The main theme of Elena Sitnikova’s works was the life of villagers. The artist was born in Nizhny Tagil, but as a child, she spent every summer at her grandmother’s in a village. At the same time, Elena became interested in drawing and became ‘a permanent and irreplaceable artist of wall newspapers and posters’.
After graduating from school, Sitnikova entered the Ural State Polytechnical University but dropped out of school in the third year. For more than 10 years she worked as a geologist. In the summer she went on expeditions, and in the winter she drew geological maps. Then Sitnikova led an art studio in the children’s club “Youth” and studied at the Pavel Khozhatelev evening art school for adults.
In her works, the artist recalls her childhood and seeks to return to it with the help of creativity. “And, living in the city, I always want to go there. To the place where there is a lot of space, where there are small houses, kind old women and wise old men. To go to a place where everything is simple and beautiful, ” the artist said in an interview.
The motive of searching for a lost paradise, a carefree time of childhood and youth is often found in the works of amateur artists. Turning to this theme, they strive to express themselves, find inner harmony, distract themselves from everyday problems. The paintings of naive artists are distinguished by their spontaneity, sincere emotions, violation of the basic rules of fine art.
In the painting “Conversation” Elena Sitnikova uses warm tones, depicts an open space, and leaves a lot of air. All the characters are good-natured and cheerful, and the village cats are well-fed and happy. Sitnikova depicted not some specific place, but a collective image of the calm rural world of her childhood. This is a sun-warmed “village that never exists anywhere”.
Elena Sitnikova’s style differs from the style of other Ural naive and amateur artists. On a rough wooden base, the artist skillfully forms a composition, carefully paints details on all the levels of the picture, uses bright colors and transitional semitones at the same time.
After graduating from school, Sitnikova entered the Ural State Polytechnical University but dropped out of school in the third year. For more than 10 years she worked as a geologist. In the summer she went on expeditions, and in the winter she drew geological maps. Then Sitnikova led an art studio in the children’s club “Youth” and studied at the Pavel Khozhatelev evening art school for adults.
In her works, the artist recalls her childhood and seeks to return to it with the help of creativity. “And, living in the city, I always want to go there. To the place where there is a lot of space, where there are small houses, kind old women and wise old men. To go to a place where everything is simple and beautiful, ” the artist said in an interview.
The motive of searching for a lost paradise, a carefree time of childhood and youth is often found in the works of amateur artists. Turning to this theme, they strive to express themselves, find inner harmony, distract themselves from everyday problems. The paintings of naive artists are distinguished by their spontaneity, sincere emotions, violation of the basic rules of fine art.
In the painting “Conversation” Elena Sitnikova uses warm tones, depicts an open space, and leaves a lot of air. All the characters are good-natured and cheerful, and the village cats are well-fed and happy. Sitnikova depicted not some specific place, but a collective image of the calm rural world of her childhood. This is a sun-warmed “village that never exists anywhere”.
Elena Sitnikova’s style differs from the style of other Ural naive and amateur artists. On a rough wooden base, the artist skillfully forms a composition, carefully paints details on all the levels of the picture, uses bright colors and transitional semitones at the same time.
