Art is not just paint on canvas, it is the language of the soul, a way to tell your story without words. Today we will dive into the world of Nataliia, an artist whose artistic journey began on the shores of Odessa, continued in Germany and is full of deep personal experiences. Discover how the sea, family support and personal challenges shape the unique palette of her work, making each painting not just an image, but a true revelation, full of light and hope.
Nataliia, please tell us how your love for art began and how did you decide to connect your life with painting?
My love for art began in my youth. I remember sitting for hours by the sea, gazing into the vast horizon and transferring the landscapes that were born in my heart onto canvas. Then I realised that art became my inner world, my silence, my freedom. During my student years, despite my busy schedule, I continued to live my creative life. For me it was not just an occupation – it was everything. Art became my element, in which I dissolved completely.
Your artistic path began in Odessa, but now you live and create in Erfurt, Germany. How do these two cities - home and new - influence your artistic palette and choice of subjects?
I come from Odessa, a city by the sea, where the sound of the waves was my first music of inspiration. In 2021 my muse came back to me and each painting started to be born from my emotions and inner states. In 2022 I had to move to Germany because of the war. It was not easy, but Germany brought calmness to my life. Here, despite the difficulties, art became my mainstay again. I learnt the language, took exams, and it was a journey of overcoming. When things got particularly difficult, I retreated into my art. It became my refuge and therapy. Germany did not break me, but opened me up and made me more confident. Here I felt that everything is possible, and my motto now is: ‘You can’t know if you don’t try’.
You studied at the Grekov Theatre School as a costume designer. Your teachers and private teacher admired your palette. Do you remember what it was about it that attracted them? How did this experience influence your perception of art?
Yes, I studied at the Grekov Theatre School in Odessa, and I had private lessons with a teacher who played a huge role. He particularly noted my sense of colour and shadow. He often said, “You have sweet shadows, sweet tonality. You feel colour in a way that few people can. You find a tone that others just can’t see.” A professor from Odessa, a member of the jury, also said: “You are the kind of artist who stands out. You have a unique colour palette, you are not like everyone else”. These words were a confirmation for me that I am following my own, special path. The most important thing for me is not recognition, but that I can share myself through my paintings.
What was the impetus for returning to painting in 2021? How has it changed your life?
The year 2021 was a turning point for me. Before that, I was living in Brussels, but I felt that I was losing myself. My husband was strict and demanding, and I was no longer the lively, free woman I was. After a serious conflict, I left for Odessa. There, in my favourite city by the sea, I realised: I no longer want to live a life that is not my own. I want to breathe fully again, to be myself. I went and bought a canvas, brushes, paints and went to the sea. The first painting after a long break became my inner manifesto. I started to paint – and in that moment I was born again. Art was not just my salvation – it became my real voice, my freedom, my breath. Since then I’ve been living in harmony with myself again, creating because I can’t not create. It was from that moment that my new, real life began.
After a break, you started actively writing ‘right by the sea’. Is there any special significance of the sea for your work? What feelings does it evoke in you?
My creativity started anew in 2021 – and it started by the sea, it’s no coincidence. The sea has always been close to me. I grew up in Odessa, in a house where the sea was only five minutes away. When you open the window in the morning, the very familiar smell of the sea enters the room. It is alive, it is real. It immediately fills the soul with peace. The sea is my first inspiration, my first teacher of silence and depth. When I felt that I wanted to return to myself, I intuitively went to the sea. It was by the water that I felt life being born in me again. The sea soothes, fills, cleanses. Every painting painted by the sea or inspired by it carries my love, memories, childhood, freedom. It is not just a landscape – it is the breath of my soul. To paint the sea is to talk to it. It is a real therapy for me, a return to myself, to my roots.
What role does your family play in your art? How does their support inspire you?
My family plays a huge role in my art. They are my support, my response, my heart. My mum feels my work especially keenly. She experiences every painting – sometimes with tears in her eyes, sometimes with joy, but always with sincere participation. Her reaction for me is like an internal barometer: if it touched her, it means that the picture is alive. My children are also actively involved. My son proudly brings his friends from school and shows them my paintings, and my daughter helps me to open up in social networks, telling me how to share my creativity with people. My family is not just a part of my life, it’s a part of my art. Without them, my paintings would not be so deep, real and alive.
You have been actively participating in competitions since 2025. What prompted you to take this step and what expectations did you have from your participation?
For me, this is not just an opportunity to show my work – it is a way to reach new people, new feelings, new stories. I want as many people as possible to see my paintings and feel the emotional depth with which they were painted. Each of my works is a personal story, a lived state, a moment in which I opened up to the world. I am very eager to share it – to tell how and why this or that picture appeared, what feelings are encoded in it, what energy it carries. I believe that art is a bridge between hearts. And if a person stops for even a moment in front of my painting and feels that it speaks to him, it means that everything was not in vain.
The Golden Time Talent results were a ‘real symbol of hope’ for you. Can you share what emotions and thoughts you felt at that moment and how it influenced your further motivation?
Participating in the international Golden Time Talent project has been a real inspiration for me. This competition is not just a platform for self-expression; it is a movement that supports, unites and ignites hope. It inspired me to create a new painting, ‘Clouds Diverge’, which is currently in the process of creation. It shows the sea, waves, mountains and heavy clouds, but a ray of light breaks through them – this is Golden Time Talent. It symbolises faith, hope and new opportunities for everyone who goes through difficulties. I had already participated in a competition in Germany, where I was among the top ten, and the professors highly appreciated my work. But it was Golden Time Talent that became the light that doesn’t ask for documents. They just saw me as an artist and believed in me. After participating, I started getting invited to galleries and exhibitions, including in Germany. It really is like a light through the clouds, and it is a huge incentive for my further motivation.
What message or emotion do you most seek to convey to the viewer through your paintings?
Through my paintings I try to convey the emotions that live in me at the moment of their creation. My latest work, for example, has already been born in my head – it is part of an important project on an A4 sheet, which will be combined with other works on a panel in London. It’s a project in aid of Ukraine, the theme is “A world without violence”. I waited and nurtured the image that was to appear, and in a couple of days the idea came true – because my paintings are always born from the depth of feelings and emotions. I want this painting to be the voice of the feelings that each of us has. I believe that everyone who sees this work will understand its message.
How has moving to Germany influenced your art? Has your perception of art changed?
Moving to Germany didn’t break me – it opened me up. It did not become a barrier for me, on the contrary – it inspired me, strengthened me and made me more confident. Here, in a new land, I felt that everything is possible. You just have to go forward, no matter what. My main motto now is: ‘If you don’t try, you won’t know’. I believe that you have to open every door, even if it’s scary. It’s only when you take a step that you truly realise whether it’s your thing or not. And even if the path is difficult, it will teach you something. Every new opportunity is a chance to discover a different side of yourself. I go for these chances, I’m not afraid anymore. I live – and try.
How would you describe your style in painting? Do you have any favourite techniques or materials? What themes or ideas do you most often explore in your work?
When I’m working, inspiration seems to come alive on its own – it comes unexpectedly and leads me. Sometimes I paint with acrylics, which used to be my favourite medium, but now I prefer oil – its depth and richness give me new ways of expressing feelings. At the same time I experiment with structured paste to create texture and volume. Right now, for example, I am working on a painting of mountains where paste plays an important role. I am not afraid to try different techniques and directions – it all depends on what mood and inspiration comes to me. The paintings seem to be born in my head – I can clearly see their image, the play of light and shadow, although sometimes it is very difficult to draw from memory. This feeling is a real challenge, but it is through experiencing these emotions that true art is born.
