Artist Spotlight - Tatyana Palchuk — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Biography

The European – Baltic Artist Tatyana Palchuk
Tatyana Palchuk was born 1954 and has been living all her life in Riga, in a small area between the Art Academy and Elizabeth Street. Already during the kindergarten teachers predicted the little drawer an artist's destiny. Although, nobody was connected to arts in the family, she was constantly drawing in sand with a stick in hands.

Tatyana lost her relatives in soviets Stalins repressions ( She have Ukrainian Dona’s Kozaks, Russian, Hebrew roots), and father at an early age and has been growing independently as other after war 50ies - 60ies kids, and she was the eternal engine and captain for the yard kids. Tatyana enrolled Rozentals Art School by herself even not informing her mum. The artist tells that becoming an artist was not as easy for her and she had drawn on to the level of the more talented school and academy members, in her opinion, only by thorough and accurate work.

Her teachers are indisputable stars of Latvia and Europe Art - Imants Vecozols, Pēteris Postažs, Boriss Bērziņš, Edgars Iltners and academic Eduards Kalniņš. She has been among the few who have done the Masters course with the Academic of USSR Academie of Arts Eduards Kalniņš.

Tatyana is proud to have had the honour and uncommon luck to visit and grow artistically at the academic's home, studio , and also meet Masters visits at her small studio of only 12m2 in Elizabeth Street apartment. The experience and knowhow given by these art grands has been invaluable and it has helped Tatyana to grow the one and brilliant art figure, which she has become.

The Liner is SailingAway.2024.120x100.oil on linen.

Tatyana living quite a secluded self-centered life of an artist. Therefore she can't be spotted in any parties, exhibitions and other events so typical in the world of arts. Tatyana doesn't attend contemporary art exhibitions and she finds her inspiration going to Europe culture centers rejoicing in Renaissance, Hollandaise, Italian and other world treasure artworks at famous galleries and museums. One of her favourite art museums is Gemäldegalerie in Berlin, which she tends to visit so every year.

Tatyana's motto is that anything new hasn't been invented but it has already existed, and a Human is only a small part of macrocosm breathing harmoniously around us with microcosm inside itself, which is possibly as infinite. She is to no extent affected by the modern trends and loud attempts to draw attention to oneself. The main characteristics of her works are positivism, humanism and harmony with united world.

They have been drawn in an excellent painting technique and mixing modern and ancient - a manner characteristic only for this artist. No doubt it is psychologically a quite difficult road, always to be a bit of a stranger among peers. But there are a great many Tatyana's art admirers scattered all around the world.

Her works are in collections in many world countries, like wise in repositories of the Russian Art Union and Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. During the peak years of creativity Tatyana had an excellent success at international competitions and art markets ( last time, sells in Top 15, Ravenel Auction House and Hessinks ). Last years significant exhibitions was participation at international painting exhibitions in New York, Rome, Palermo, Antwerpen, Spain, Denmark, Deutshland, Taiwan, Czech and other world art centers. Peteris Rikans - artists agent

The Fog. 2025. Oil on Linen 70x100cm.1mb

Artists Agent, Collector Peteris Rikans conversation with Fine Art Master
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the arts? And your first experience in art making?

I have been lucky. All my life I have been doing the work that I truly love. I don’t start my day by realizing that I have to attend the work I don’t love, but I begin it by having a feeling of happiness to have the work I love and can go on by doing a deed that gives me joy and satisfaction. I am certain that only loving the deed you do, in my case it is painting, it is possible to create something truly valuable and beautiful. Of course it refers to any profession.

As the majority, as a child I loved drawing very much. However, there was one important thing. In an incomprehensible manner I was absolutely sure that I want to have ability to draw. I was clearly certain of that and I remember it very precisely. Therefore at the age of 11 I made my decision to enter the Art School (meant for the 5th grade pupils and situated only 100 meters from my living place).There children could obtain art education in parallel with the studies in comprehensive schools.

I was 9 years old when my father died and during the hard post-war years my mother had to raise me and my elderly sister all by herself. Mother didn’t object and using the scarce resources she bought a drawing album, colour paints, pencils and brushes. That was an indescribable feeling of happiness when we were going home from the shop having all the goods in the bag. It was mom’s support. All the rest was accomplished by me.

