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[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It\u2019s always hard to introduce oneself. My name is Marina, and I\u2019ve been a freelance artist working with watercolours for the past ten years. I\u2019m in love with watercolour, take part in various exhibitions, teach, and adore plein-air painting. I hold a degree in engineering, but painting is my true calling.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]That\u2019s a good question. I\u2019ve always been an artist at heart \u2013 I used to draw or write stories, so I\u2019ve always loved and practised art. My scientific studies and work at the University of Dresden haven\u2019t directly influenced my artwork, but they\u2019ve certainly shaped my personality, my way of thinking, and the way I find beauty in the world.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”22733″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I\u2019ve realised that art connects people. When discovering a new country, art is incredibly helpful \u2013 it allows you to explore more deeply, make new acquaintances, and eventually process your impressions.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I think I chose watercolour initially because I\u2019m quite an impatient person. Watercolour dries quickly, you can work in washes \u2013 it just seemed like the perfect medium for me. Over time, I discovered how many hidden possibilities watercolour offers, and the more I worked with it, the more interesting it became. Delicate, powerful, wild, calm, uncontrollable \u2013 all of that can describe watercolour. And I think watercolour is a very honest medium \u2013 there\u2019s little room to correct or conceal.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”22742″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Before moving to Berlin, I spent four years in a village in Upper Franconia, so I can really compare. In Berlin, it\u2019s of course much easier to find a fitting artist community \u2013 whether it\u2019s a local painting group in the Kiez, the Urban Sketchers, academic drawing sessions, or women\u2019s creative circles, just to name a few. Berlin offers many networking opportunities. Of course, there are downsides too, like the intense competition within the art scene or the risk of getting lost in countless events and ending up with little time left for creating art.<\/p>\n
Life in Berlin is colourful, free, and very diverse \u2013 and that definitely influences my work. Since living here, my painting has become much freer, more abstract, and I\u2019m no longer tied to a single theme.[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”22740″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”22727″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I travel a lot and see many beautiful places. And in a way, it\u2019s quite easy to paint something that is objectively beautiful. But it\u2019s far more interesting to highlight the beauty of things or scenes that are often overlooked. A red container in a grey courtyard, a person waiting on the platform for a train, cacti in a DIY store \u2013 all of these have their own charm and tell their own stories, which I try to discover and bring to life on paper.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The first thing I do when I start a painting is ask myself: what do I actually want to say with this image? What did I find so compelling that I felt the need to paint it? That helps me focus on what\u2019s essential.<\/p>\n
After that, I almost always make one or more sketches. Sketching has become very important to me. Through sketches, I work out the composition, light and dark contrasts, and experiment with colour combinations.
\nAnother important step is choosing the right music. Music helps me translate emotion onto the paper.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”22728″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”22731″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It\u2019s very important! For me, each paper has its own character, and different papers suit different subjects. A simple example \u2013 for series with Nordic landscapes, I use rough paper to support the strength of that natural environment. For urban and architectural subjects, I prefer smoother surfaces.<\/p>\n
I almost always use 100% cotton paper. I really like \u201cThe Collection Watercolour<\/a>\u201d by Hahnem\u00fchle and paint on it frequently. For my sketches, I love using their \u201cSketch\u201d paper \u2013 sometimes the sketches turn out so well that I end up framing them. And their Watercolour Book 100% Cotton<\/a> have been my loyal companions for the past two years.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”22729″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]By now, I\u2019ve taken part in many different workshops with renowned watercolourists. I find it incredibly inspiring, especially when you begin to see different techniques and realise that you can paint in completely different styles and still achieve stunning results. It takes away the fear of being \u201ctoo detailed\u201d or \u201ctoo abstract\u201d, or of using white gouache or masking fluid. Watercolour is so versatile \u2013 every artist can find the technique that suits them best.<\/p>\n These days, I really enjoy not only learning techniques from masters, but also their perspectives. I like to ask how their artworks come to life, what inspires them, and so on. Pretty much exactly what you\u2019re asking me right now.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I enjoy taking part in competitions. They give me the chance to try out new techniques or think more deeply about the subject matter. Of course, it\u2019s lovely to receive recognition \u2013 it supports me and reassures me that I\u2019m on the right path.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I think you always remember your first solo exhibition. It was through this exhibition that I became a freelance artist and could finally say: art is not just a hobby, but both a profession and a calling.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”22741″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”22738″ img_size=”full”][vc_single_image image=”22736″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]You\u2019ve attended masterclasses with artists like Joseph Zbukvic and Sergei Kurbatov. How have those experiences influenced your technique and perspective?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
You\u2019ve already received impressive awards and recognition in your artistic career. What do these mean to you?<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Is there an exhibition or competition that particularly stands out in your memory? What made it so unique?<\/strong><\/h5>\n