Can you tell us about your artistic background?
My name is Tatiana Kashtalyan. I am from Belarus and I work as an industrial designer. In my spare time I do creative work. I really like to draw with watercolors and pastels._ I am very inspired by nature, flowers, architecture, and this is what I reflect in my works._ I participated in exhibitions of pastel technique NSP (Russia) 2019,2020. My works are privately owned in Europe and the USA. I also cooperate with an online school where we record lessons on pastel technique.
Do you have a favorite or regular technique? What do you like the most about this technique?
Now my favorite thing is to paint with pastels. The incredible feeling when with your fingers, with the help of a crayon, you create color effects that are very similar to watercolors. You can also create thin line graphics with pastel crayons. Pastels give very great possibilities in technique. Since I paint flowers most often, pastel makes it possible to make very beautiful soft color shading.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing for an artist and why?
It seems to me that the most important thing for an artist is his idea, his vision of the world around him and what he wants to show to the viewer. I think that the artist’s work is the artist’s soul.
Do you have a favourite colour or art material?
Most of all I use complex shades of pink and purple, from light to dark.__ I really love complex shades of gray-pink, gray-green. Now I mainly paint with pastels and one of my favorite brands is Sennelier, a set of the Paris collection. I like the softness of the crayons and the richness of the pigment.
According to you, how is a color palette composed?
The colors of the palette are compiled based on what you paint. For example: if you are painting a landscape, then you choose natural colors (green, brown, sepia, etc.), if a marine theme is a blue-green gamut, if a floral theme, then shades of red, pink, burgundy, green, etc.
Tell us more about your style (artistic universe) and your influences.
I used to paint with watercolors and when I started to paint with pastels I applied the watercolor technique in pastels. For example: I make soft shading with pastels that are very reminiscent of watercolor. Also I often use a mixed technique: on pastel mat paper I use watercolor imprimatura and then I use pastels._ In my works, I try to convey airiness and light.
What’s the best thing about being an artist today? And the most challenging one?
Now there are no boundaries for communication with other artists, we can buy and try different materials, share our experience with students, freely express our idea. The difficult thing is to find your style, something that will inspire your audience.
Do you have an advice to share with beginners?
Don’t be afraid to try new materials, experiment, look for inspiration around you, learn from the artists who inspire you, and most importantly, love what you do.
Can you tell us about your actualities, your future projects?
Now my training pastel course Flowers and Landscape is out, I continue to draw every day, study new topics, plan to participate in exhibitions in the future, and try the theme of ballet.