DPW Spotlight Interview: Susan Tubens

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Susan's painting "April 12th" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Susan's DPW Gallery Page:

I am an oil landscape painter whose appreciation for big sky began in Florida and deepened during time in the midwest. Living in Vermont and West Virginia provided inspiration in the lushness of trees, fields and surrounding mountains.

I work both in plein air and in my studio using reference photos that I have taken over the years. My favorite time of day to depict is sunrise and sunset however the blue sky and clarity of midday light can be enchanting.

One consistent feature in my work is a sense of calm, even in the stormscapes. In the end, I paint scenes of places that I would like to stay a while.

What did you want to be growing up?

I don’t remember having a specific career goal but was very fortunate in that I had parents who nurtured their children’s individual gifts. I went on to college, completing a degree in Anthropology then a degree in Health Science and have been working in health care since then.

When did your artistic journey begin?

Drawing was a passion during childhood but was abandoned during the adult years until just recently.

April 12th
(click to view)

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

Did you have long periods without creative expression? How did you get back on the horse?

Yes - many years went by raising a family and working without time to create art. In 2016 I was lucky enough to meet an artist in Omaha, Paula Wallace, who was an exceptional teacher and since then, painting has been nothing short of a passion.

Which mediums and genres do you gravitate toward? Which ones don’t appeal?

I have used acrylic and water color but love the versatility of oil paint as well as its properties that allow application of multiple layers for a translucent effect. Landscapes are my preferred subject although I depict land masses as the support for expansive skies and clouds. DaVinci said “Once you have tasted the taste of the sky, you will forever look up”. He was right.

Suspend
(click to view)

What was the process like of pinpointing your personal style or finding your voice?

I am still early in this process but am realizing that my voice has been there from the beginning, I just needed to see it. It is important to learn technique, value, composition and color and in doing so experiment with style however, never lose sight of the things that sing to you.

Name an artist (or artists), well-known or not, who you admire. Why?

I am still inspired by Paula Wallace, my first teacher, who has an uncanny way of depicting color and form in the landscape and sky. I also keep returning the works of John Constable and spent most of my last trip to the Smithsonian in front of his work “Wivenhoe Park, Essex”.

Coastal Lights
(click to view)

If you could offer one piece of advice to your younger, creative self — what would that be?

Patience and persistence are key. 

Do you utilize any habits or tricks for winning the distraction and procrastination battle?

Fortunately I love painting so much that if anything, I neglect other necessary duties in order to paint. I have had to learn balance in order to maintain relationships (and the laundry).

Where Clouds Gather
(click to view)

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you push forward?

I often take a step back and try to see the bigger picture (no pun intended). A painting that just doesn’t work is often a result of poor composition or technique. Paula would say “Let’s put this one away for awhile” and she was right- a fresh look later would often clearly show the path forward. Recently I underwent a critique by an accomplished artist who spent quite a bit of time discussing how a selection of my paintings could be improved. I felt a bit defeated but he was right about everything and I am lucky to have had that input. Accepting criticism is difficult but learning from it is necessary to make steps forward.

What are some of your long and short term goals for yourself or your art?

My constant goals are to continue improving my skills through practice and education by other artists. The learning never really stops. A short term goal involves painting as a full time occupation and a long term goal is to be knowledgeable enough to teach other artists.

Higher Still
(click to view)

What does success mean to you personally?

Professional success means waking up every day excited about creating art. It means supporting yourself in your chosen occupation. It means making the world a little bit better though the results of your actions.

What is one of your proudest moments in your creative life?

My proudest moments are when I take that next step forward and am able to produce a better painting.

Thanks, Susan!

© 2021 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: David Gibson

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

From David's DPW Gallery Page:
Dave Gibson was born and raised in the Pittsburgh area. As a result of the American steel industry collapse during the 1980’s Dave moved to Lancaster, PA in 1987 and has lived here ever since.

A self-taught artist blessed by God with the innate ability to replicate with paint and brush the experiences of life. Until 2016 painting had been an on again off again hobby for Dave. He retired from the Kellogg Company June 2016 and committed to a renewed focus on the further development of his artwork.

