. :)

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Most likely it's my family, my beloved man and our daughter who support me and take on my responsibilities at home when I immerse myself in the world of painting and creativity. I am very grateful to them for their moral support!

The Sky at Sunset
(click to view)

How do you generally arrive at ideas for your paintings?

As Louis Armstrong sang, I paint what surrounds me - this is the basis of my work. I would like to show people that even in the most ordinary, simple subjects there is a zest and even in the simplest, ordinary life with its everyday life and everyday life there is magic. It is easy enough to sometimes look up at the sky.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

This feeling of inner contentment... It comes by itself, regardless of the time and labor invested in the drawing. It happens that the picture or sketch painted under the influence of the mood of the moment makes more impression than the work on which is spent a lot of time.

Yellow Shoes
(click to view)

What do you feel you are learning about right now as an artist?

I am always in the learning process, whether it's simple contemplation of nature, reading of teaching literature or master classes. As an artist, I see a variety of colors and all kinds of shades in the world around me and with every new work I'm getting closer to being able to convey this all as inspirationally as possible.

What makes you happiest about your art?

When I would say that happiness in art is a picture that turned out or a fee for work... And today I feel - it's not so important whether the picture looks idyllic, whether I am satisfied with the result of my work, whether I get money for it (although all this is also important) but the main thing is that I can see that all this there, all this Magic around! I think our mission on earth as artists, is to at least try to show it all to people. :)

Thanks, Valerie!

© 2017 Sophie Marine