Marina Astakhova

What inspires you?

Making art is an ongoing learning process – you learn from nature, from changing world around us, from other artists and from personal experience. Every artwork is like a next step in a long exciting journey.

Describe your creative process.

I never thought of doing sketches for my works, my creative process is semi- automated. When the work is started I have certain pattern in my mind, which is colored in intuitive manner. In many cases, very typical for abstract art, the work itself start to lead the artist for further actions … This process is irresistible attractive and painful, collaboration with your own creation. With wooden sculptures I start attaching pieces to each other like kids play with wooden blocks until they come into something interesting.

What are 3 words that best describe your work?

emotion, color, shape

Who are some artists that have influenced your work?

The more I work the stronger is the feeling that I enjoy being a multidisciplinary artist – and this is the influence of world acclaimed designers and architects. Art for me is part of interior design. Among Russian artists my favorite are avant-garde masters including Kazimir Malevich and Lazar Lisitsky, Lubov Popova for her prints and shapes, Aristarch Lentulov for vibrant colors and Igor Shelkovsky for excellent mix of abstract paintings and art objects.

What is the most important tool when creating your work?

My eyes are the most importaint too - they are in constant search for new shape-to-color combination

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

Never too late to enrich your life with new experience. Listen to your inner voice and believe in yourself/

Where do you go for inspiration?

I can find inspiration everywhere around - in the park, in the mall, scrolling througn the magazine