Personal experience - Anastasia Trusova

The talent finds its way. It is built from the scratch. Slowly and strongly, like a mountain river, it paves its road and dives through your every cell. Even if there is a lack of tools, it will build the path.
Anastasia Trusova is the real example of that. Brought up in difficult conditions, her artistic spirit grew even stronger. Highly influenced by the environment she grew up in, she paints in a live and almost self telling way. It is a time machine, a transporter into a Russian snow fairytale where all the beauties and difficulties come to life. Her paintings take you to a different world, they are a rest to the tired eye and beauty to the home.

Where are you from? Where does the art journey start for you?

I was born in a small town in the Ivanovo region in Russia.  In my city there were 2 schools after school: sewing - technical and art.  Therefore, everyone in our town wanted to become either a seamstress or an artist.  I've been painting for as long as I can remember.  At first there were art studios and circles, then art schools and the university.  We lived very poorly, poorly, so my mother bought 2 sweets from sweets in the store, 1 for me, 1 for my sister.  It's poor when you eat pasta with sugar and sunflower oil, and they buy clothes for you to grow, 2-3 sizes larger.  Therefore, my first artistic tool was a simple slate pencil and watercolor.  However, around our town there were forests and swamps, forests that stretched for thousands of kilometers, with a rich flora and fauna.

What is the first emotion that drives you towards creating an art piece? Do you recognize the connection immediately and let yourself flow on the creative process? Or do you "bake" the inspiration for some time?

I've always done well.  Our family was in the mood for higher education.  And I wanted to be the best myself.  I have always remembered the phrase: "the main thing is to prioritize."  For me, the most important thing is my family: children, husband, parents and sister's family.  I devote almost all my time to my family and draw inspiration from my day with them.  It can be a beautiful shadow from a baby carriage on the cracked asphalt, or spray from under the wheels of the elder son's bicycle.  I don't think about the plot in advance.  I paint a place from several photos at once and think out in the process.  It's great!  We artists can at least grow grass in a cloud on our canvas)

What is the back story of your design? Because every one of us sees the world through separate lenses. How hard it must be to transfer it to other people?

I have already said that my first instrument is pencil and paints, but besides that, I studied sculpture for another 10 years.  When I started painting again, after a long pause, it was difficult for me to exclude something.  I can't paint now with oil, so I started with acrylic.  In truth, I have never painted with acrylic, my first experience was only in 2017.  The only thing that upset me was that it darkens, fades and becomes flat.  Fortunately, there are now various additives that allow him to maintain volume.  It was they who allowed me to sculpt volume in the picture and create my own style: texture graphic impressionism.  What to call backstory?  I studied in physics and mathematics class, and after class I went to art school ... classes were there until 20-22 pm, and then bus-metro-bus home.  I finished the last class as an external student, as I had to work to pay for tutors for admission to the institute and my Art materials.  Then I graduated with honors from the university and worked as a shoe designer for 3 years.  After I moved to my husband in Belgium, and only after birth and unsuccessful job searches in my specialty, I began to paint again.  In Belgium, I was offered a job as a shop assistant, or as a cleaner.  Since the country does not need footwear designers ... all I want to show in my paintings is the beauty of nature, the noise of the forest, the warmth of the first ray, the laughter of children.  Of course, not all my paintings will resonate in the heart, we are all different and this is normal!

When it comes to making a living from your art, what are the main struggles? And what would be your advice for starting artists?

As an aspiring artist, I would advise you not to compare yourself with other artists, but only with yourself a year or more ago.  Don't expect quick sales!  The artist first works for the name, and then the name works for the artist.  Throw away the boundaries that get in the way of creativity and be yourself.  There are billions of people on earth, and if 10,000 tell you what is not beautiful, trust me 10001 will say that he fell in love with your work, you just need to meet this person.  And of course, in order to start making money through art, you need to work, work and work.  As my husband said, being an artist is the most unprofitable profession, you invest time, money, energy all your life, and you start selling only after many years...

What do you prefer, single pieces or storytelling through a whole project? And what approach do you use in each case?

I prefer not to tell stories for my paintings.  Paintings are a luxury item, I do not want to impose on anyone the purchase of a painting.  The buyer must see and feel his own personal experience.  It shouldn't be a rash purchase that he will later regret.  My paintings have stories, but only I know about them.  The buyer will buy and give them his.

Why do you use certain materials? What connects you with them, and makes you feel they are perfect for your art piece?

I love to experiment.  I am bored to paint the same way.  Therefore, acrylic is perfect.  Almost anything is possible.

What does ART, in general, mean to you?

Art is freedom, it is a tool for conveying emotions and feelings to the viewer.  I want my viewers to have only positive emotions and I hope that you will have only them.