Marina's interview to Jessica Kumm, Westwood College, WI

Q: I was wondering what brought you to the Design industry and how did you make your choices on style and technique? 

A: I've started drawing and painting before I've learned how to talk, so it was not my choice, but rather natural way of events.
As for techniques, you can't really chose them, they choose you. You are born with your own ones, or born without them. 
It's like a handwriting - an expert can easily determine is it your style or you imitating somebody else. The same is with the art style. 

When you have a lot of experience, you may copy styles of others on very high level, but you'll never come close or bit somebody's original style. 
 I've tried to rise my older son in artist's environment. He's been growing amongst brushes, paints and canvas, I taught him a lot of techniques, 
but he has not developed any interest to art. He's probably inherited a taste to natural science from other side of my family.

Q: What would you consider to be the most challenging aspect of your career? 

A: USA is a very young country, and americans (general public, as well as municipalities) have not yet developed a culture of appreciation of artists and their work. 
I have a significant experience of working as a street portraitist in many European countries. There, even in Canada, a general public is interested 
in watching a creative process of an artist and municipalities respect them and even compete for them as an enrichment of urban environment. 
Here in US, an artists often is viewed as a nuisance, or, at best, a commercial entity. 

There are, of course, art festivals and shows, but, again, they are more commercial events, and a public generally have rather undeveloped taste. 
It's a big challenge for me to get appreciation from the general public and, at the same time, not to drop the level of my artwork to satisfy it. 
So far I see an interest for two most popular genres - religious art, and, as an other side of it, a nude art.
 
Q: What is your educational/work background? 

A: As I mentioned earlier, I've started painting very early. At the elementary school age I was accepted to Kemerovo Art Academy, Russia, 
where other students were coming after high school. I've started doing professional grade artwork at middle school age, including 3 story 
high stained glass project, gym size murals for schools and companies. After graduation the Academy, I worked as a Decorator in schools 
and Kemerovo Circus, and as an Art Conservator in Kemerovo Cathedrals. In late 80's - early 90's I've been traveling
Europe, emphasizing on portraits. In late 90's I've been traveling in US working as an Art Decorator and Restorator, settling in Atlanta as
a portraitist originally in a mall, and later, as a portraitist and muralist in a small studio.

Q: What is your personal favorite or most challenging of all your works? 

A: I really love doing children's' portraits - they are so spontaneous, ingenuous and true.
However, I can't say that my most favorite painting is already done. You learn and self-improve all the time.
Saying "it's my best work" means you are finished as an artist.

Q: Finally, what advice would you give to an aspiring graphic artist? 

A: Go this path if you really like it. Even stronger - if you love and enjoy it. Otherwise, chose other "near the art" careers - as an educator, critic or gallery person.

You may force yourself to be an graphic artist for some time. But, if you do not love the process, you'll quit sooner or later with major disappointment.

But if you stay this path, you'll encounter many wonderful moments, folks of other careers may only dream of. 

04.10.2008