[INTERVIEW] HOF DECEMBER 2024 @MARINA

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American painter John Audubon was an ornithologist and bird lover.

He observed and recorded how birds looked and painted life-like pictures to preserve the beauty he saw in birds forever.

The way he captured the characteristics and textures of birds in his work reflected his deep affection for birds and nature, and his paintings are now an important resource in ecological research while also having great artistic value.

@Marina, who we inducted into our Hall of Fame this December, also paints how birds look to show people the special value of nature.

The artist’s feed is filled with beauty from nature.

The artist meticulously paints birds observed from nature, creating works that capture the vibrancy, dimensionality, and the mystery of nature's many charms.

Also, various subjects, including portraits, flowers, and landscapes, are used to express the artist’s inspiration with beautiful colors.

We have to ask the artist how they came to draw these works.

So, let's start the interview with the artist.

Q1. @PENUP

Hello, @Marina!

On behalf of everyone at the PENUP team, we’d like to congratulate you on being inducted into our Hall of Fame in December 2024.

Please briefly introduce yourself and tell us your thoughts on selection.

A1. @Marina

My name is Marina.

I live in a small, picturesque town near the Azov Sea.

I have never been trained in the art of painting.

By education I am a psychologist, candidate of psychological sciences.

Also, I am a candidate master of sports in chess, and now I teach this noble game remotely.

As a hobby I write articles on a literary website, and I am fond of sports.

However, the most important thing for me is drawing on the PENUP platform.

I draw every day with great pleasure.

That's why entering the Hall of Fame was one of the major accomplishments in my life.

I feel completely happy.

Q2. @PENUP

You first post dates back to September 2022.

How did you find out about PENUP, and what inspired you to share your work on PENUP?

A2. @Marina

As I wrote earlier, I am a psychologist.

Studying the psychology of art, I realized that drawing has a beneficial effect on the human psyche, for example, as a prevention of unfavorable psychological states.

I am convinced that for a full life every person should find a way of creative self-realization.

I decided to try painting, choosing digital painting as a modern direction of fine arts.

I didn't believe I could paint anything, but my young relative convinced me to give it a try.

After researching online resources for drawing, I settled on the PENUP app.

I liked that it is a social network for drawing lovers and at the same time an application for drawing.

I bought a Samsung tablet specifically for this purpose.

I started trying to draw in PENUP and I liked it.

Since then, drawing in PENUP has become a part of my life.

I like the process of drawing and communication - likes, comments.

I sincerely enjoy the successes of my friends from PENUP, I get great pleasure from seeing their successful works.

They inspire me to improve my own painting.

Q3. @PENUP

You paint things that capture the vibrant essence of nature.

What kind of devices and apps do you use to create your artwork?

A3. @Marina

Choosing a tablet for drawing, I decided on the Galaxy Tab S8.

This model does not have the largest screen, but it has a high resolution and excellent color reproduction.

Many of my works I draw only in the PENUP app.

Sometimes I use Autodesk Sketchbook program for sketching.

I always finalize my drawings in PENUP.

Q4. @PENUP

You create art that embodies delicate expressions through beautiful colors.

What inspired you to start painting?

A4. @Marina

Nature is a major inspiration.

I walk the old streets of my city every day.

There are beautiful plants and flowers in the front gardens literally at every step, which I always admire.

Along the way I meet cute cats and dogs.

I am inspired to paint by the desire to share the perception of my vision of beauty with other people.

Q5. @PENUP

We see birds in your work.

Is there a reason why you paint birds in your art?

Also, if they appeal to you as a subject, what makes them so appealing?

A5. @Marina

I like to draw birds with brightly colored plumage.

Animal hair is usually calm, natural colors.

Birds have bright plumage that can combine a variety of unexpected colors.

I don't strive for realism.

I improvise and combine colors the way I want.

I also change the proportions and shapes of the bird.

Drawing birds gives more room for imagination.

For me the main thing in drawing birds is to create a unique, beautiful, colorful, spectacular and unique image.

Q6. @PENUP

We saw various art depicting animals, such as dogs and cats, as well.

If you have a favorite animal other than birds, what is it?

A6. @Marina

I like to draw cats and dogs more than wild animals.

Pets are not as colorful as birds, but they have clear and interesting facial expressions.

When drawing dogs and cats, I try to convey their mood and character.

Q7. @PENUP

We saw flowers painted using various expressions.

Could you tell us why you paint flowers?

A7. @Marina

During my walks, I constantly pay attention to the beautiful plants.

In nature, every blade of grass is beautiful.

There are artists who are able to portray a modest object with talent.

I admire such works.

But painting twigs and leaves is not my style.

Q8. @PENUP

We also saw landscapes capturing a moment in beautiful nature.

What kind of landscapes do you mostly try to capture in your art?

A8. @Marina

In a landscape I like harmony, proportionality of everything depicted on it, subordination of each element to the general idea.

The stylistic depiction of trees, bushes and grass is an interesting challenge, but I consider a landscape successful if it conveys a mood or contains a philosophical meaning.

The second type of landscape I practice is a background for flowers, birds or animals.

The background in this case means as much as the main subject.

Q9. @PENUP

We saw feeds of you capturing how you paint.

Why did you upload a video of this process?

What subject would you like to paint about in the future?

A9. @Marina

As I said before, I am a chess coach.

I enjoy teaching others everything I know and can do.

When I started drawing at PENUP, it helped me to study the stages of drawing posted by experienced artists on the site.

I learned a lot.

Now, by showing the stages of my work, I want to help those who are taking their first steps in mastering painting.

Besides, I am mesmerized by the process when an attractive image emerges from abstract and schematic spots.

Q10. @PENUP

Last question.

Please let us know if there is anything you would like to see improved while using PENUP, or if there is anything you would like to say.

A10. @Marina

I miss the layer overlay mode.

Otherwise, I'm happy with it.

It has everything you need to draw and communicate.

But most of all I like that the PENUP team is constantly improving the project.

I am happy with every update.

Compared to what the platform was in 2022, step by step there have been significant changes for the better.

PENUP is a dynamic platform for drawing and socializing.

I like the new versions more than the previous ones.

I like to explore the unknown.

I am interested in experimenting with new brushes.

I wish further success and prosperity to the PENUP team.

Your unique and unparalleled global project gives the joy of creative self-expression to many people from different corners of our planet.

I also thank all my friends for their attention and support.

I wish them to enjoy drawing.

This is the main thing!

What did you think of our interview with @Marina?

John Audubon went beyond simply recording a bird’s appearance, and captured their ecology, behavior, and how they look at a given moment.

The artist also paints moments in nature, discovering the unique beauty and vitality within them.

For those of you who are reading this post, how about observing various living, breathing creatures around you and painting them in your own way?

You might have fun capturing various movements and paint them in a picture to create your own special story.

We look forward to seeing beautiful animals living and breathing on PENUP with everyone's art.

Thank you.