– Tell about yourself please. Where did you live before coming to Austin and what did you do?
I am an artist, Metelytsia Kateryna. I was born in Kyiv (Ukraine) in 1981 in the family of a microbiologist – mother and airport technician – father.
After graduation from an art school, I received three art degrees: two bachelors’ and one masters. I have always worked in various art fields: outdoor advertising, printing, computer games. I obtained gainful teaching experience as a teacher of drawing and painting. Currently, I am taking my first steps as a specialist in the high-demand field of art therapy.
– How did you end up in Austin?
We did not plan to move. We have the house in Ukraine and there were prospects for a future career. My husband unexpectedly got a fairly promising job offer in Austin, Texas. And in 2017, we moved.
– Tell us please about your work as an artist (previous experience)
As it turned out, the profession of an artist is in a great demand. Artists are needed in cinema, in the creation of computer games, in construction, in jewelry, in restoration, in politics, mechanical engineering and so on. But a costume designer in a theater cannot be an architectural artist, and a landscape designer cannot be a graphic artist. Each of these areas has its own specific profile knowledge.
After receiving my education, I worked as an artist in several domains from the first day.
Working as an artist in the printing industry, I learned a lot about the printing process. Now I can buy a book for only its excellent performance regardless of its contents. The format and size of the book, paper and print – this is all an artist’s work on the image of the book, on its character, even before you opened the first page. Both the theme and the image should endorse each other. It is impossible just to take the most expensive materials and expect a good product. The artist assembles this image. For example, according to the rules, the title may consist of seven pages and you have not yet opened the first page, but the artist is already gradually creating a mood and introduces the plot of the story to you. Sometimes it is not that obvious to the customer why it is necessary to make three pages of the title in his book – the customer sees this as additional costs, so the most successful projects are those where the customer had confidence in the publisher. If you want to become a graphic artist, do not work with publishers that are not trusted – you will not be able to open up your potential as an artist.
Having worked as an artist in the field of computer games, I realized that this is a job for eternal children; the job is really connected with drawing all day and every day. It was the coolest experience in my life, the most active team, the craziest and funniest tasks and ideas despite the sedentary work. If you want to become an artist of computer games, develop your drawing speed and get ready to adapt to the artistic style of the whole game, since all artists must draw in the same style. There is no time to look for artistic practices and solutions, inspiration, waiting for the muse – each task is limited in time, sometimes it is calculated up to minutes.
Then there was my first experience of working with children – I started teaching drawing and painting in Ukraine. It is amazing how much courage and sincerity children have in drawing.
And of course, my calling is an artist and a drawing teacher for adults and children. At the beginning of 2019, thanks to the support of Anna Mazaykina, I opened the Snowstorm Art Studio in Austin. I did not think about the name for the Studio for a long time – I took my last name. In the studio I work on my projects and, according to the schedule, people come to me just to draw something or learn how to draw in order to express themselves or make their dream come true. Now the studio is at the stage of moving, so classes are only online, but soon it will be a new cozy space and, as always, my doors will be open for everyone who wants to create.
My last discovery is the profession of an art therapist. In the university, professors told us that no matter what an artist draws, they always draw themselves. I did not really understand this phrase back then. After graduating from all institutes, many years of my own practice, it seems to me that I have begun to grasp it. And now these words appear to me with a much deeper and profound meaning.
– Are any basic skills needed in order to join your drawing classes?
I often hear, “It’s too late for me to learn to draw.” If you do not have sufficient training, the skills and techniques of Botticelli or Michelangelo will not be available to you. Nowadays, very few people work with this technique. Even paintings drawn in the style of hyperrealism are often not rendered with this technique. During the sessions, I talk a lot about how this technique is unique and complex and how you can possibly express yourself through other techniques and styles. There are a lot of them, and you can assuredly choose your own. It does not require much preparation, but the desire and determination to act is especially important. I do not draw instead of my students, I can explain the principle, show a model, suggest a solution, but the student must do the main work.
– If studying is not important, and you can just draw without preparation, why then study at the university?
In an art institute, students learn basic principles. During 12 years of study, 5 to 6 days a week from morning to evening, with all the desire, you cannot be taught how to draw all the objects that exist in this world, all the phenomena from different angles, in unconventional combinations and with various lighting. You will only get basic skills. Even so, the study is extraordinarily rich with abundant tasks, it is often not clear why you have to draw this. Sometimes it seems like this is just a mockery and there is so much work that you can even forget why you chose art. The main mistake among graduates is that they think that what they have been taught is the purpose of the education they received.
However, over time, you begin to understand that knowledge and skills are only a tool and a device. As you have graduated from college, you are now face to face with your dream. How will you apply your knowledge, what you managed and could take from your teachers? Did you squeeze the knowledge and experience out of the teachers like juice from a lemon? After graduation you need to start your experiments, explorations, you need your own style, you need to communicate something, to add something in this world. A self-respecting gallery will never accept a painting that is flawlessly academically performed for the highest score – they are looking for something more.
