Cat Stephanie Painting

I was born and raised in Naberezhnye Chelny, a city in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. From a young age, I explored various creative outlets, dabbling in clay sculpting and dance before discovering my true passion for painting at the age of 8. After two years of attending art classes, I decided to pursue my artistic education further and enrolled in art school. I've always been captivated by the world of art, finding joy in drawing, sculpting, and various forms of decorative arts. My four years at art school were a time of exploration and growth, as I honed my skills and experimented with different mediums. Following that, I took drafting courses, and found myself at a crossroads, contemplating a career in architecture or fine arts. Ultimately, my love for visual art prevailed, and in 2007, I enrolled at Naberezhnye Chelny Pedagogical University, in the Faculty of Art and Graphics, where future art teachers are trained. The university curriculum was comprehensive, encompassing everything from art history and techniques to psychology and pedagogy. In 2009 and 2010, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in museum internships across Europe, broadening my artistic horizons and exposing me to a wealth of artistic traditions and styles. Throughout my studies, I participated in numerous plein air painting sessions, and it was during these immersive experiences in nature that I discovered my primary artistic inspiration. The beauty of the natural world, which I am fortunate to witness every day, became my muse. After graduating from university in 2012, I embarked on a career as a freelance artist, specializing in oil painting, my preferred medium. Over the past decade, I have created numerous commissioned works, translating my clients' visions into tangible expressions of art.