Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kateryna Metelytsia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kateryna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

As an artist holding three degrees in art, proficient in painting, illustration, and teaching art to both children and adults, reflecting on my journey, I would categorize my experience into three pivotal skills I acquired. The primary skill, undoubtedly, is the mastery of drawing—capturing volume and depth on an entirely flat surface. To excel as a specialist in my field requires not only professionalism but also a profound passion for the craft. The second skill involves the audacity to be true to myself, boldly expressing my perspectives on the world and showcasing them. Lastly, the third skill lies in the ability to release my creations, offering my knowledge and products at a fair price. While my formal education emphasized drawing, the art of selling was a crucial aspect not covered. It’s not just about creating a high-quality, unique product; it’s also about effectively marketing and presenting oneself. The development of these three qualities knows no bounds.

The obstacle in my path, as it turns out, was overestimating the importance of certain phenomena in the world while underestimating others. Any progress I achieve stems from a fundamental reassessment of my approach to everyday phenomena, events, and accomplishments. It’s essential to value time—both yours and others’, appreciate professionalism, and, of course, remain steadfastly committed to your dream.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an artist and art teacher. For more than 20 years I have been painting and drawing illustrations. And since 2010, I have been teaching to draw adults and children at Snowstorm Art Studio using my own step-by-step program. The program is a classic school of skills that has stood the test of time and many students, and now in addition with the successful achievements of my methods in an online format. This is a solid foundation where skills are strengthened, and student portfolios are created. I have been in your shoes, I have walked the path you are on and now I am proud to share my experience with you. The program is flexible, adaptable, and dynamic. Aimed at developing creativity in children, creating something new, original, showing imagination, realizing their plan, independently finding a means to implement it. In my classes, little art lovers acquire traditional drawing skills with paints (acrylic, then oil), and simple pencils. For the youngest art lovers, the program includes modeling and applique classes, which expand children’s understanding of the artistic possibilities of these materials. Children themselves introduce new details, create a more complete image of the plot, which contributes to the development of creativity in other activities. So, I created a certain dependence between tasks. This interrelation is specific in different age groups. Children develop interest and preference when choosing a painting or illustration. My online classes are proof that anyone can learn drawing techniques no matter where they are. I have developed a way and use tools that allow students to interact with me during the class, share the results of work and make edits. What I like most about online classes is that I don’t touch students painting, but they will always see and understand what, where, and how to correct the painting for the best result.
And adults in my online master classes master the practice, theory, and tricks of creating effects. Either it is the volume of objects or depicting a perspective and depth of space. All the paintings that we paint in group workshops are selected to understand and acquire strong technical skills, exploring shape, color, light and shadows, striving for technical perfection in order to then use them at home to create your unique work of art, independently and confidently bring your own stories to life, become a creator.
I appreciate the courage and trust of my students. I am glad for their feedback – it helps me make the studio and services better, and this is critically important for small studios like mine.
In individual art classes, together with the student, we create a unique plot; we can use a photograph that the student himself took, or come up with a scene from a sketch, or draw a copy of a painting by a famous artist.
And my paintings are a snapshot of contemporaneity, a kind of temporal capsule—my reflection on and communication with the surrounding world. In a world teeming with events, there are both significant and inconspicuous facets. My artworks serve as a reminder of the necessity to know, remember, feel, and not overlook anything: to recall one’s roots, to be mindful of ongoing conflicts, and to acknowledge that nature is simultaneously vulnerable and relentless.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

In my Snowstorm Art Studio, I’ve cultivated an atmosphere where art and creativity are accessible to everyone. My mission is to kindle interest and nurture the desire to explore and immerse oneself in the world of art. I aim to help people comprehend art, its genres, and its profound meanings. My classes aim to make visiting both contemporary and classical exhibitions and museums a transformative experience that will change people for the better. I inspire individuals not only to observe the creations of classical artists but also to perceive the true essence of the artworks, feel harmony with the paintings and foster a desire to delve even deeper.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Try to paint a sea wave in the morning sun without using a photograph. Yet, there was a time when photography wasn’t accessible, and artists invested time in studying natural phenomena. Just imagine how thoroughly you had to know and understand the subject you wished to portray in order to depict it without relying on a photograph. Certainly, modern technologies enable us to do things faster, sometimes without even considering why. The internet, the availability of photography, computer programs for image editing, and a variety of materials, and tools. If only I had all of this before… But I’m not complaining; I simply appreciate these opportunities now.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.catherinesnowstorm-studio.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snowstormartstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SnowstormArtStudio
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@snowstormartstudio6805

Image Credits
I am the author of all photos.