And I am more than sure that this applies not only to art, but to any profession in general.
Though, you do not have to study art in school if that is just a hobby. Perhaps you have several ideas or themes in which you want to express yourself. Having a lot of experience, I will give you a concise overview, only what is useful to you and what you can learn and master. After becoming proficient in several techniques and gaining some kind of experience, self-expression through painting will become available to you.
For me, painting and work of art is not a hobby, it is a way of life.
In passing, here is a fact about the authenticity of the artworks of the great masters, which were drawn by their students under their leadership, but with the signature of the master, not the student. When you learn to draw in an art school, then all your works belong to the school. Just like that, I do not have the paintings that I have drawn at the university. The educational institution takes them to its fund. I did not want to give them away, but it was not even being discussed. At least in Ukraine there is such an unwritten law. The pictures that are presented on my website in the Portfolio/Study at the Institutes section have been preserved only in electronic format.
Keeping in mind my desire to preserve my academic drawings, I decided that all the paintings that my students draw, they can keep them for themselves, I only have photographs of the paintings that I post on social networks.
– Can anyone indeed learn to draw or had you to turn down someone for drawing classes?
I believe in each of my students and I will continue to do so even if the student himself has already given up hope. But it is especially important for me to feel the person who came to me. Is there a connection? It is crucial, is there a trust in me as a teacher? After all, I cannot be a good teacher for everyone. Besides, so far, I have not had to turn down anyone. I can only boast that I have incredibly talented and capable students. Everyone comes with a different mood, temperament, and request. The paintings turn out to be very individualistic, since I do not like drawing from templates – people begin to compare their works with someone else’s, often underestimating their successes. Also, I do not like wasting time on the same thing. We bring to life the ideas and stories of the students, I show samples, we discuss and try a lot.
For adults, drawing classes are a kind of art therapy, and at the same time people come with an understanding that there is, in fact, something difficult in drawing. It greatly facilitates for them to accept new information from an unknown sphere. People very quickly get a taste, open up, become excited, come up with fresh ideas, find courage – they try, plan new and new paintings. I keep in touch with my students during the week – they send me their works, we quickly discuss them in the chat, I send interesting links to groups from Facebook or Instagram, to which I recommend subscribing, since an especially important factor is observing. I advise to refresh their news feed with paintings of contemporary artists or classics – I think this is an incredibly good idea. If you catch sight of some picture that you like, even for a few seconds, it can give you inspiration, perhaps you will pick out some new technique for yourself.
Children in generally come with the illusion that this is easy and should be fun. In reality, this is a big and painstaking work. When this realization occurs, it becomes easier to perceive knowledge and new skills, and it is simpler for me to transfer the material. Then there is a good chance for a successful outcome. I try to teach through appealing tasks, although it is not always possible and appropriate in order to achieve a result. I think this applies not only to painting, but also to other areas in which you want to pursue, be it playing a violin, doing vocals or learning sewing.
Overall, I do not promise that it will be easy. You will need to work hard, and you will always have my support.
– How to draw a cool painting that will take your viewer’s breath away?
It is easy and difficult at the same time.
Easy, because art is freedom. You just need to convey your feelings, your attitude to the object or the plot, it is possible to come up with an allegory, which means “put on the table” your real self. For a painting to capture and resonate with the feelings of a viewer, you must be honest – the truth must become part of your DNA, you must study and know yourself very well, to not be afraid to demonstrate your feelings. The audience only says that it does not understand anything about art, but people are good at spotting falsehood, like it is always seen in the movie if an actor played down or overplayed. If there is no truth in the painting, there is no real attitude to the plot – it is a weak painting, simply drawn with high quality; they also tend to say that it is an “academic painting” – educational.
It is tough because you will not always be accepted and understood. A thought may flash, “I am such, and everyone will see it”. Just like writing a song, lyrics and music. One will say – a masterpiece, and somebody else will say that they had a better opinion of you and your taste. Sincerity can be fraught. But if you accept yourself as you are, then there are no problems. Then there will be an audience that will say, “I like it”. Even if they are in the minority, this is your niche.
– What is the hardest thing to learn how to draw?
I believe that everything, which relates to a person, is a figure, especially in movement, in dance. In this case, we are talking about several simple principles, for example, when it is necessary to draw a moment as one motion ends, and the next is just beginning – this provides a sense of dynamics. Likewise, if you draw a dancer at the peak of a certain pas, then though the figure may be in a flight, it will still look static. Nevertheless, the most difficult thing, and therefore the most curious personally, is, of course, the portraits.
– But now a portrait can be drawn from a photograph, doesn’t that simplify the work?