Water Mixable Oil paints are Dave’s preferred medium. His style is representational impressionism. Dave finds the subjects for his paintings through his daily interaction with the world. “I’m always on the lookout for dramatic lighting and compelling compositions in everyday life.”

Recent accomplishments

"Oil and Garlic" 1st Place Non-Professional Category 2019 LCAA Winter Exhibition
"Sweet Peppers and Glass Bowl" 1st Place Non-Professional Category 2019 LCAA Garden Exhibition
"Dilly Beans" 1st Place Non-Professional Category 2019 LCAA Spring Member Exhibition
"Bourbon Street Bucket Drummer" Honorable Mention Oil & Acrylic Painting Category 2019 LCAA Open Exhibition
“Peppermint And Cinnamon” Honorable Mention Non-Professional Category 2019 LCAA
“Keeping It Cool” Exhibition.
"Hangin' At The Barbershop" Honorable Mention 2019 LCAA Fall Membership Exhibition
"Walking Towards The Light", Honorable Mention 2019 LCAA Seniors Exhibition
“Sliced Pickles” 1st place in the Lancaster County Art Association 2020 Garden Exhibit Professional Category
“Leaf On The Snow” 1st place in the Lancaster County Art Association 2020 Let It Snow Holiday Exhibit

What did you want to be growing up?

During elementary school I wanted to be a doctor. At some point I realized the amount of schooling  required to become a doctor and changed my mind. During high school I was planning on going to college for art. After watching my high school art teacher manage students in his classes that were there simply because they didn’t want to take algebra or chemistry, I changed my mind again. I ended up spending my career in the technical arena, as an electronic technician, automated manufacturing process programmer and a process manager. 

When did your artistic journey begin?

For as long as I can remember I loved to draw and create things. My art teacher in the 4th grade recognized my artistic abilities and registered me in a Saturday art class at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh. This class was attended by hundreds of grade school students in the Pittsburgh area. I’d say that this experience was the beginning of my artistic journey.

Sweet and Sour
(click to view)

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

Did you have long periods without creative expression? How did you get back on the horse?

In my opinion, when you’ve been blessed as a creative, you can’t avoid creative expression. There have been extended periods of time during my life when I didn’t paint or draw. However, during these times, I expressed my creative spirit through guitar, carpentry, landscaping and numerous other outlets.

June of 2016, I retired from my professional career. My dream was to focus my time and energies on my artwork after I retired. For the past five years I have done just that.

Which mediums and genres do you gravitate toward? Which ones don’t appeal?

Water Mixable Oils is the only medium I work with. As for genres, I am particularly fond of impressionistic still lives. Still life subjects allow me to have total control of the environment. No changing light. The subject stays as I set it up, for days if needed. However, I do enjoy painting a variety of subject types. Figurative, animals and landscapes. I have never been drawn to abstract art. Not as an artist or as an admirer.

Coffee Break Discussion
(click to view)

What was the process like of pinpointing your personal style or finding your voice?

With painting as well as being a guitarist, it took quite some time for me to realize that my style of painting and playing guitar is unique to me. Be comfortable with that and enjoy it, allow it to happen naturally. Be yourself!

Name an artist (or artists), well-known or not, who you admire. Why?

Dennis Perrin. I love Dennis’ work. After I retired, I enrolled in a couple of Dennis’ online training courses and my approach to painting changed forever. Dennis teaches that the mental approach to painting is equally as important as the physical. Meditate on the painting before you pick up a brush, perhaps for days. Paint the piece in your mind before painting it on canvas. Another Dennis Perrin philosophy that I found extremely helpful is that you aren’t painting things, or objects. You are painting abstract shapes of varying color and value.

Oh My Darling
(click to view)

If you could offer one piece of advice to your younger, creative self — what would that be?

Pursue being an artist!! Follow the artistic abilities that God has blessed me with!

Do you utilize any habits or tricks for winning the distraction and procrastination battle?

In the infamous words of Nike, Just Do It!

Cold Bridges
(click to view)

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you push forward?

I rely on my faith in God and pray!

What are some of your long and short term goals for yourself or your art?

Now that I am a 67-year-old retired individual, my goals are more focused on the short term, daily goals. 

• Improve as an artist everyday

• Have my artwork seen by the public

Sunflowers
(click to view)

What does success mean to you personally?

