Tatiana Todorova: Often one thinks that it is not you creating the painting, but the painting is creating you

Tatiana, you have been painting for many years. Do you think your technique, the way you convey the emotional state in the paintings has changed?

Of course, and this is totally natural! As the saying goes, you cannot step in the same river twice. My technique changesoften, if only because I use different materials such as crayon, oil, acrylic. All of them have their own specifics of presentation, and emotions are a separate planet that can be talked about for hours. We are changing, our emotions are changing too, and since I have been at the easel for 27 years now, you can only imagine how many changes there were!

You have whole heartedly devoted yourself to art. Moreover, you have been teaching painting for a long time. Are you learning something new or do you have a well-established technique?

I teach my students what I have learned, but I am always open to new when I paint. This is very similar to an adventure, you never know the final outcome and often think that it is not you who are painting, but the picture is painting you.

Artist is a creative profession. What motivates you, what gives inspiration?

I have several answers to this question. The first is predestination, when you just cannot help but do it, against all odds. The second is achievement of such a degree of skill that it simply does not leave you. And finally, the third – let’s not forget that any success is 95% perspiration and 5% inspiration.

Each artist has a favorite “material” with which he or she works. Which is yours?

Everything in this life is cyclical and orderly, at least in my case. The first stage was drawing ink, gouache, then paste crayon, etc. Now I am interested in working with acrylic, but I don’t know what’s coming around the corner.

Let’s talk about your exhibitions. What do they mean for you personally?

First of all, I am driven by the desire to share my discoveries, something new and interesting with the audience. Each exhibition is a treat for the soul.

In many exhibitions, we can trace the connection of music and painting. It would seem obvious at first glance. And yet, what is the peculiarity of their interconnection for you?

My first profession is musician. Who else but me should paint pictures using color and music? This is my artistic feature, you can hear my musicality in canvases, you just need to concentrate a little. If we talk about interconnection, then it is inseparable. If many start their canvases with a form, then I start them with an internal sound.

A series of your paintings dedicated to different cities is impressive: Istanbul, Egypt, Athens. In my opinion, they reflect so accurately the energy of each city. Tell me, how do you paint these pictures – while traveling or whenyou get home?

And how accurate do they depict the energy of one or another city? And who can check this? Art is a very subjective thing … During my travels, I absorb everything I feel and see like a sponge, and when I get home, I give everything to the painting, and I am very glad when the audience gets excited about familiar cities or countries in my paintings!
My trips are not about traveling at all, but rather immersion in another space, which I would describe as a metaphysical journey, it opens up so many layers of history, energies, the main thing is not to get drowned, but I can manage it.

Who are your customers? Have you ever experienced any unpleasant cooperation?

Of course not. I have never painted for people who do not understand who they are dealing with.
A painting is a journey or adventure and it is always enjoyableto discover feelings, thoughts, past, future or anything else through communication!

Let’s talk about criticism. Is it important to you? How do you feel about compliments?

Criticism is essentially uninteresting to me. I am interested in dialogue, exchange of opinions, and that’s all. Praise is certainly nice, but it cannot affect my creative process. If you are real, then you paint for eternity.

Are there any paintings that you won’t sell under any circumstances?

Once there was such a period, which was painful, to put it mildly. Now it is in the past.

Some of your paintings are kepting private foreign collections. Do the tastes of local customers differ from those of foreign ones?

Of course! It all depends on the country, on its cultural layer, traditions ….

Do you think it is difficult to be an artist in Moldova? Is it possible to make good money on such work?

If you look at the history of the development of art on a universal scale, it will never seem to be easy. It is rather tragic, and I am not talking about painting now, but about such a concept as artist in any field. Actually, to go all the way to the end, you need to be a little crazy, a little fan of yourself and always be prepared for the fact that you will not be understood. After all, you paint primarily for yourself, and then for the audience. The popularity with the audience… it depends on how the chips fall. Money? It’s bad to think about money! In such a case, this is not you and not your art, this is a different story. I believe that you can earn money on your work anywhere,any work must be paidafter all.

What advice would you give to beginning artists?

Perhaps I have already answered this question. They should know that this work is not easy and the world will not applaud youafter several successful paintings. You should achieve complete mastery, make your art unique and recognizable, be interesting to yourself – then the world may pay attention to you.

What are your future plans?

To take a long-awaited trip to Africa, to paint manypictures and to be happy!

Tatiana has been practicing introspective painting for over 20 years. The issues of the universe and energy are among the first that are raised in the artist’s paintings. Tatiana Todorova’s works are kept in private collections in the USA, Canada, South Africa, France, Germany, Israel, Russia and other countries. Tatiana also teaches the art of painting, and the successes of her students speak for themselves.

Author: Elle Gru, https://wind.md/
24.04.2020