I collected all the necessary documents and certificates to enter the school. I also attended the training classes and examinations all by myself while other children were accompanied by their parents. My mother had to work and therefore she had no extra time for the children. I had absolute freedom to make my choices at that time. And then there happened a miracle. I, a child orphan from the most poor grounds, was enlisted .11 out of 75 children were enlisted. That was the first very important step into my field of artist.

It seems so long ago. Afterwards there was the Academy of Art, then USSR ART Academy Master Class, finally the second title MA (Master of Arts) that was defended already during the years of the re-established Independent Republic of Latvia in 2003.In general my artist’s school has lasted for 18 years. And I ‘m still learning – and I am going to do it all my life. But I will never forget the first steps on the way towards my professional artist’s profession.

How would you describe yourself and your artwork?

It is a difficult task to describe myself and my pieces of art. With the years I have realized that I don’t know myself, an artist Tatiana Palchuk, very well. ‘’Get to know you and you will get to know the world’’ have been said by the wise ones, therefore I haven’t yet gotten to know the world and I know that I will never get to know it to the end. Whereas , my pieces of art can be better described by the audience and the art critics. I can only add that I paint the same way I breathe, it’s absolutely naturally, organically, having pleasure and having no torture of creating.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

In the life itself that surrounds us and there is nowhere else to look for it. Consciousness, sub consciousness-that is something abstractive to us, ethereal and at the same time so closely tied with life. That is life. Colours of things, the sky, fog. Sounds, scent, a ray of the sun, a form of some associations, memories, objects. A bird’s flight, noise of the city, footsteps in the park, an event –and thus to infinity.....This amount is an impulse to create.

A great importance to my creative work can be given to the art works of those artists who have lived before me .The art I have gained as an inheritance, the art that has no nationality and the boundaries of state. The best that the mankind has created for me in my sphere, and what to observe is a great honour and happiness, has been situated in the best depositories of art, cathedrals, museums, galleries.

What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?

I hope that my art evokes the feedback. Absolutely positive emotions. The feelings that I had when creating my pieces of art are now felt by my viewers .First it is harmony and the beauty of the surrounding world the way I see it in general. Certainly, praising the world, absolutely positive and kind-hearted emotions.

As in childhood fairy-tales where the evil is always beaten by the good offering the hope. I’m sure that real, true art can find its way to the human’s soul straight, fast and having no explanations of mediators .It talks to you straight on, you accept it and the piece of art becomes a friend of yours, or it’s hanged on the wall at home, your family member.

Morning at the the Harbor , 2025. 120x90cm. oil on linen.

When do you know that an artwork is finished?

When I think that the painting is finished I put it aside and let it stand there for some time so that I don’t see it and have forgotten of its existence. It can be a period of about 2-3 weeks. Afterwards I state the painting on the easel again and watch it with a fresh sight as from aside. If I’m satisfied with my work and don’t want to add anything, change or correct it then it’s satisfactory and the painting is finished. However some tiny changes are being made until it seems to me that everything is o.k. And then I can tell to myself ‘’Well done, Tatyana!’’

What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?

There have been several ,important to me, holds, stops .The first one was participating in the exhibition of the young artists of state in 1981.I had a feeling of my heart jumping out of my chest because of the great happiness and joy that i had then. I was 26 at that time. The second moment was in 1993 when I had my first solo-exhibition in Riga, I was 39 then and while going to the exhibition I thought I wasn’t going to reach the opening of the exhibition and if I was -I would fall unconscious.

The third moment. I belong to the crowd of people who consider and wish everyone to be involved into the one and only sphere the person belongs to. I can paint but I’m absolutely unskilful at selling, advertising and promoting them. I don’t have an ability to organize exhibitions, create contacts, participate in competitions, fill in all the necessary forms, inquiry forms etc...Therefor there are such people as art agents.

They have a taste of art, talent of a viewer and a talent to acquaint the audience with the artworks. And the best thing is that such a person has come into my life first by purchasing my paintings, then by becoming my agent and afterwards by ‘’purchasing ‘’ my heart and becoming a husband of mine. Now I think only about painting and the rest is in the hands of my husband Peter Rikans .It’s easier to go along the hard path of a nowadays artist together and it’s a great luck to have a shoulder to lean against.

