How I became a Wildlife Conservation Artist
My view of the world today was directly influenced by my childhood experiences. At six years of age, my world changed dramatically when my parents divorced. My mother and I moved from country to country in search of a better way of life. The language barriers I experienced were a huge obstacle and I was a constant target for bullies. My one key source of happiness was found through art, which proved to be my own "language." Expressing my feelings trough shapes and colors.
My art education formally began at the School of Fine Arts in Yaroslavl, Russia. Equipped with solid techniques and skills, I proceeded to the Art School of Museum in Tel-Aviv on a scholarship. Here, I began developing my own style, as my teachers encouraged exploring my own style. My art education continued with a period of self-study, with my focus shifting to bringing awareness to wildlife conservation. I had developed a deep connection with animals, living creatures who would never be able to learn a language to express their emotions, particularly any pain that they felt.
It my mission to be the voice of these living creatures with consistent efforts both on and offline to highlight issues surrounding the human impact on biodiversity. Using my paintbrush as an act of silent activism, I paint animals facing straight forward which allows the viewer to experience an intimate gaze into the animal's soul. I have raised awareness for wildlife through fundraising at solo exhibitions and a world mural tour that included Animals Asia. Due to the pandemic, however, the tour had to be stopped abruptly, requiring new options to continue the vital mission of raising awareness about endangered species.
The intention of my art is to reconnect people with nature by revitalizing a love for wildlife in their hearts. Animalized paintings remind us of nature's bountiful beauty and how our actions affect the environment and wildlife. Through the connection one feels when gazing into the animal's eyes, I encourage the viewer to recognize their individual impact on wildlife by inspiring each person to look deeply into their current practices and assess how they individually may be affecting our environment. Everything happens for a reason, and sometimes it takes a while to understand why. Trough my experience, I genuinely understand what it feels like not to be able to speak for oneself. We make a choice to either play the victim or work to rise above and contribute to a higher purpose.
Ekaterina Sky
