Whenever I travel or go on holiday, I always try to take drawing or painting supplies with me. They don't have to be a heavy painting box full of paint tubes and brushes – often a notepad, watercolor paints, and a couple of brushes are enough, or just a drawing pad and a few soft pencils.
I have always observed the surrounding world carefully and sketched various, sometimes unconventional, moments of life and nature. Upon returning from a trip and examining the material I've collected – sketches, drawings, and ideas for future large works – the memories of the past are significantly clearer and more vivid than those gleaned solely from phone pictures taken during the trip. The horizons of distant lands and the landscapes of foreign cultures often remain mere glimpses in our minds unless we truly pause to observe them.
Returning home, on the other hand, always warms my heart. I can never admire the domestic nature and landscapes where my family and I live too much. They form an inseparable whole for me and a deep spiritual connection.
It feels good that Finnish nature resembles the landscapes of northwest Russia, where I am from. The work on large paintings and portraits often begins based on material collected from nature: drawings, sketches, and photographs.
I spread all the material in front of me on the floor and on the easel and begin repositioning it on paper with a pencil. Once the main proportions and rhythm of the composition are clear, I make a few colored sketches until I am satisfied with the overall result.
If necessary, I also make a canvas-sized preliminary drawing with charcoal or pastel. This work process helps to avoid unexpected challenges as the painting progresses and at the same time gives freedom to the brushstrokes.
Afternoon on Lake Päijänne. Watercolor sketch 30x50 cm.
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