For me, portrait painters are a separate “caste” of artists. There are unique artists who succeed immediately and always. However, basically, after 6 years of study at the institute, the artist is just beginning their experiments. A good portrait is one where, without knowing you personally, the viewer, looking at your portrait, can guess what your character, temperament, or even your attitude to life is. To draw such a portrait, a painter can even go to live at the customer’s home for a while. For example, the client of the portrait has an exceedingly difficult life, or they are tired of being strong. Yet, are they broken, how do they withstand the load – are they worthy, resigned, or are they postponing all of their problems for later? All this can and should be conveyed in a portrait. Lots of sketches are drawn, the proportions and size of the canvas are chosen, clothes, angle, lighting, background, maybe a favorite or recognizable pose or location, perhaps the customer cannot be imagined without a certain headdress or a neat hairstyle…
In the end, after all the work done, the artist draws your portrait from a photograph.
Perhaps, your friend has ordered an artist to draw your portrait. They bring your photo where they think your individuality is most vividly displayed. The artist has never seen you, does not know, but he will transfer your character from your friend’s words. Then you will see yourself through the eyes of your friend, and perhaps you will not agree with them.
This is in general terms. Overall, a person, his figure and portrait are remarkably fascinating and deep topics. I recommend starting to study it by drawing self-portraits, analyzing your own facial expressions in different moods and states, characteristic manners. You can do this with a pencil or charcoal. Now, you draw your eyes, your nose, perhaps your hand gets into the frame, but it is not You yet. The hand is yours, it belongs to You, but who is this “You” to whom it belongs? After you discover yourself fully and realize what questions you need to ask to convey more than just the shape of the eyes and hair on the canvas, then over time, you will understand what questions you need to ask to draw someone’s portrait.
An artist is always a little bit of a psychologist, physiognomist, and philosopher. While the psychologist strives to change something, the artist in his painting always says, “I believe that this object is like that, I see it that way”.
After many years of practice, having accumulated the experience of their personal life encounters and only on condition of the constant practice of drawing portraits, in his 60 years, a portrait painter can say that they are a young portrait painter.
I have a short lecture for 15-20 minutes with samples and illustrations, which I read and show in case the student wants to draw a portrait. For my younger learners, this lecture is included in the program.
– For what do you like Austin the most?
I really love Austin. Right away after arriving, I did not feel it, it seemed to me that there was nothing to draw, and I was very worried about this. Then after a year, I had accumulated so many sketches that I am not sure that all of them will come to life – there is simply no time to draw them all. The color of the water in the lakes is incredibly turquoise, the color of the stones sometimes appears sheer white. In some places, the landscapes are remarkably like the Ukrainian ones, only cacti and agaves give away. The branches of the trees grow parallel to the ground – every time I look at them I am surprised. When I would drive home from the studio in the evening, in the mirrors of the car, there always used to be a sunset behind me. I constantly gazed at these sunsets in the mirrors of the car and thought that, if not for the coronavirus, then my death will come from the hands of Austin’s sunsets. Every time there are incredible colors, and each sunset I wished to see, remember, study, understand. The closeness with the wild life world is striking. Hares, squirrels, raccoons, I have also set up bird feeders in the backyard so that hummingbirds come to us. Though, I do not even want to think about snakes, scorpions and spiders. I know they exist, but as they say, if you do not think about them, they will not come.
Of course, I love Austin’s weather and climate. A month-long winter is, in terms of temperature, like the Ukrainian autumn, which makes me happy. I do not miss the snow.
I did not expect that there will be so many discoveries for me here. Now I drive a car, and thanks to my husband I have the most beautiful one in the world. I can now distinguish between cars and feel their difference. I received my driving license back in 2004 in Ukraine. At that time, there was not much need to have a driving license. I decided that in an emergency, I should know how to move it and somehow, only in case of emergency, to get somewhere. As a result, I practically did not drive much in Ukraine, mostly I was a passenger. Like that, I have a driving term of 17 years, but the driving practice is only three years. It turns out that term and experience are two different things. Similarly, in the case of art, knowing does not equate to drawing in practice.
Well, Austin is a city of musicians and artists. I seem to be in the right place.
For all of this, and a bit more, I am grateful to Austin.
– What would you like to wish for the Russian-speaking community of Austin?
I would like to thank the Russian Cultural Center for the chance to tell about my studio and to highlight a little the profession of an artist and the path of art – painting. For me, culture is how a person spends their free time. So thank you for creating interesting opportunities for the Russian-speaking community.
I want to wish this not only to the Russian speakers, but to everyone. All of us have little time now, people are busy. But when you find it, be sure to spend a bit of your downtime, which no longer belongs to anyone but you, on your dream or on your idea. Use this possibility to satisfy your curiosity in a certain area, to understand something, to create, whether it is a song, a book, maybe astronomy, or just maybe, painting … And be dedicated to your dream.
Contact information:
E-mail: catherine.snowstorm@gmail.com
Website: www.catherinesnowstorm-studio.art
Personal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateryna.metelytsia
Studio Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SnowstormArtStudio
Interviewer: Alena Obergan
Editor: Olga Adler
Publisher: Russian Cultural Center