Success to me means that I’m living my life following God’s plan, bringing joy to others. Hopefully my artwork brings joy to others and touches them in some way.

What is one of your proudest moments in your creative life?

Shortly after I retired, I entered one of my paintings in a local art association exhibit and was awarded honorable mention. My first award as an artist. That was a proud moment for me.

Susquehannock Road
(click to view)

Thanks, David!

© 2021 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Zhanna Kan

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

What did you want to be growing up?


I dreamed to become an artist since my early childhood. One day we were visited by a familiar artist. When he saw my artwork, he exclaimed “she should study to be an artist”. So his remark settled in my head. I associated artists with people wearing berets and with a sketchbook over their shoulder, who only draw outside. For some reason I thought that artists painted only landscapes.

When did your artistic journey begin?

I began drawing quite early, according to my mother's words, before I began to speak. I spent my childhood in a village, in my grandparents’ house. Therefore, since childhood, I was surrounded by beautiful nature, fields, rivers, pets. I had my own workshop – a drawing table, pencils, watercolors. I drew trees, forests, animals, people, various objects and I also created illustrated stories.

After school graduation, I entered an Art College, where I studied for 4 years as an artist-designer.

Chickadee
(click to view)

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


Did you have long periods without creative expression? How did you get back on the horse?

I had a rather long break in my creativity. After graduating from college, I was interested in studying Korean language and then worked in the commercial sphere. Then there was my marriage, my family, my daughter’s upbringing in a musical environment. Thanks to her, I discovered classical music in a new way. Music turned out to be no less interesting than fine art. Attendance at concerts, competitions, trips to master classes, all this greatly captivated me.

Later my daughter went to study to Europe, and apparently this moment made me decide to go back to my vocation. True, then I was just planning to return to creativity, but I did not know in what technique. Before doing anything, I first studied and got prepared, so it took me almost two years to go back to painting. And the last impetus was a visit to an exhibition of contemporary artists. After the exhibition, I bought materials for painting and gradually began to paint. 

Which mediums and genres do you gravitate toward? Which ones don’t appeal to you?

I like both watercolor and oil techniques. It seems to me that in oil technique is easier to paint in various styles, such as realism, and impressionism, etc. As for the watercolor technique, it has always attracted me. But the watercolor technique is much more difficult and professional watercolors always have the plan what to do step by step. Water colorists remind me of chess players. After all, all the steps must be planned in advance. In oil painting, I usually begin to paint from colored spots and then move on to detail without step by step plan. The most important thing is to see the finished painting in my imagination.

In my youth I loved to paint seascapes, landscapes, but now I prefer to draw birds, animals and still life painting more. But I am at the beginning of my journey, so maybe I will return to landscapes.

Butterfly
(click to view)

What was the process like of pinpointing your personal style or finding your voice?

It seems to me that I have not yet formed my personal style. Most likely there are personal preferences and certain skills that you follow. Even while studying at college I was impressed with impressionism. After all, impressionism means the first impression. Therefore, I prefer quick drawing. It seems to me that quick painting most accurately conveys the nature and properties of the subject. Therefore, when I was studying, it was difficult for me to paint a portrait for 50-100 hours, as it should be in academic teaching.

Name an artist (or artists), well-known or not, who you admire. Why?

I love mainly French impressionists, these are Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro. And Russian impressionists Konstantin Korovin. I also love the work of Toulouse Lautrec, although his work already relates more to Post-Impressionism. As I said above, I like impressionism because this style most clearly shows the character, there is usually a lot of air, light, freshness and life in the artworks.

Grey Tabby Kitten
(click to view)

If you could offer one piece of advice to your younger, creative self — what would that be?

I would advise only - don’t be afraid and do it. If you feel gaps in knowledge, then just study this point in more detail. In addition, visit exhibitions, see the artworks of other artists, this will broaden your horizons. And of course more practice, the more you devote your time to what you love, the better you get.

Do you utilize any habits or tricks for winning the distraction and procrastination battle?


The good planned daily schedule helps me. Every day I devote the first half of the day to painting. In addition, of course, I have to earn money to live and it also plays an important role.

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you push forward?

As for painting if I begin to feel self-doubt, then I just tell myself to stop. The most important thing is to stop on time. Then I just start painting another picture. In other cases - the rest, walking in the fresh air, changing activities helps me very well.

