In Russian my last name refers to the word joy.

I want my art to help people feel joy, to see the amazing and wonderful in the very ordinary things of their everyday life. My favorite themes are nature, animals and fantasy.

It feels delighting when the people looking at my works forget their sorrows and worries for a while and merge into the kind and warm world of art!

I grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, got there a Master’s degree in Arts and Interior Design and almost 20 years ago I moved to Finland. The culture, language and environment – everything was very new and only the pictures did not need translation – they were clear to everyone. I got new friends and commissions! After many years of work as an interior designer I left that field and have since focused entirely on art, teaching and illustration. Now I help my students aged from 5 to 90+ to get involved in art and to express themselves through brushstrokes and paints. In the classroom we speak different languages, but the main language for all is the same – art. I’m very excited about art workshops, exhibitions and online courses. The works of my young students have participated in international competitions and won prizes.

For over 8 years I have been illustrating a children’s nature magazine Sieppo for the Finnish Nature Association (Luonto-liitto). One of my biggest clients is the city of Helsinki. As a volunteer I have also illustrated for Animal Welfare Finland (SEY).

Yearly from 2017 I am an organiser and painting demonstrator of the Open Watercolor Event in Gallen-Kallela museum, Espoo, as a part of Grand Painting Event on The Finnish National Day of Fine Arts.

My watercolor works have participated in international jurized exhibitions, including IWS (International Watercolor Society) and Fabriano. The postcards with my paintings are on sale in the museum of Gallen-Kallela in Espoo. My works have found their new home in the private collections in Finland, Russia, USA, Australia, Lithuania and Poland.

I’m a member of the Professional Union of Finnish Designers and the Finnish Watercolor Society.