Portrait of NATALYA PARRIS
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NATALYA PARRIS

About the Artist

Artist's Statement

Artist’s Statement By Natalya Borisovna Parris I was born in Moscow, Russia where I earned degrees in construction engineering. My life-long passion for art started from a very early age when I visited Russian and European fine art museums. I spent so much time in museums that, as a child, I believed that museums were the places where people belonged and walls existed for displaying pictures and sculptures. I express myself and my view of the world through color, color combinations and shapes. There is no taboo of what colors I could choose or combine, or what technique to use. I apply whatever seems right at the moment or whatever new ideas are coming up in the moment of inspiration. I find inspiration for many of my art works in nature, where the palette of colors changes dramatically depending upon the time of day or season of the year. I am a strong believer in contributing to the community by promoting art awareness and education. This is why I like to display my artworks at the libraries, at the community centers and agricultural fairs. My art works have won several awards, but the biggest reward for me comes when people ask, “How did you do it?” If my artworks help the viewers accept new art forms, encourage them to be creative, help them to see the world from a different angle or make someone happy; then it is worthwhile for me to create it.

Featured Work

Photos

Artwork “Lotus", acrylic on canvas, 12" x 12" won 1st place at the Maryland State Fair, August 24 - September 4, 2016; 2200 York Rd, Timonium, MD 21093. Image of this artwork and my Bio were published on page 31 in Art & Beyond May/June 2015 Online Magazine http://www.artandbeyondpublications.com/online_mag/2015/05/mayjune-2015/
My acrylic on canvas artwork “Natalya's Flowers” won 2nd place (professional category) at the Maryland State Fair, August 28 - September 7, 2015; 2200 York Rd, Timonium, MD 21093. It won 3rd Place in professional category (Oil/Acrylic) at the Montgomery Village Foundation 41st Art, Craft and Photography Show March 7 & 8, 2015 at North Creek Community Center, 20125 Arrowhead Rd., Montgomery Village, MD.
My artwork "First Snow", mixed-media on paper, 11" X 14" won First place at Montgomery County Agricultural Fair 60th Anniversary, August 8 - 16, 2008 (Gaithersburg MD); it also won Second place (professional category) at Montgomery Village Foundation Arts, Crafts and Photography Show, March 8 and 9, 2008 (Montgomery Village MD.)
A large part of my art is inspired by the Russian folk traditions and crafts. During my travels to rural areas when I worked as an engineer and had business trips to construction sites, I acquired original folk art pieces for my collection, visited local museums and talked to people who created this art. But, my art is not authentic Russian folk art; it is merely derived from folk art. It is my feelings about Russian Folk Art: a modern, contemporary interpretation of it. I added my unique artistic style - “Emotional Counterpoints in Paint – Dots.” In this technique, perfectly round dots are overlaid onto sections of a previously-painted picture. To express very powerful emotions, I pile the dots on one another and the dots, like music notes, interact with the rhythm of the melody - creating emotional counterpoints in a three-dimensional painting. My dots connect my experience making engineering drawings by hand (it was the time when I learned to paint such perfect dots) and the present time, when I use those dots to create my artworks. I have started to teach students Russian folk art and show them, from examples of my own paintings, how knowledge and centuries old traditions of folk art can be used to create modern contemporary art. I often work with a theme and create
Artwork "Daffodils For Mardi Gras" won First Place (professional category, oil and acrylic) and Viewers Choice Award at the Maryland State Fair 2009. Ms. Parris expresses herself, her view of the world, through color, color combinations and shapes. When she creates her artworks, she feels completely free. There is no taboo of what colors she can choose or combine, or what technique to use. She applies whatever seems right at the moment or whatever new ideas are coming up in the moment of inspiration. Her “Emotional Counterpoints in Paint – Dots Artworks” have a slightly different story behind them. They are more reflection of her “life achievements” as an experienced construction engineer. Her floral compositions are expressions of her connection with Nature; its beauty and its nurturing and healing effect on a soul.
When I create my “free spirit - nonfigurative art,” I feel completely free like a flying bird. There is no taboo of what colors I can choose or combine, or what technique to use. I apply whatever seems right at the moment or whatever new ideas are coming up in the moment of inspiration. I express myself and give my view of the world through color, color combinations and shapes. I use my scientific, engineering and life experiences to bring new ideas to reality in my art. I developed a unique artistic style -“Emotional Counterpoints in Paint – Dots Art” where perfectly round dots are overlaid onto sections of a previously-painted picture and create a melody of my heart on the canvas. Sometimes the emotions are so powerful that the dots (like music notes interact with the rhythm of the melody) creating emotional counterpoints - piled on one another-and create a three-dimensional painting. My floral compositions are expressions of my connection with Nature; its beauty and its nurturing and healing effect on the soul.