How long does it take to produce one work?

It depends on the moment that you consider to be the beginning of painting a piece of art. The idea of the painting sometimes lasts for years. The Initial Idea, a thought, but it has to mature, to get covered with content like a fruit stone that has to get covered with the fruit itself. And then, finally, it becomes clear what the painting has to look like. Then it goes on with gathering the materials, collecting them, sketches, drafts.

If I have thought of people to be foreseen in my paintings then I have to think of searching for faces, types followed by the development of the appearance, colour gamut, composition. Then I summarize it all by creating the so called ‘’cardboard’ ’a black-and-white ready, graphical development of the painting ranged a 100%.Everything is, actually, developed there –a format, composition, details etc.....

Then there follows the copying of the material onto the canvas in two stages. I fact that was the way the ancient masterminds of Renaissance used to work creating their frescos. All the listed before appear s to be the main process of creating a painting. In the end all I just have to do is to paint the painting onto the canvas. Finally it’s only a question of technique and skills. So, adding to the mentioned before, in order to give absolute birth to the painting, 2-3 months go by, sometimes even more (it depends on the difficulty of the format and details of the painting).

What exciting projects are you working on right now? Can you share some of the future plans for your artworks?

At the moment I’m working at the long time series of paintings from theme “Little Things World” Some works are being put aside ‘’ to mellow’’ and 5 are finished. Still something more are placed in my mind, in sketches, materials. These are the nearest plans and intentions but what is the outcome-we will see. I hope it’s going to be good. I have put down much intent, but while I haven’t begun realizing them with a pencil in my hands, I am going to stay silent. There is a saying’’ if you tell your plans to anyone they will fail’’.

There are lots of ideas and thoughts but everything depends on the mental and physical possibilities. Sometimes artists need to do nothing but be lazy, to lounge about, to listen to music, to read some criminal novels, to do the so called nothing. But still the head does its work and this’’ zero-gravity flight’’ gives lots of strength afterwards to realize ideas and helps the ideas to be born. There, how easy it may seem outwardly. The phrases of the ideas are being written in my notebooks, on small pieces of paper to serve many more human lives. I hope I can realize at least a bit of that all.

Do you have any upcoming events or exhibitions we should know about?

My Art’s is and was exhibited in Artprice, ArtSpecifier, ArtFinder, CircleArts, SAATCHI, ArtCuratorsHub and in other the world Investments and many more sources of Internet. They are great helpers when promoting the artist’s recognition. An Italian publishing house Bianascuro is going to publish a book about me. So everything is in process and an accent is more to be applied to my promoter.

2025-26.Towards to Light ,70x90,oil on linen

Where do you see your art going in five years?

I’m smiling. It‘s a matter of dreams. Of course I wish to see my artworks to be exhibited in serious, of high-quality collections of art collectors and art lovers, in museums and art galleries. Also every artist wishes to find an owner for each artwork so they found their place in the houses and hearts of people thus becoming members of families. I want my paintings to bring joy, love, piece, not discomposure and negative irritation. In the modern world it’s long ago too much of negativity.

P.S. I definitely want to say what I love outside of my main job - painting. First it is Classical Music, in my opinion the highest of the arts. The only thing that cannot be physically touched, seen, smelled or tasted. We can only hear that, but that is enough for good music to stir up a whole ocean of feelings, thoughts and imagination in a person. I have to thank my piano and music teacher Mrs. Karina Weber for my love of music. She was the one under whose influence I feel music. even physically. Her favorite, and of course now mine too, was Chopin. When I paint, music always plays in the background (not only classical, but also jazz and good pop music too)

Also, I really love to travel, to discover the world, European art centers, Galleries, Museums, Nature, People, Architecture, History, etc...etc...As they say: There can be nothing better than a trip...- only a new trip. Peter and I are in absolute agreement here.

Well, speaking of fine art...I am a big lover of the early Italian Renaissance (Proto-Renaissance). Above all, the inimitable frescoes of the Great Masters. First of all, such personalities as Ducio di Buoninsegna, Giotto di Bondone, Simone Martini. I love the Northern Renaissance, Jan Van Eyck, Rogier Van Der Weyden. And of course the Great Master Vermeer. That's why my life is beautiful, full and I always lack time, sometimes health and lack of means to fulfill all my wishes. It's good that I have Peter next to me, who is first of all a real friend and support in everything I do and we do together.

