The art of Nataliia Trusiuk is a unique symbiosis of academic rigor and vivid, tactile expression. An artist, decor expert, and inspiring mentor, she has been transforming canvases into portals to a world of beauty and self-discovery for 15 years. In this interview, Nataliia shares the story of her professional path, reflects on why modern interiors need volume, and explains why working with children is the best way to preserve the spark of a true creator within oneself.
Nataliia, tell us, what exactly served as the spark—do you remember that very first subject that graced the canvas, and that feeling of the "magic of discovery"?
My journey began 15 years ago when I realized that art is not a hobby, but a calling. The spark was a meeting with a teacher who opened up a world everyone dreams of, teaching me to see magic in the ordinary.That first subject is still alive within me—it was a landscape with a reflection in a river titled “Mirror of the Soul.” It was then that I experienced a sense of absolute freedom and “tactile magic,” when under the palette knife, a blank canvas suddenly gained volume and life.
At that moment, I understood: a painting should be such that one wants to touch it, so that the viewer feels the warmth and energy of every stroke. Since then, I strive to turn paint into a living story, carefully preserving that same childhood sense of wonder.
Has that original sense of wonder remained within you after 15 years of practice, or has it transformed over time into conscious mastery?
I believe that true art is born at the intersection of childhood delight and mature experience. Over 15 years, practice has grown into conscious mastery, but I intentionally protect that “spark” that ignited during the creation of my first work. Mastery has given me the opportunity to make wonder tangible, turning feelings into living, tactile matter.
Moreover, the unique methodology I once adopted from my teacher has found a new continuation in me. Today, I feel a special responsibility and joy in passing this “secret of magic” on to children. It is an incredibly delicate and exciting process—seeing how, through unusual techniques, a child finds their voice and the courage to fantasize. Watching their discoveries, I myself return every time to that very primal sense of wonder, making this creative cycle infinite.
What is primary for you at the moment of creating a work: polished technique, emotion, or an idea? How do you find the balance between them?
In creating a work, a living emotion is primary for me: it dictates the mood and awakens in the viewer a desire to touch the canvas. The balance between technique, idea, and feeling is built into a harmonious chain:
Emotion serves as the spark and the main driver of the process.
The Idea structures this spontaneous chaos, turning pure feelings into a meaningful plot.
Technique—working with a palette knife and creating volume—becomes the language that gives emotions physical form. In my works, technique does not exist separately from the soul. It only helps to make a frozen moment tangible, deep, and alive.
How have the academic traditions passed down by your mentor evolved into your current signature style? Where, in your opinion, is the line between respect for the classics and creative freedom?
My creative path is a living dialogue with the legacy of my mentor.The foundation of academic knowledge laid at the beginning of my career became the fertile soil on which my current style grew, where the strict discipline of the classics combines with the expression of textured painting and the brilliance of gold leaf. The boundary between tradition and freedom is not a barrier for me; rather, it is a point of equilibrium.
Respect for the classics manifests in technical excellence and an understanding of the material, while creative freedom allows me to fill works with new meanings and bold experiments. I believe that true mastery is born where deep knowledge of the canon gives the artist the courage to interpret it, turning a classical base into a unique visual language.
Your specialization is the integration of decorative techniques into contemporary fine art. Why is this synthesis so sought after in global interiors today?
This synthesis is so in demand today because it turns a flat image into living tactile art that one wants to touch. In modern interiors, where smooth surfaces predominate, such works create the necessary volume and a unique play of light. It is a union of visual image and physical form, turning a painting into a tangible emotion.
The integration of decorative techniques fills a space with depth, making art not just a decoration, but a significant architectural accent. Today, authenticity is valued more than ever: signature elements give painting a unique relief and character that is fundamentally impossible to replicate. Such a work does not just complement an interior—it shapes its atmosphere and living energy.
You exhibit in different countries—from Europe to the USA. Have you noticed differences in how different cultures "read" your works?
