Tatiana Oles is a true artist. She is the kind that other artists admire. She can paint, sculpt, make collage, use fabric, and make hats and clothes. She is the artist who can use any material with ease and create fantastic pieces.
Tatiana is full of energy and switches frequently from one media or material to the next depending on her whim and inspiration for that day. I personally find it fascinating that she does not make preparatory drawing for her paintings.
She can see it all in her mind from the start then just seems to paint her vision. Amazing.
When did you begin in the arts?
I began at a very young age, in pre-school. I was born in Chisinau, the Capital of Moldova. In 1979, I graduated from Academic School of Fine Arts ‘Igor Vieru’ in Chisinau and thus began my creative life as a decorator and pictorial artist. All the schools I went to had a special place for the visual arts.
Which media do you work in?
I love working with different media such as watercolors, oil paints, acrylics, I also like mixed media using additional materials, colored paper, fabric, wool, wood, metal, glass, clay, etc. I feel I am most natural using watercolor paint.
What are some of your inspirations or influences?
I am inspired my many things including nature, music and traditional European art. I studied all the artists and copied all the masters. I studied Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, all the Old Masters and all the Impressionists. I used to paint a lot of Russian icons. People really liked those in Europe and some do here too.
Tell us how your journey brought you to the U.S.
When my parents passed away in Moldova, I already had a sister here in the US, since 1994, begging me to come to America. I was comfortable and spoke no English, so I resisted.
I finally relented and came to the U.S. I landed in Minnesota and got involved in the art community. I showed my work in different galleries and had good success. I still have good collectors in Minnesota, and all over the U.S. by now. I live in Princeton now.
Your work shows very colorful patterns, florals, religious themes and animals. What got you interested in this style?
I do not have a specific style in my work, I work with different materials and in my life I have tried different styles, techniques. I like to experiment, not develop some kind of style. For me, the main process is in which I put a part of my soul and the positive energy of love. I love the process of making art and the outcome of the art itself.
What fight/struggle do you have regarding your art?
I try to solve the artistic difficulties and problems as they come. Of course the perpetual artist problem of keeping a studio, being able to buy materials. I use expensive material to make the apparel and jewelry, because I wish it to be of high quality. And of course I always like for my works to be collected.
Do you make many sketches for the paintings you make?
I do not make sketches. I start to paint and you see how it comes out. For me painting is just like breathing. It is totally natural. In Minnesota some of my friends called me The Russian Art Machine!
Have you found that U.S. art lovers enjoy the traditional Moldovan styles?
I do not know if Americans know much about traditional Eastern European styles. I don’t think of it like that. I just see it as my style. I paint with energy feeling in the moment and find that I am always inspired by something.
Do people approach you for commissions?
People do approach me for commissions, but to be honest I am trying to taper down on those. My background allows me to paint in any style and mostly any subject. I am at the point where I wish to paint what I like.
What are you working on now?
Now I am making jewelry, necklaces and bracelets with embroidered beads, ceramic elements and gemstones. I had the idea to make big jewelry that is a pleasure to make and wear. I hope my collectors will like it too. Then I will switch to sewing and making apparel. I like to make coats, hats and dresses.
Where can we see your work?
I am in a show up now with the Makers Alley art group. We are showing at the Old Milford Bank building in Milford, Feb 25 through March 12.
I will also be showing at the Brookwood Café in Hamilton in November and December 2023. Web: artoles.com. Instagram: instagram.com/tatianaolesart.
Art by Tatiana Oles.,
