Marina Venediktova

Marina Venediktova (b. 1974) is a Russian artist, from the city of Kazan. Her father is a professional artist and designer. It is difficult for Marina to track the moment in the past when painting first captured her attention, apparently it was from the first days of her life . Marina always studied with her father, and then later graduated from an art school in the city of Kazan. ln 2007 Marina moved to St. Petersburg and practised for many years in private workshops with artists from the Art Academy of St. Petersburg.

In tandem with her art education, Marina also graduated from the Academy of Astrology, and has a large practice of consulting clients. Over the course of six years astrology has given her a unique accent in her paintings, and inspired her to taking a new stage in her artwork. Now she does not just look at the world, at people, she views them with her own eyes, she sees the uniqueness of each person, each soul, even if it is an inanimate object. But words are too stingy to describe it in full, so Marina has chosen her own language - the language of canvas and paint.

 Marina Venediktova at work in her studio

What initially drew you towards becoming an artist?

From the moment I remember my childhood, I have always loved to observe changes in nature, for example, how an ice piece melts in my hand, how the clouds in the sky quickly change shape. I felt the irreversibility of the past moment and wanted to stop it.

How would you describe your own personal style?

I try to show what is invisible or inconspicuous, something that is fragile and quickly disappears.

"Four Wishes", Marina Venediktova, Oil on Linen

What pushed you in that direction and how can you see your work evolving in the future?

I love looking at the fluidity of water, the foam of the waves and the play of sunlight in them. This is an endless opportunity for my creativity.

What inspires you in your work, is there a driving factor that draws you to the easel?

Many people live to arrange and stabilize their material and physical lives, and their hearts and souls are forgotten and remain alone. I paint pictures, I always think to please someone's heart and give him a moment of warmth.

"Flowers in the Mountain", Marina Venediktova, Oil on Linen

Are there particular individuals who have encouraged / inspired you along the way, friends, family, teachers, maybe even other artists?

By my first education I am an Astrologiist, I graduated from the Academy of Astrology in St. Petersburg. All 5 years of study I was accompanied by scientists, astronomers and philosophers, who shared their deep knowledge about the Universe, about its laws and its connection with man. My teachers opened me a new vision of life and the desire to draw it for those who do not have the opportunity to study it through books.

When it comes to creating your work, do you have a preferred medium, certain types of brushes or tools you love to use?

I paint only with oil paints, they are very tolerant and allow you to make mistakes and correct your mistakes.

"Music of Water - Red", Marina Venediktova, Oil on Linen 

When it comes to the subject matter of your work, what draws you to those themes?

Creativity is the birth of a new object that no one on Earth has created before you. This is every time conception and birth, from an idea to a created picture.

Could you describe the process behind your art? How do you get from concept to execution?

I am a happy person, because every morning or afternoon I can devote several hours to communicating with the New Morning in nature, I walk in the forest and by the lake, I sit on the shore under the rays of the sun or under the raindrops. And during these hours I only observe the changes in the world and the course of my thoughts. I write down thoughts and even my poems on my phone, write down the appearance of future sketches or take photos from nature. Then I come home and transfer the main interesting things into sketches. And only after this new creative morning work I start to continue the artist's usual working day.

"World from My Night Dream", Marina Venediktova, Oil on Linen

When you work, do you focus on one piece at a time until completion or are you working on multiple pieces at the same time?

I look at the whole picture at the same time and paint it all in parallel, changing the level of all the details.

How has your art evolved to be where it is today?

For many years I painted copies of still-lifes of artists from the Netherlands of the 16th century, I was amazed by their radiant depth and clarity of working out all the details. At the same time, I wrote my still-lifes in the same technique, studying the accuracy of the objects in them. I have acquired a lot of skill through this work. When I went to the Academy of Astrology and realized that the world is not only what we see, but also what we feel, there are things that are not visible through the eyes. Then I began to try to draw what I feel, what I think, what is in my soul.

Which of your artworks are you most proud?

They are all my favorites)))

"Music of Water - Blue", Marina Venediktova, Oil on Linen

Is there a fellow artist alive today that you admire? If so, why?

I admire the efficiency of some of my colleagues from the gallery, I am amazed at the number of paintings and hours spent at the easel.

If you could travel back in time, is there a particular artistic period / era that you would like to have been involved in?

16th century Netherlands

What challenges do you feel the 21st century artist has to overcome?

The desire to make money on what real work has not invested, doubts and the joy of creative ecstasy.

What advice would you give to a young aspiring artist currently studying art?

Transfer what your thought gives rise to into a sketch, sketch. Do not criticize yourself and do not evaluate in the moment of this matter. You just sow the seeds, the strongest will grow later and bear fruit for you.

"Beginning of Time", Marina Venediktova, Oil on Linen

Despite having developed your own distinctive style, is there another style of art that you are immediately drawn towards and admire? Why?

Classic portrait. Such an artist is very brave, he tries to copy the exclusive creation of God. And I admire those who manage to see and convey the charisma of a person that God has awarded him.

We have all heard of the unfinished masterpiece, even Da Vinci laboured away at the Mona Lisa for years and years, have you works that are in a continual process of evolution? When working on an artwork do you find it hard to let go? Knowing when enough is enough?

I have no such work. If a painting does not want to develop harmoniously, it leaves for a long time from the easel to the corner of the studio, I feel that I am pulling it into this world by force, maybe it should be born to another artist, and I stole his thoughts from heaven. I TAKE WHITE ACRYLIC PRIMER AND PAINT THE PICTURE WITH A LARGE BRUSH. And it becomes very easy for me)))

"Ocean Voice", Marina Venediktova, Oil on Linen

Many people see artists as storytellers or advocates for a cause, do you believe that it is an artist’s responsibility to shine a light on a particular subject / theme, or do you create purely for the sake of expression your creative nature?

I do not consider myself either an ideological artist or a historian of the era. I repeat that I want to please and warm the hearts of people with beauty.

What are you working on at the moment?

I spent the entire March 2021 on a trip to Egypt. Visited the Pyramids, the tombs of the pharaohs, in the desert and scuba diving in the corals of the Red Sea. I really want to convey my feelings and my view of this country, its culture and its beauty. But in order not to impose specifics on the viewer, I will write abstractly, only giving my feelings and emotions.

"Jewellery of the East 1", Marina Venediktova, Oil on Linen

Have you ever been part of an artistic group / movement? How did your work benefit from that experience?

For many years I have been the creator and director of an art studio for adults and children, for those who were afraid to draw but wanted to create. I am happy to see the joy of these people, I am happy to help them escape from fear and live in the colored world of their paintings.

When is your next exhibition? Is it a solo or group exhibition? Could you tell us a little about the exhibition, when and where it is?

2021 is just the beginning of my journey in collaboration with galleries. 2020 and its serious Covid event changed my past understanding of the limited territory of my activity and I decided to try to go online

Moscow art gallery Artalebrio @artalebrio chose my painting "Water Music. Red" for the poster of the ART fair in Moscow September 3-5, 2021

2021/08 ArtBox Project; SwissArtExpo, Zurich 2021 painting “ Mars. Birth of Adam”