Tatyana Palchuk – Artist Peteris Rikans – Art Agent, Collector, Promoter, Museum of America International Art Consultant, Mark Fisher's Galleries Moderator

Marina,(Jacht Port)94,5x109cm , 2026, oil on linen

Artist Statement

Deep and complete knowledge of my profession are proven by long years during which I was learning and improving myself as a professional. My creative work is first of all characterized by many exhibitions, publications and positive feedback from students, colleagues and art critics. The basis of everything still remains academic professionalism. Even it is not a leading value in the arts currently – good master of his handcraft should combine talent and professionalism. It is definitely an advantage and provides additional quality to the work results. My creative work is too long and varied to be described in one page.

2025.Still Life with Red- Crescend Marigold 25x30

I am confident that:
1. For representative of any profession, including creative and art ones, the first thing you need to do is acquire the skills of your handicraft.
2. If a designer or architect using his main tool - pencil - is not capable to draw his idea quick and simply to his customer – his is not a professional.
3. If an artist is not capable to sketch ideas and versions of his painting – he is again not a professional.
4. That is why I am sure, that the main thing I can teach to my student is to become a professional of his handicraft, having a will and contribution of what he does. My conformity to the position qualifications is described in all attached materials. Geniuses and evaluation of student works should stay to the critics and prerogative of history.

About T.Palchuk Art and Authorities
1. Tanyas paintings are intellectual and humanistic, with no transfers or other masters quote. It is rather a mental association or philosophical resemblance to the thoughts and spirit, which is the great masters works. From the 20 th century Masters can be found kinship with early Picaso, Miro, Salvatore Dali surrealist perspective on things or a simplified Warhol's philosophy.

Tatyana not use photos, everything that we see in her works, is a spiritual process. This is the emotional experience what she see, and on this basic, causes those visual and philosophical associations. Paintings so You can watch over and over again, not get tired of it, but each time reveals something new.
Their influence not only the great old masters works, but also a places , that she visits and getting to know their trips. For example, a great love for Tuscany and Italy at all.

Norwegian nature makes her to survive the beautiful moments. Musical impression she may even cry. Subsequently, after she released her humanitarian and spiritual saturated paintings. Result , it is the a great work of soul. The world is a unit , and the people are part of this world. (Erasmus of Rotterdam, and it also says Aristotle). In the Northern Renaissance paintings, appeared nature and "people generally", animals, landscape.

2. Now the old masters who inspired Tatyana.
Italian pre renaissance
Simone Martini ( 1285-1344) Sienese School
Ambrogio Lorenzetti (1290-1348) Sieneze School
Pietro Lorenzetti (1280-1348) Sieneze School, worked in Assisi too
Duccio di Buoninsegna (1255- 1319)
Andrea da Firenze (1325-1379) Firenze
Altichiero da Zevio (1330- 1390) Veronese School, Verona, Padua
Masolino da Panicale (1400-1447) Florentine School, Firenze
Masaccio (1401-1429) Florentine School, Firenze
Giotto di Bondone (1266-1337) Florentine School
Jean Fouqet (1420-1480) French painter and illuminator, the first master of French renaissance
Limbourg Brothers (1370-80 – 1416) three Netherlandish brothers, the most famous of late Gothic Illuminators

Cicles ofLife. Youth-Spring. 75x95.oil on linen.2023

Tanya favorite quotes:
„ Not what man knows but what man feels, concerns art. All else is science” Bernard Berenson (1865-1959) American art critic when life is considered the largest in the US authority on Italian renaissance painting.

„ To create, you must be able to respond. Creativity - the ability to react to everything that happens arround„ Clarissa Pinkola Estes, „Women Who Run with the Wolves”, „ Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype „

„ The gilding [ of the illumination], the brightness of its colour are not a result of a „ medieval naivety” but they are the means of creation of another world „ Andre Malraux (1901-1976 ) French writer, cultural studies

„ Nature all of You, everything about, in You and everything to You „ Emperor and philosopher Marcus Aurelius

2023.Cycles of life Maturity-Summer 75x95.oil on linen

So, Tatyanas art heavily influenced by Early Northern Renaissance (obo 15.century), most outstanding representatives. Tatyana says, "Intimacy, chamber style artworks , high level of detail, materialism of objects . The wonderful landscape, animal portraiture, depicting the real life from humanist positions, a real sense of the world and all unity life on earth. These works radiate love. Everything , what I say above, I find in these works of great masters, and it is very close to my soul and perception of the world."

