How Anya from Belarus sells her paintings in America at 21 for $ 5000
'04.07.2019'
Source: tut.by
Ana Nareiko is now 21 year. Usually at this age they graduate from the university, but the fate of this girl was different. In 19, she expelled from the Academy of Arts, moved to the United States, in fact, nowhere. And now she has found herself in art and sells paintings for quite good money even by American standards. You definitely did not hear about this girl, because she does not strive for popularity in her homeland.
“I just want to do what I like and get paid for it,” explains Anya. How you can make money on art in America, says tut.by.
“They sent a letter that is expelled. Thought: Thank God "
- Why did you move to the USA?
- To begin with, I note: moving to another country, in two years you will not achieve any great heights. I do not believe in this. I have never seen such a thing and, of course, I cannot call myself a super successful person. But I am moving and developing in my direction.
I will be honest: in Belarus I was depressed. In 19 years! I studied the specialty “design of means of production and transport” at the Academy of Arts, but two years later I realized that I was waiting for something else from the university. And the second course I did not even count! These teachers ... Ay. In the end, just sent a letter that I am expelled. Well, okay. I thought: "Thank God." I don't care at all.
When I left, I began to draw not immediately. For a while there was a very difficult period: after all, you came to another country, everything is new here, other people, it is not clear what is happening at all ... Besides, I did not go to study anywhere. Just left - first on a tourist visa, then it turned out to change her status and issue new documents. Although I do not think that these procedures excite anyone.
- How did you end up creating the paintings?
- At one party I met the designer Jeremyville, he is quite famous. He also had a collaboration with Hugo Boss recently.
I worked with him for this project for almost a year - I helped him, and seriously so. And he inspired me greatly. I saw how a cool art studio works ... In general, he is a successful and rather rich designer who introduced me to various people from the industry. This is a matter of chance - I met him absolutely by chance.
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Already by that time I began to try to make 3D models myself, to draw - what I did to find myself. Recently, I probably did it, but I don’t want to tell a lot about it yet. I am afraid that they will jinx it, especially as I am just starting. Still in germ stage. I can only say that it is rather animation and work with characters, graphic design. Something like comics.
“You never know what to do until you try”
- How do you choose in which direction to work? For example, how did you find yourself in what you are not showing yet?
- I can not yet say that this is directly my direction ... Well, I also studied at the gymnasium-college of arts (MGGKI), and at the Academy of Arts. I’m drawing in general from 5 years, probably: I went to school, where we did it in addition to the lessons. In general, everything comes to the life of a person from outside. A lot of factors. I can not say, they say, I always knew what I was doing. You never know what to do until you take and try. In the end - maybe! - something degenerates.
I was influenced by the fact that I met this designer ... I had never planned to paint at all. I did not think that I would create characters and that it attracted me. And when I tried, I understood: I like it! In addition, in this area you can seriously develop. While I express my thoughts in this way - through characters.
- You have more work-abstractions. Can you explain to everyone what the joke of this art is? Because you can hear a lot of comments like “pf, Malevich! I can draw two circles and a square too. ”
- To understand the style, idea, touch and handwriting of the artist, you need to understand the art. The same Malevich - the founder of Suprematism, even, one might say, the whole of modern art. This is minimalistic color, minimalistic form - we all live now. And art has also become an expression of character in minimalism.
I can not say that there is "something funny". Rather, it is some kind of natural evolution of art. Here you look at the pictures of the Renaissance, where a woman sits on the lap of an old woman and holds a bucket of water in which the fish swims - and this is all symbolism. That is, only after studying history, you will see: the woman is our generation, the old woman is the past and so on ... In short, art is symbolic.
Generally, when you draw, you cut off from this world and go out into some other. When I painted my paintings, I tried to convey my state in color and form. It's like music - an impromptu of my soul. I draw immediately on a white canvas, without a sketch. I like it, many people like the result of what I like - that's all for it.
- How long does it take to create one picture?
- I work pretty fast. The picture probably takes 12 − 20 hours. Not that without a break at all - as I have time. But, maybe, I spend 6 − 8 hours per day ... In general, in fact, I have such a usual office schedule.
- Can you explain with the example of your work what this or that color or shape means?
- Well ... I do not draw the symbols of the ancient Egyptians. Now everything is not directly clumsy symbolic. The main thing is composition: when objects are so arranged on a format that nothing can be removed or added. This refers to any kind of painting and graphics.
And I get high when I can create such a composition! When the color also has some meaning: let's say, the darker the subject, the heavier it is, the lighter - the easier ... I make a puzzle - and bring it to the ideal.
