Olesya Nedostoynaya has been drawing and painting for as long as she can remember

Olesya Nedostoynaya is a second-year student at the Free Art School.

Her interest in art was sparked already in childhood. The welcoming atmosphere during the entrance exam convinced her that she had found the perfect place to study painting.

When did you discover your interest in visual arts?

I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. As a young child, I filled notebooks with drawings of all kinds of exciting stories and characters I imagined. I also loved painting and drawing with my grandparents. My grandfather had studied painting and taught me how to paint birch trees and a house. My grandmother drew funny princesses with me. I believe these early childhood experiences were the most formative for me.

What does painting mean to you?

Painting is enjoyable in so many ways.

I love mixing colors, liquids, and pastes and spreading them on paper, canvas, or boards. That alone is enough to keep me coming back to painting day after day, year after year. Painting is also a tool for understanding what it feels like to be me.

I often paint my own experiences, emotions, and physicality. When I paint, I feel in control of what’s happening. It must be similar to what it feels like for someone who has studied dance for years and has gained refined control over their body. I enjoy making precise and delicate movements, mixing colors, and arranging all the elements into pleasing compositions on the surface of the painting. It’s a wonderful feeling to watch the painting come to life beneath my hands.

Olesya Nedostoynaya says she draws inspiration from music, nature, and her loved ones.

What made you apply to the Free Art School?

I had studied art before and was quite skeptical about applying, because my previous schools had mostly dampened my enthusiasm for painting. But during the entrance exam, when I met the teachers and experienced the school’s atmosphere, I knew this was the perfect place for me to study art. That’s why I gave the entrance exam everything I had — and luckily, I was accepted.

What has studying at the Free Art School given you?

Here I’ve met wonderful and inspiring people — both teachers and fellow students. The atmosphere is friendly and safe, and I always enjoy coming here. It’s been important for me to feel seen, understood, and accepted as the painter I am.

I’ve also learned a great deal about materials and techniques, which has helped me grow in my practice. Because the knowledge I’ve gained is so broad, I can adapt it to my own needs.

I’ve had the chance to try all kinds of things and discover my own gestures in my own time. I’ve even made my own painting tools — like long brushes from bamboo sticks and a rotating painting platform. Here, I’ve learned that there isn’t just one “right” way to paint.

What’s the most recent thing you studied, and what did it evoke in you?

The most recent thing that transformed my painting practice was learning the tempera technique. The paint feels wonderful on the brush and layers onto the surface in a magical way. I’m enchanted.