Seaside
(click to view)

What are some of your long and short term goals for yourself or your art?

For short-term goals, I would like to increase the categories and sizes of paintings. As for a long-term goal is it would be great to have own workshop studio and the opportunity to earn enough to live by selling my art.

What does success mean to you personally?


When I decided to return to creativity, I made a plan for each day to achieve my goal. Every day I painted and marked the date of creation on each painting to see my progress. Therefore, it was a success for me to return to creativity and then to begin to sell my paintings.

What is one of your proudest moments in your creative life?

My first paintings that I posted on Instagram. The first positive reviews were my pride, now the feedback from buyers.

Crow
(click to view)

Thanks, Zhanna!

© 2021 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Kay Palecek

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

From Kay's DPW Gallery Page:

With a backround in fashion design, I have always been drawn to the creative side of every job I've had. So it was a natural fit to try my hand at oil painting.

I decided to take a shot in the dark and begin classes five years ago at a local art studio. Upon retirement last July, I committed to start each morning painting in my studio. Painting each day is sheer bliss even when the picture isn't turning out the way I'd like.

I enjoy seeing the "perfect painting" in everyday scenes in my neighborhood, travels or just taking a scenic drive. I never lack for ideas, just the time needed to paint them all! Right now, I enjoy painting animals, still life, people, portraits, and landscapes, but I'm open to whatever inspires me.

I live with my husband and two dogs in a northern suburb of Chicago. Some of my biggest inspirations? My family, our pets and the world around me.

What did you want to be growing up?

It's probably easier to tell you what I didn't want to be, which was anything involving math or science. I knew early on that creativity and a variety of responsibilities would be essential in whatever I chose to do in life. I started in marketing and communications, which included developing promotional materials, attending trade shows, PR, newsletters, writing articles, etc. Even though this position wasn’t specific to art, it had a creative side to it and a good amount of variety in its responsibilities.

When did your artistic journey begin?

My painting journey began in 2015. I was talking with my uncle about his hobbies and he mentioned that he had just taken up painting. It was a real light bulb moment for me. I never considered learning how to paint, but with my drawing background —a degree in fashion design— I thought I’d give it a try and I haven't looked back since.

Nellie
(click to view)

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

Did you have long periods without creative expression? How did you get back on the horse?

I've always had some sort of a creative outlet whether it was music, sewing, or learning how to make sock bunnies with my daughter! They were all fun, but nothing stuck with me as much as painting.

Which mediums and genres do you gravitate toward? Which ones don’t appeal?

I mainly paint with oils. Painting with watercolors feels backwards to me and acrylics just dry too quickly. I started painting a number of different genres including landscapes, animals, figures and portraits, and I assumed I would eventually be drawn to specific genres. Right now, I still love painting animals, but lately, I've started to lean into portrait painting. There's just something about the human face that fascinates and frustrates me at the same time. I like the challenge.

Sam
(click to view)

What was the process like of pinpointing your personal style or finding your voice?

You have to be willing to try new things: I paint anything that grabs my attention, no matter the subject matter. I also try different brushes or tools and of course, new paint colors. When I have down time, I watch instructional painting DVDs and even Youtube videos of painters I'm interested in. You'd be surprised how much you can learn by trying lots of different things.

Name an artist (or artists), well-known or not, who you admire. Why?

Lately, I’ve been excited by the paintings of Jane French from the U.K. and Patrick Saunders. Jane paints primarily portraits using beautiful colors and brushwork. Patrick can paint anything. I’ve purchased instructional videos from both of these artists. I love their use of color, brushwork and composition and hope it somehow influences my own work.

Nosing Around
(click to view)

If you could offer one piece of advice to your younger, creative self — what would that be?

Do you mind if I mention three? First, don't expect to be good at painting right away. It's going to take lots and lots of practice. Second, paint as often as you can. When I first started painting, I probably painted one or two days a week when I was working. However, when I retired, I promised myself I would paint every day or as close to it as possible — and I did. When you paint every day, you see improvement in your work a lot quicker, which helps increase your confidence. Third, keep drawing and sketching. Good drawing skills help make great paintings. It’s an incredible skill to have as a painter.