“Can you learn this?”
- Yes of course.
We, artists, after all, have also gone through an art school, and not by nature capable. But I think everyone is talented. Just, for example, you have a life like this, that you did not take the brush in your hands. And if you took? You see, ambitions come after opportunities. So you did something and you think: “Why don't I become super-famous now?” I don’t sit and think that I’ll become a cool steamer, because I have never practiced parkour in my life.
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In general, who needs what from this life. Someone likes to sit on a salary. But I would like to live a bright and short life.
- "27 Club"?
- Yes, write so. "She wants to die in 27." I do not want to marry or children - I want to become a famous artist.
"Recently sold a bulk order - 20 paintings"
- Speaking of fame. Do not you want to talk about you in Belarus?
- What for? What's the point of this? I do not care. I do not have the task to become popular and famous. My goal is to do what I love and get a steady income. Let's hope everything goes.
- But do you manage to earn by creativity?
- It seems to me that making money from your craft is also a talent. We must constantly write letters - in galleries, people - to meet, ask, somehow promote themselves. In general, be in each barrel gag. And, of course, while doing something and trying to do it well. If you do some shnyaga, then you are unlikely to succeed. Here you know such an artist Pokras Lampas?
- I heard about him, but I do not follow my work.
- Here you go. I was subscribed to his instagram, when there were still 10 000 subscribers (now 388 000. - Approx. TUT.BY). It has been like five years - and he has just now become famous.
- How is art monetized?
“I recently sold my first wholesale order - 20 large canvases into a single building in Denver, Colorado. But it was not that they found me and said: “O God, what a talented you are!” No. Again - just get to know, communicate with people ... So I came across some serious guys with a giant building and all the bells and whistles. They have a large lobby there - my pictures are hanging there.
Now, I’m still more like selling away (retail, for example, through instagram. - Comm. TUT.BY). But in the summer, maybe I will put one picture in the gallery. I still try to develop my story with the drawing of the characters, so I sell those abstractions that I still have. I prepare them for specific exhibitions.
- Is it possible that when an artist is exposed, he is paid?
- Each gallery works on different conditions: somewhere else you need to pay a fee (fee. - Approx. TUT.BY), somewhere there is none. Further already, if the gallery sells your work, you divide 50 money into 50.
In general, if I know a lot of art collectors in New York, I can at least open my own gallery. I will exhibit young artists there who want 5 thousand dollars for their painting, but I will sell for 150 thousand. Selling for 5 thousand - in half it will turn out for 2,5 everyone. Selling for 150 - I’ll give him the 2,5 anyway. Well, you understand. This is how it works.
- How much do you sell one of your paintings?
- When I was selling a large order, I made a discount for wholesale - roughly speaking, thousands of work for 2 turned out.
It all depends on the size: my canvases are quite large - 48 to 72 inches (approximately 122 to 183, see - Approx. TUT.BY). This picture is about five worth. Smaller jobs — 36 on 48 inches (91 on 122 cm) —through 1,5 thousands.
- Probably, it sounds tough for Belarusians. Is it normal for Americans?
- Yes, this is the average price. But, of course, depending on the artist. I sell more expensive in the first place because of the size. I sell some small canvases for 500 dollars, sometimes even for 200 − 300.
But what is five thousand for America? Sometimes Dad says to me: “Is it so expensive?” - and I answer: “Dad, well, we are just at different steps of evolution. Belarus is another story. ”
“I don’t miss Belarus”
- How did your parents react to your decision to move?
- They always supported me. My sister is also a designer, she graduated from the same faculty where I studied. If Vera is a designer, so why shouldn't I become one? Not in the sense that I followed in her footsteps, but somehow the map lay down - I also began to draw. For example, it’s not that the pope cares, but he always said: if you want, do it.
- Do you miss Belarus?
- Нет.
- What do you think is the main difference between the USA and our country?
- It is easier in Belarus, because there is no such competition. America is a gigantic country, even just New York is a whole separate world. There are a billion artists, journalists - 15 more times, actors - 35 more ... A huge number of people! Therefore, the competition is incredible. Of course, the chances of getting through to New York are still greater. But for this you need to seriously work and constantly haip.
I like it in the USA: here it is “visible” more, one feels more, horizons and worldview are expanding. I do not know how to express it - probably the point is in the scale.
- Could you somehow inspire those who want to develop in art? Some advice to give something ...
- I do not recommend. Everyone has his own path. But I’m not agitating anyone to move, not even my friends. Well, except that the best friend.
