When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

It may sound strange, but I remember exactly when I decided to become an artist. I was 17 years old.

In general I have always been drawing since I can remember. I have memories from my earliest childhood, as I attended a children’s art school for 4 years, which my grandmother assigned to me as an additional education. Still everyone in my family, including me, was convinced that I would study medicine and become a doctor.

I studied very well and easily and had the best possible grades. In my last year of school I announced that I wanted to be an artist. Of course everyone was very surprised to say the least. I remember clearly the moment of boundless joy when I drew a wall paper dedicated to a wonderful Russian poet. Alone in the big auditorium of the school I forgot about time and space. I was completely absorbed in the process. Later, I read about something similar, and that it has different names. But at that time I didn’t know anything about it, only that this moment defined my life.

I am very grateful that my family finally allowed me to make my choice in life. That’s when I attended the Faculty of Arts. After graduating from university I taught for 7 years drawing and composition at the Department of Drawing. After meeting my future husband, we both decided to be artists only.

Can you talk about your artistic influences and other artists you are most inspired by?

I studied art history and I am very grateful to my wonderful teachers. When I delved into the subject, I liked certain periods of art history: ancient art, medieval art and the Renaissance. As I developed as an artist, my tastes and preferences also changed. But something has remained the same. The Russian art of the Middle Ages. The geniuses of the Italian Renaissance from Florence-Masaccio over Pietro della Francesca and Giotto. I am very much drawn to the French art after the bourgeois revolutions especially Matisse; the German Expressionists of the 1930s, English illustration. The closest to me is Art Deco from which many of the author’s stylistic choices raise and develop.

Do you prefer to work alone or collaborate with others?

To be honest, I prefer to work alone. Even the company of my husband, whom I trust infinitely, sometimes interferes, confuses and distracts me. In the process of work, there comes such an important moment when one moves into another dimension. Then the course of time changes. You seem to become the co-author of the artwork. Then, as an artist, I have to keep up with what guides me. It requires inner silence and deep immersion. In a sense you are no longer alone.

*the second part will be published next week.

https://blog.singulart.com/en/2021/07/02/svetlana-kurmaz/

Summer refreshes the artist's palette. Summer gives us flowers and color generously.

The new by Svetlana Kurmaz:

"When I paint a still life with flowers, I’m interested in exploring the large shape and design of the bouquet in order to identify and highlight a characteristic note that can more accurately convey the impression of them."

The artwork UNDER MAGNOLIA TREE by Svetlana Kurmaz was sold to the collector "Wimbledon art Studios" (London) for more than 10 000 €.
Dream big!
Live with Art, it's good for you!

I’ve got this feedback on my page in FB just now.

https://www.facebook.com/SvetlanaKurmazArtist/

This is so lovely!

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«Hello! I purchased your lovely “Dreamy Day” painting. It arrived today. I just want to thank you for sharing your beautiful talent. This painting brings me a lot of joy. It reminds me of spending lazy summer days with my sisters. Wishing you health and happiness.»

Most of the time I get inspiration from nature. Even when I paint people, animals or objects.

My working day begins with a walk in a nearby park near the river or up the nearby hills. There I find my breath and the correct view of things.

It so happens that I do not paint landscapes from nature, but prefer to create a bird's-eye image of earth, water, sky and plants, as if hovering over them and finding drama and poetry in their interaction. Such a kind of metaphysics in the landscape.

I bring impressions from travels or impulses to the composition of a landscape given by some private small event.

The landscape SPRING BY THE SOUTH SEA was painted from my imagination after my travels in the south of France or Italy when almonds are in bloom, the sea is cold, and the red soil is not yet covered with new shoots everywhere.

https://xpgallery.com/collections/large-size-canvas/products/spring-near-the-south-sea

The landscape SILVERY EUCALYPTUS’ ALLEY was painted from my imagination after my trip in Greece. Light slender tree trunks and their blue crowns, as if always fluttering in the wind, look amazing and even incredible under the bright southern sun against the background of lilac rocks.

https://xpgallery.com/collections/large-size-canvas/products/silvery-eucalyptus-alley

The landscape HILLTOP  IN TIME OF BLOOMING was painted from my imagination after my morning promenades in the gardens on the hill near my studio in Prague. The cherry plum tree is the first to bloom. Then a gentle chorus of apple trees enters on the eastern side of the hill. It seems that nature is dancing its beautiful dance.

https://xpgallery.com/collections/large-size-canvas/products/hilltop-in-time-of-blooming

The artwork was painted with a palette knife and brushes in several sessions.