Do you utilize any habits or tricks for winning the distraction and procrastination battle?

I was lucky enough to turn a bedroom in our home into a studio. It’s nice having everything right at your fingertips. Every day, I wake up, eat breakfast and paint for 2-3 hours a day. I've been doing this since Covid hit and it really improved my painting. Now, when I don't paint for a day I feel guilty.

Roar!
(click to view)

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you push forward?

Whenever I paint something that isn't my best work, I appreciate the effort and start on another painting right away. Not every painting is going to be great, but continuing to do the work is the only way you are going to get to where you want to be.

What are some of your long and short term goals for yourself or your art?

Short term is just to keep learning and getting better. I’ll continue to draw, attend paint workshops, watch artists’ instructional DVDs, and so on. Long term might be to win an award for one of my paintings.

Sam
(click to view)

What does success mean to you personally?

For me, it’s twofold: creating a piece of work that I’m proud of and having one of my paintings connect with someone. I can't tell you how many wonderful and kind remarks I've gotten from people who have either purchased, or left a message about, one of my paintings on the DPW website, Facebook or Instagram pages. If I'm not having a particularly productive day, these messages are a nice pick-me-up.

What is one of your proudest moments in your creative life?

I was particularly proud when I got to the point where I could start selling my work. I waited about four years before I was able to do this. I wanted to be proud of the work I sold, but more importantly, I wanted the people who bought a painting to feel like they were getting a nice piece of artwork.

Attention Getting
(click to view)

Thanks, Kay!

© 2021 Sophie Marine

DPW Spotlight Interview: Olga Nikitina

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

From Olga's DPW Gallery Page:

Hi, my name is Olga. I'm a professional artist. I live in Russia.

I've been drawing since I was a kid and I love it more than anything. Painting for me is a pleasure, it is a meditation, and painting is always an experiment. I like to work in different techniques, use different materials. I paint in watercolors, oils, and acrylics. In oil painting, I work with both smooth, almost transparent layers of paint, and impasto, a palette knife.

Most of all, I am inspired by nature. I like bright colors. This is how we saw the world as a child, and when I draw, I become a child again and look with admiration at this infinitely beautiful world! I like to draw this good fairy tale, such as in the pictures in children's books. Do you remember?

I am happy when my works find their new home and I hope they will bring joy to their new owners. Good mood!

What did you want to be growing up?

I didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted to become when I grew up. But I remember that I was always interested in nature, its beauty. I liked to look at flowers, butterflies, tree leaves, I really wanted to see how they look in a microscope. So I even thought that it would be interesting to work in some laboratory… But still, I was more interested in the aesthetic side of nature.

I also liked how people create beauty with their hands. Starting from embroidery and ending with hairdressing. Yes, at one time I wanted to become a hairdresser. And I'm doing it a little now, but it hasn't become my profession.

When did your artistic journey begin?

As soon as I learned to hold a brush and pencil in my hand. My dad was an amateur artist and painted oil paintings in his spare time. And since childhood, I have been leafing through his magazines with reproductions of paintings. I remember the first time my father gave me a canvas and paints, and I drew three tulips, and proudly showed my older brother, saying that I had drawn a painting. He chuckled. Of course, I felt that this was too loud, but... for me it was an achievement.

All my childhood I drew watercolors in albums, and when I turned 12, I went to art school, where I studied for 4 years. There, too, the main material was watercolor. That's probably why I think more like a watercolorist, although I also work in oil and acrylic.

Then there was an Art College, where I studied at the painting and pedagogical department for 5 years.

Kauai
(click to view)

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

Did you have long periods without creative expression? How did you get back on the horse?

Yes, after studying at an Art College, real life began, where I had to earn money. Painting, unfortunately, gave me little income at that time, and I abandoned it, going to work in the production of outdoor advertising. Then there were many other jobs that had little to do with creativity.

In addition, I had a family, a son was born, and the desire to study painting again had to be postponed. It was an emotionally difficult period for me.

I began to return to painting seriously only in 2017, when everything in my life changed. I had a new family, a new home, and I allowed myself to quit my job. I told myself that I would stop trying to be something that I am not, that I am an artist, and only with a brush in my hands do I feel in my place. It's the only thing that makes me happy.

