Makings of an artist -- FMWR employee takes plunge into oil painting

By T. Anthony BellFebruary 12, 2014

Oil painting
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT LEE, Va. (Feb. 12, 2014) -- Picture Perfect Frame Shop employee Elena Holmes had known her friend and co-worker Ilona Shuvalova for seven years but had no inkling of her artistic talent.

"I remember she called me on the phone and she said, 'Elena, I drew this or that,' and I said, 'Really, I can draw, too,'" recalled Holmes, dismissive of Shuvalova's stated work, having never seen it.

Then, sometime back in 2011, Holmes was visiting Shuvalova's house. Her friend once again mentioned her illustrations, but this time offered an unmistakable visual in the form of a painting. Holmes was dumbfounded at first sight.

"I said, 'Oh, my God! Did you really paint this or is this a print?'" said Holmes of Shuvalova's depiction of flowers. "I said, 'Are you sure it's not a photograph?'"

It wasn't, although the concept was based on a photograph, said Shuvalova. Everything else, however, -- the color rendition, gradation, brush strokes and stylistic rendering -- are bits and pieces of the oil painting artist she has become in roughly three years, and the culmination of nearly a lifetime of artistic stimulation. The mostly self-taught 42-year-old attributes her artistic ascendency at this juncture in her life to maturity and an increased ability to focus.

"It's probably my patience," said the Picture Perfect framer and wife of an Army retiree. "I have so much patience."

One fruit of Shuvalova's patience is a painting titled "Battersea Girl," which stands out among her other works hanging on a wall at Picture Perfect. It depicts a profiled young subject sitting cross-legged and wearing a bonnet and a pastel blue gown. Conveying time, measure and meticulousness, the 18-inch-by-24-inch piece is her interpretation of a gallery image taken by Tri-Cities photographer John A. Rooney Jr. Its soft colors and plentiful detail are reminiscent of traditional styles and exemplifies what she calls romantic realism.

"I'm looking for something beautiful in my work," she said, noting subjects such as "flowers and ballerinas" are favorites.

Shuvalova is also drawn to history and likes to incorporate it into her work. Historical elements, she said, give her creations a timeless look.

"I've always had an interest in history and the fine arts," she said. "My goal is to paint works that are similar to the old masters."

Shuvalova came to the United States 14 years ago from the city of Lvov in the northwest region of the Ukraine, a former Soviet Union republic. She learned to draw under the tutelage of her mother, an artist who worked in a gallery. That's where she spent much of her time.

"I used to visit the gallery, and I just loved the masterpieces," she said. "I would just stand in front of one painting and look at all the details, thinking 'How can the artist do such a thing?' One day, I thought that maybe I could do things like that."

Her childhood aspiration, however, was a thought on a distant horizon. As she became older, her interests shifted into fashion design, and she eventually enrolled in a degree program that required her to take a few drawing and painting classes. The work she produced in those courses convinced her that fashion design was just a detour to the expressway of painting.

"The teachers and students talked to me about my talent and everything," she said, recalling a conversation from 2010. "They said they 'didn't know how good of a fashion designer I could be but you are a pretty good artist so maybe you could stay there.' This is what made me think about it."

Four years and much resolve later, Shuvalova is no longer in the contemplation stage. She has since produced many works, some appearing in galleries and others in local competitions. "Battersea Girl" has done well in various contests over the past few years. Holmes said her close friend and fellow framer has an indescribable talent when it comes to manipulating brushes and paint into a comprehensible image.

"Her work is gorgeous ... beautiful," she said. "You cannot take your eyes off it. Her talent is a gift from God."

And a gift Shuvalova freely shares. For three months, she has tutored Holmes in the art of oil.

"She so inspires me," said Holmes. "I've never painted before, but I'm learning."

Shuvalova is still learning as well and expressed a desire to take the next step in the endless hierarchy of artistic skill levels. She said it will take an open mind and a willingness to learn.

"The basic classes gave me a good kick (start)," she said, "but further down the line, it's only about practicing and experimenting. That is the way to grow."

In the meantime, Shuvalova said she will continue to show her work in galleries and competitions. Her future interests include teaching painting classes on the installation.