Hello, Elizaveta, thank you for coming. We would like to ask you several questions about you and your love for horses. What was the starting point? When did you ride a horse for the first time? Do you remember how it felt?
As long as I remember I have always been in love with horses. I have been riding since I was a child. Once my parents and I were walking in a park, I saw a horse and started shouting: “A horse, a horse,” it was impossible to take me away from that place, my parents had to give me a ride. Later on my mother retold me that story.
Exact sciences and professions related to specific tasks predominate in the modern world: for example, finance, management, law, information technology. You decided to devote your life to art. What challenges have you faced up combining your passion for horses and your profession?
When I entered the Academy of Fine Arts, both teachers and senior students told me nobody could paint horses and that it was forbidden to take horses for the graduation project. I did not take those words seriously, and painted compositions with horses every term. Once I even painted the Trojan horse, it still counts I guess. There are also horses in my graduation work “Joan of Arc”. During all six years of study, we have been painting and drawing only people, landscapes, and still lifes, however, I could paint horses on my own. Now our profession may seem anachronistic to many people, but this fact doesn’t stop me. I draw and write what I like, and I am pleased that people buy and order my works.
Russian painting and sculpture set a very high bar. Isn't it difficult to meet these high standards? What do you need to collect material for your work? What does horse riding have to do with this?
It would be much more difficult to study painting without knowing any artistic traditions. High standards help young artists set their goals and follow the chosen path. It is impossible to create something new without knowing the history of art.
Undoubtedly, it is not an easy task to paint a horse. Having graduated from the Academy, I continue to study it on my own. Even if you master drawing and plastic anatomy very well, it is worthless without thorough composition and creative approach. I think it is very important to start with a well-organized sketch. If during work a better compostional solution comes up, I repaint the necessary fragment of the work. These rules work regardless of whether there are horses in the picture or anything else.
I came to the equestrian club «Fact» in 2020, when I was looking for good photographs for a composition assignment. Maybe, in fact, this was just a reason to come back in the familiar and beloved equestrian world. I took a trial lesson, and then decided to start riding regularly, because I liked the way my coach, Yulia Maksimenko, conducted the training process. She helps me to understand the horse's anatomy, and I often show my her the work I've started.
When I was a child, I really loved the books of K.S. Lewis. He has a novel called «The Horse and His Boy». It seems to me this title has something very important for understanding our work with horses: they somehow change people, adjusting us to the mechanics of their movements, does not allow us to cheat, points out our mistakes, refuse to obey an incompetent rider. Horses generally do not tolerate rudeness. As in art, in equestrian sport, a high-quality result requires hard work, conscientiousness, and a willingness to overcome oneself; it is a long-distance running.
Tango is a dance of passion and it takes two to be danced. Do you have a favourite horse?
Of course, I have, his name is Reglament.
This horse has innate will to win and passion for show jumping. He really loves to be the first one. Communication with him brings me great joy. Reglament is a smart and beautiful horse. We have performed together many times and even won prizes.
Do you have sporting ambitions or dreams? How often do you participate in competitions? How do you feel if you lose/win?
I really want to become a good rider. I also have a dream to be able to go into horse riding as long as it will be possible. Now I am very happy to have time and opportunity to study with my coach improving my riding skills step by step.
I often take part in club competitions of the horse riding club “Fact” and now I’m looking forward to the summer show jumping events. Of course, I am very happy about the victories, it inspires me to continue working and painting. Many people know the book “Travel in the saddle along the route of life” by the outstanding sportswoman Elena Petushkova, there is a phrase there: “Victory is not the aim, but a reward.” This is probably how one should understand success. Every time the rider and the horse show their work.