And I started selling my paintings on the Internet. It is a great success for us that it exists. It's amazing that people from all over the world can see and buy your paintings! In 2020, I came to Etsy, and this was a big breakthrough for me.

Which mediums and genres do you gravitate toward? Which ones don’t appeal?

Now it is easier for me to negotiate with watercolors and get a result that will satisfy me. I also paint in oil, but less often than I would like. This is partly due to the smells of paints and diluents. But I have a huge desire to paint in oil. I like different techniques of oil painting, I like impasto with a palette knife.

I am generally interested in a lot of things in painting. When you enter the creative path, you feel like a child in a huge toy store. There are so many things I want to try!

What don't I like? There is no such thing, probably, rather, I haven't practiced enough in some techniques and materials.

Genres? Of course, most of all I am inspired by nature, its vastness. Therefore, I mainly paint landscapes. The sun, the wind, a riot of colors… An impressionist lives in me.

Provence Lavender Fields
(click to view)

What was the process like of pinpointing your personal style or finding your voice?

I think it's very early to talk about my style as something that has already been established, once and for all. It has always been interesting for me to convey exactly the sunny, cheerful state of nature, as the first Impressionists did. I have been developing in this direction. But now I feel a craving for more abstraction in the landscape, or for more decorativeness. These general trends of modernity also occupy me. Also, I still have a penchant for some illustrative graphics, reminiscent of illustrations in good old children's books. This can also be called part of my creative style, if you like.

Name an artist (or artists), well-known or not, who you admire. Why?

In my youth, I fell in love with the works of Claude Monet. I was particularly struck by the series with the Rouen Cathedral. And this first love is still alive in me. Then I saw a huge number of works by different authors, and I admire many of them. I can't count them all. Among the most famous to you are Erin Hanson and Howard Behrens. The crazy optimism of their canvases cannot but delight!

Palm Trees on the Beach
(click to view)

If you could offer one piece of advice to your younger, creative self — what would that be?

Well, everything is banal here. Paint more, be bolder, believe in yourself, do not suffer from excessive perfectionism, experiment, play!

Do you utilize any habits or tricks for winning the distraction and procrastination battle?

If we are talking directly about the creative process, three things help me now: an equipped workshop, where everything is at hand and just waiting for me; this is a mode in which several working days and specific hours are planned, dedicated specifically to painting; and this is the very need to work to pay the bills. Yes, the survival instinct will not allow you to procrastinate indefinitely!

If we are talking about mastering new things in creativity, about some steps to new levels, about large and complex tasks, then yes, I become very cautious and think for a long time about whether I should take this step at all. After all, it is so energy-consuming, and the result is unknown. Well, I try to take these steps deliberately and gradually.

Tuscany Sunflower Fields
(click to view)

In moments of self-doubt or adversity, how do you push forward?

I always have uncertainty as a result of creativity. It is impossible to predict whether the work will succeed or not. I won't even be able to repeat exactly what I've already done, let alone a new one. And as for the various troubles that are knocked out of the saddle, then, of course, they happen. If I can, I "shoot back" from them. If I fail, then I save up my strength to get involved in the battle again.

What are some of your long and short term goals for yourself or your art?

Further creative plans include the creation of watercolors of larger formats and the launch of the production of their own prints, as well as experiments with oil painting and acrylic. Perhaps there will be a series of figurative paintings, a series with animals, urban landscapes, abstract and decorative compositions. I want to do a lot of things.

From a personal point of view, I want to live in a house in a quiet and beautiful place, among greenery and flowers. I hope this dream will come true.

Green Mountains of Oahu, Hawaii
(click to view)

What does success mean to you personally?

The realization of creative potential, first of all. If I can implement at least a tenth, at least a hundredth part of my ideas, I will feel happy!

Another success is satisfaction with the result. Then - a confession. Well, and financial viability, of course.

What is one of your proudest moments in your creative life?

Today, for example, I am proud that in the first year of working on Etsy, I sold more than a hundred works! And even more have been created! I am proud that I can finally earn a living by creativity. I am proud of how the level of my skill in watercolors has grown over this year. I am proud that my father is proud of me.

Tuscany Poppy Fields
(click to view)

Thanks, Olga!

© 2021 Sophie Marine