Marina Povalishina : Creative Interview

Marina was born and studied art in Russia, then moved to the United States in 1996.  People have always been Marina's main focus in her work.  Her characters don't have real prototypes and doesn't use "live' models. A human face attracts her not by the individual features of a concrete person, but as a mirror of a man's inner essence.  I just want to say a huge thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and allow me to use some of your wonderful pieces.  Every success for 2012 Marina!!  And now to the questions ....

Describe yourself in five words 

creative enthusiastic independent responsible ironical

Boy With Hat

What's new for you in 2012 - do you have any plans

In 2012 one of my daughters is going to leave home for college. I don't yet know how much I will miss her. As for me, I have no exact plans for this year but I would like to travel somewhere. I have decided that in spite of everything (money, free time etc) I will not let this year( and all following ones!) pass without seeing a new place. We have so little time, and the world is so big and interesting!

Far Away

What do you love most about what you do and is there a down side

I paint and do graphic work. I love doing it because when I stand with my brush in front of a canvas, I have a wonderful feeling of creating a world, even it is as small as a canvas or a piece of paper. It is a territory full of my freedom! I love the process of painting because it is often unpredictable. I love the rare moments of divine inspiration and happiness: those moments overshadow the plainness of everyday life. I cannot speak for other artists, but for me, I know I can get those blessing moments only if I am brave, sincere, and trustful to the extraordinary power that leads me.


I am not sure what to say about the down sides of being a painter... I think an artist often has doubts, often feels weakness, not always satisfied with his work, but I cannot call it a down side : it is a natural part of creating.

Carolina

What are you most happy with in your portfolio
Unfortunately I have tendency to be too criticizing toward my portfolio; always dreaming about a real masterpiece in the near future. It sometimes interferes with my plans : I delay and postpone participating in shows, or submitting portfolio to the desired gallery etc. Nevertheless, there are some pieces I consider to be my best so far, such as the "Couple" painting or the mixed media "Outfit" (ETSY).

Couple - Etsy Shop

Outfit : Etsy Shop

What’s your ideal working day like
I wake up early after having a good night of sleep. I have fruit juice and cup of coffee for breakfast. I go outside for a short walk, greeting a sun, sky, and world around me. I am full of energy. I go to my studio. It is bigger than my real one. It has big windows on the north side (my real studio doesn't have windows at all). I paint. I have a break and talk with a next door fellow artist. I paint again. I am
satisfied with what I have done. My ideal working day in studio is over. I go home. I find my house being cleaned by someone, and the dinner is prepared by someone, so all what is left for me is enjoying the rest of the day. Just one more thing. Checking out my e-mails I find that one New York gallery offers me a solo show, and the London's one just sold few my paintings. What a good day!

Three

Are you a coffee or a tea girl
I am a coffee girl. I drink only a cup of coffee a day, preparing it myself in a special coffee jar on the top of the stove. I don't like bad coffee.

Anya

Have you ever or do you have a PLAN B

It seems I never had a plan B. At 15, I left school for an art college, and since that time my life always was related with art. I worked as a decorator, as an art museum guide, as a painting restorer, as a graphic designer, as an art teacher, and as a painter. If I hadn't gone to the art school, maybe my life focus would have been in literature or a language field. Or maybe I would be an art historian.

Doll

Where’s your own favourite place to work and why

I have a studio and love doing painting there. No one disturbs me there. I can start and stop working at any moment and don't worry about cleaning up after. But for doing my smaller graphic pieces I prefer our dinner table at home. From there I can watch TV the same time; and a refrigerator is only one step away...

Notebook

How much time do you or can you give to make a piece of work

It depends on the piece. I can do a bigger painting for a month, and then return to it again and again. Even after a few years I can make attempts to "improve" my old work. And about my small graphic work, if it goes well, I can finish it in an hour.

Marina's links -

Website

Etsy