Cultural differences in the perception of art do exist. While European viewers often value historical context, classical techniques, and philosophical undertones, in the USA, the focus is on visual energy, texture, and the harmony of the work with a modern interior. The Eastern audience, on the other hand, is particularly sensitive to the symbolism of details and overall compositional harmony. Such a diverse response only confirms that art is a universal dialogue in which everyone finds something of their own.
You dedicate a lot of time to working with children. What do you, as a professional with 15 years of experience, learn from them? Have there been cases where their pure imagination suggested a non-standard artistic solution to you?
Working with children is always a deep two-way process. Over 15 years of my creative path, I have become convinced: children are the best teachers of courage. In communicating with them, I rediscover three important truths:
Creative Freedom: Children paint with feelings, not rules. Their lack of fear of making a mistake reminds me of the purity and power of the initial impulse.
Primal Perception: The ability to see magic in a dewdrop or in a random mixing of colors helps me maintain the clarity and freshness of my artistic vision.
Unconditional Honesty: A child is always truthful in their creativity. This sincerity inspires me to be extremely open in creating my own canvases. Often, it is the children’s imagination, free from canons, that suggests those very non-standard solutions that make my works alive and emotional.
How does the energy of childhood imagination fuel your belief in the transformative power of beauty?
Childhood imagination is a pure source of energy where the boundaries between the possible and impossible are erased. Watching children boldly mix colors and create entire worlds from a single line, it is impossible not to believe in the boundless power of creation.
The sincerity of self-expression reminds us that art is capable of bringing any canvas to life and filling a space with light. When an ordinary material turns into something living and tactile in a child’s hands, the belief in the transformative power of creativity becomes undeniable. Working with children is, above all, a belief that art is a living process capable of transforming not only the canvas but also our perception of the world.
You are convinced that creativity is the shortest path to self-discovery. What, in your opinion, does a person find in themselves when they begin to create, regardless of their level of mastery?
Creativity is a mirror in which a person for the first time sees their authentic feelings and hidden resources. When we create something new, we go beyond the boundaries of usual social roles and meet our “Self” without masks and filters. In this process, everyone finds three important pillars:
Honesty: Art does not know how to lie. In a brushstroke or a created form, what is difficult to express in words is revealed.
Freedom: The creator discovers that they have the right to set the rules in their own world. This gives a colossal resource of confidence for life.
Silence: This is a form of meditation, where unnecessary noise disappears and only the pure joy of the “here and now” moment remains.
Regardless of the level of mastery, a person finds the most valuable thing in art: their authentic essence and the joy of discovery.
Your works are scattered all over the world. Is it important for you to know which interior and whose hands they end up in? Do you maintain contact with the owners of your collections?
It is extremely important for me to know whose collection a work enters and in what space it will live. This turns a sale into a continuation of the painting’s story, where the new owner becomes the guardian of its energy.
If a work is created to order, I always ask for a photo of the future interior. It is important for me to feel the space to pass on a “continuation of the connection” with the home to the painting. Maintaining contact with collectors helps form a circle of like-minded people who value the signature style. For me, it is priceless to receive feedback on how the tactile and visual effects of materials unfold over time. This makes the creative path more meaningful and inspiring.
There is "a piece of the soul" living in your works. Are there any among them that were the most difficult to part with?
A piece of the soul lives in each of my works, but there is one canvas I could not part with—it is my very first work. It became my revelation: at that moment, technique faded into the background, giving way to pure emotions. I decided to keep this painting for myself as a personal symbol. In every stroke of it is a reflection of that moment that cannot be repeated. It holds the first spark and that unique energy with which my journey began.
If you had to describe your next creative stage with one word or image, what would it be? What is Nataliia Trusiuk striving for today?
My next stage is the scaling of my signature methodology through the creation of a global art project combining professional painting, art therapy, and mentorship. I strive to reveal the versatility of art as a tool for development for children and adults, turning it into a deep experience of self-discovery and healing.
