– Alena, please tell us your story in America. Where did you live and work before moving to America?
I came to the USA five years ago from St. Petersburg. I have two higher art educations. I am an artist and a designer. In St. Petersburg, I had many solo exhibitions and participated in joint projects.
I moved to the US because of my husband’s job. Before moving to the States, I didn’t know the difference in education and didn’t even hear the term art for fun. There is a certain level and direction in education in Russia and neighboring countries. Even after art school, many have the basic knowledge to create a realistic image. I received a traditional art education called academic realism. Subsequently, I made my style, where I combined impressionism, abstraction, and concept. In my work, I was looking for a unique style and ideas to interact with the viewer in a classic oil painting on canvas.
– Please tell us about your profession and your work.
After moving to America, I worked with students interested in academic realism. In the US, the educational process is entirely different. I realized this when I started teaching private lessons. My students said they expected art for fun but got art for crying. After academic school, I give my students a base so that there is a high-quality execution in addition to the idea. It was unusual for me to do art for fun, as my lessons are different, long, and serious. In the US, I tried to do fun master classes with wine and art. My master classes can be for both beginners and pros. I work with all ages, starting from the age of six. My oldest student is over 70 years old.
– How did you come to creativity?
My mother told me that I started drawing at four and was so addicted to the process that I could draw for hours. I have always been very romantic and receptive and took everything to heart. Everything I thought about was in my drawings. My medical parents didn’t expect me to want to do art seriously. There were no artists in my family, and grandfather sometimes painted for fun. So it was interesting for me to try myself in all directions where creativity and artistic vision was needed.
– Please tell us about your family.
I got married at 19. My husband was 20, and we were like-minded students. Together with my first husband, we created the Arsdelos art group. There were many exciting projects. We won grants and arranged art performances in clubs. Although I tried myself in all areas of art, painting is closest to me, although now I am more interested in digital art.
I got married for the second time at 38, and we moved to the USA with my husband. My parents still live in St. Petersburg.
– What do you do outside of work? What are your interests and hobbies?
In the USA, I visited Texas, Florida, Oregon, Washington, and California. It is in California that I feel at home. It is here that there are a large number of immigrants, and everyone understands any accent. They never told me they did not understand me, although I arrived with an elementary level of English. And the best part is the California weather. I get energy and inspiration from being in the sun by the ocean. The ocean and the sun are a panacea for me, a source of inspiration and strength, a cure for any disease. I love to swim and have accustomed myself to ice water. Of course I also have a wetsuit. In winter, I can’t go into the water without it. Swimming has become my hobby and salvation. I had a failed knee operation in the USA, after which I am limited in how I walk, but in the water, my knee feels great, so I turn into a mermaid.
I also get inspired by visiting galleries, museums, and cultural events. I often remember cultural events in St. Petersburg. There were much more of them than in California. But, of course, I miss my friends and relatives and healthy, high-quality food. Before coming to the USA, I didn’t know about the word organic. Everything was organic in my homeland.
I have traveled a lot all my life. I know all of Europe and have been to Asia many times. It was traveling that filled me with a variety of experiences, versatility of perception, and new ideas. I love films and books about travel and new ideas. In addition to the fine arts, I am also interested in new startups and ideas in the field of education. Almost every day in Bay Air, there are presentations of new products, and there is an opportunity to meet offline and create networking.
– What would you like to wish the Russian-speaking residents of Austin and Texas?
I wish multifaceted and eventful cultural life to the people of Austin. I would like that in Texas and California, people understand all the accents of the world, even if emigrants put the stress on the word in the wrong place. I wish all the best to Russian-speaking residents and invite them to my online classes. Since quarantine, my classes have mostly moved to online learning, and I have students from all corners of the world.
Contact information:
Alena Nezetti
Instagram: enezetti
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alena.nezetti.3