DPW Spotlight Interview: Victoria Sukhasyan

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

From Victoria's DPW Gallery Page:

World expressed in paint strokes.

Victoria Sukhasyan was born in Moscow, 1987. Since early childhood she couldn’t imagine her life without art. Victoria has been the student of Mikhail Astaltsov who is a well known contemporary artist in Russia. She started her art journey with oil paintings and took part in many art exhibitions in Moscow. In 2018 she moved with her family to California and got inspired by the unique diversity of Los Angeles. Victoria creates traditional watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings as well as digital illustrations. She’s taking part in different exhibitions and art shows in Los Angeles.

For most recent updates you can follow her on Instagram- @sukhasyan and Facebook- @v.sukhasyan

What did you want to be growing up?

I always wanted to be a painter or a journalist.

When did your artistic journey begin?

Since early childhood I remember spending hours painting different characters and then giving them names and imagining their life. I felt like a film producer creating my own TV series.

Strawberry Jam Cookies
(click to view)

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

Did you have long periods without creative expression? 

Yes, I had to take a break every time I gave birth to each of my three kids. Being a mom to a newborn is a very time and energy consuming work. :)

How did you get back on the horse?

Good news is that all kids tend to grow up. :)

 Interior with Books, Glass of Wine and Posters
(click to view)

Which mediums and genres do you gravitate toward?

It depends on my mood and the subject of the painting. Most of the time it’s acrylics or oils on stretched canvas or wood panel. I enjoy painting still lifes and portraits. I love painting comfort food, cheat day meals and fast food. I don’t get to eat it very often but at least I have an opportunity to paint it. :) I also love painting peoples’ portraits. I believe a human face to be one of the most beautiful things in the world. 

I also enjoy painting digital art as it feels like a complete freedom of expression for me. No limits at all. Funny thing is that sometimes I want to double tap on my stretched canvas to erase a brush stroke like I do it with an Apple Pencil on my iPad.

Which ones don’t appeal?

I don’t work with watercolors anymore. I love this medium but I don’t feel that I can fully express myself using watercolors.

Portrait of Young Woman
(click to view)

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

It’s a never ending story for me. I think that every artist has a personal style, like every person has its own style of handwriting. Once you take a brush and start painting, you already have a style. The tricky part is to find your own voice and I have a rule which I follow all the time - I don’t create art in order to sell it. I never put earning money in the first place. I paint what inspires me and sometimes I paint things that most likely won’t be sold in months or even years. I tried a couple of times to paint art that sells and had zero inspiration while doing it and found no happiness in creating at all.

I try to mute the world around me a little and look into myself to find out what I really would love to paint and say through my painting.

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

I love Ilya Repin and John Singer Sargent. I was very impressed when I saw their paintings in person. All the people on the portraits seemed to be real. I felt like the painting was a window to eternity where the artist managed to capture the beauty of the model and preserve a piece of life itself. Their paintings are breathtaking.

Still life with Oysters and Lemons
(click to view)

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

Always listen to your inner voice and paint everyday. Even if you don’t have time for a bigger painting- just take a pencil and make a quick sketch.

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

Being alone is the best way for me stay inspired and to keep my flame burning. I love sharing my energy with my family and friends but then I always need some “me time” to regain it in order to create art and stay productive.

Young girls portrait
(click to view)

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

I take an imaginary broom and imagine sweeping out all the negative thoughts from my brain and then I try not to think at all as if my brain is completely switched off. Then I go straight to the easel, take a brush and start painting. Creating art always helps me. 

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

My long term goal is to create art till the very end of my life. In short term I’d like to create a series of big figurative paintings. I’m already working on it and I hope to get there slowly but surely. 

Interior with Red Armchair
(click to view)

What does success mean to you personally?

For me personally success is living in total harmony with yourself and the world around you. 

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

When I sold my first painting. I think every artist remembers the very fist sale and that warm joyful feeling.

Be a lady they said
(click to view)

Thanks, Victoria!

© 2021 Sophie Marine