Natalia Simonian

I live and work in France in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, small town to the west of Paris. It has always been my dream to devote myself to painting.
Creating makes me happy. I love spending hours imagining, contemplating, discerning, and capturing what is invisible at first glance. I try to bring onto canvas or paper what was once only a concealed idea. What is unclear or barely perceived becomes real. This world of working one-to-one with the model—observing and studying—is fantastic to me. I’m always trying to capture that elusive moment.
My favorite subjects to paint are still lifes and portraits. This delicate work requires concentration and attention to detail, a search for new color solutions, and a careful study of how light and shadow interact. Inspiration often comes from the very moment of composing the piece and continues throughout the entire process. Returning to ancient works also brings me great pleasure. Many artists know the sense of fulfillment when their work shows clear improvement or reveals a new solution.
Among others, French Impressionists have given me tremendous inspiration. Their vibrant, brightly colored world feels unexpected and inexhaustible. It offers an escape from reality and invites us to dream. It brin...

Attending Art college in my teens I hadn’t thought that I would carry on this activity many years later when I would start attending workshops in The Academy of Painters of Abbey (l’Academie des Peintres de l’Abbey) in Poissy. The seven years spent in this unique place, an ancient dwelling and art studio of French artist Lucien Gros, have become an unforgettable period and led me eventually to become an artist.