Robert Campin (1375-1444) Flemish master
Jan Van Eyck (1395-1441) Flemish painter
Rogier Van Der Weyden (1400- 1464) Flemish painter
Hugo Van Der Goes (1440-1482) Flemish painter
Hans Memling (1440-1494) Flemish painter
„ Desire beautiful life is considered a sign especially peculiar Renaissance. Art serves life, and life - serves art, like never before”
Johan Huizinga (1872-1945) Dutch philosopher, one of the founders of modern cultural history.
His work „The Autumn of the Middle Ages” Great show the forms of life and art in Netherland and Burgundy 14.-15.centuries.

Tatyana says, „ For me, some of the interesting books below „
Bertran Russel „ History of Western Philosophy”
Stendhal (1783-1842) French writer „ History of Painting Italy”
„Art must be associated with feeling, not with system, but in fine art needs a soul ,even to convey the most indifferent things”

Her is short Tatyanas "fondling" list.
From Renassaince to todays.
Donatello, and Masaccio for artistic commissions as sparking the creativity of the Renaissance. The famous early Renaissance fresco cycle Allegory of Good and Bad Government in Siena by Ambrogio Lorenzetti (painted 1338–1340) and Masolino da Pannicale, whose strong message is about the virtues of fairness, justice, republicanism and good administration. Florence's leading artists, including Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, and Michelangelo Buonarroti.
The works, of Hugo van der Goes and Jan van Eyck having particular influence on the development of painting in Italy, both technically with the introduction of oil paint and canvas, and stylistically in terms of naturalism in representation.
The work of Pieter Brueghel, the Elder would inspire artists to depict themes of everyday life. Holbein, Memling.

The Renaissance as it occurred in Northern Europe has been termed the "Northern Renaissance". Northern Renaissance artists remained focused on religious subjects, such as the contemporary religious upheaval portrayed by Albrecht Dürer. Later on, the works of Pieter Bruegel influenced artists to paint scenes of daily life rather than religious or classical themes. Flemish brothers Hubert and Jan van Eyck perfected the oil painting technique, which enabled artists to produce strong colors on a hard surface.

Still Life with Goldfinch. ( Allusions to Jotto)2023.25x30.oil on linen.

Last period of arts Vincent van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin and other late 19th century innovators, Pablo Picasso made his first cubist paintings based on Cézanne's ideas. Édouard Manet, J. M. W. Turner, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Alfred Sisley, Wassily Kandinsky, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Gustav Klutsis, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, René Magritte, André Masson, Joan Miró

www.tpalchuk.eu
Studio You Tube:
https://studio.youtube.com/channel/
Tanya in Pages:
https://www.artoteque.com/artotech/
https://www.saatchiart.com/palcuka
http://tpalchuk.eu
Book 2018
https://issuu.com/studiobyblos/docs/palchuk_tatyana
Electronic Tanyas Book-Catalog - L.trossaert
http://en.calameo.com/read/
Issuu Magazine 48-51lpp - MA T.Palchuk 48-51 page
https://issuu.com/circlefoundationforthearts/docs/circlequarterlyartreview-bycfapress
T.Palchuk Prizes, Diplomas etc:
https://failiem.lv/u/uzhze4vg
https://www.youtube.com/watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch
Video T.Palchuk in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/
Global Art Network Tatyana:
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/
http://globalartnetwork.blogspot.com/
https://www.artmajeur.com/tatyana-palchuk
https://www.artsy.net/artist/tatyana-palchuk-rikane
https://www.saatchiart.com/palcuka
https://www.artnet.com/artists/tatyana-palchuk/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatyana_Palchuk
https://www.contemporary-art-collectors.com/interviews/tatyana-palchuk
https://circle-arts.com/member/tatyana-palchuk/ https://www.contemporaryartcuratormagazine.com/home-2/tatyana-palcuka-rikane