MARIA SIMONOVA IS A 20-YEAR-OLD ARTIST BASED IN KENT.

Following her life-long passion for reflecting on any subject, imaginary or real, that sparks her fascination she is currently finding herself at the exciting stage of discovering her unique niche within the contemporary art world. Therefore, as different mediums suit different ideas and subjects better, her artworks are as diverse as can be and fuelled by her desire for constant learning to use new materials, she has branched into painting, drawing, ceramic sculpture and her most recent undertaking – pottery, which she is now studying through an apprenticeship at Aylesford Pottery.

Recently, Maria’s most influential source of inspiration has been the natural world.
Having a personal connection to her subjects is of utmost importance and she achieves it by frequently sketching en plein air to thoroughly explore local nature in search of the next subject for her studio artworks. Through the laborious, realistic rendering of wildlife Maria observes locally, her work aims to stop her viewers in their tracks and reconnect them with the wonder of nature surrounding us daily presented in all its detail and glory.

Maria’s representational approach is rooted in her strict Academic training received in her native Russia. It introduced her to the fundamental principles of realism from an early age and cemented her high-level technical drawing and painting skills. Her natural tendency towards representational rendering was further reinforced by frequent gallery visits and viewing of the great realist paintings of the Peredvizhniki artists.

Upon moving to the UK, focused on the more abstract, conceptual expression of personal ideas and world view. She embraced this change by vigorous experimentation with a variety of projects, themes, techniques and subjects reflected in her multifarious artworks. By incorporating influences stretching from the Pre-Raphaelite decorative style to the Surrealist wittiness, alongside the supernatural ability of Trompe L’oeil to make a painted illusion seem real and the use of the natural beauty and harmony of the Golden Ratio to design captivating compositions, Maria’s artworks are always carefully constructed, busy, complex and multi-layered. Creating an element of mystery and investigation through hidden peculiar details is a core element of her artworks, resulting in the enduring fascination and freshness as the more one looks at them, the more one sees.

This way they prompt the viewer to look beyond the face value and apply this important lesson to their own life to freshly rediscover the beauty and miracle of being alive in this never boring world.

Throughout her life Maria has switched between using her inner world, imagination and ideas or experiences in surrounding reality as inspiration sources, resulting in either more conceptual or realist artworks. Akin to the inspiring journey of Piet Mondrian’s artwork style and now that her realisation of how intimately interconnected everything is has grown, she will be building upon the past and bringing the best of these opposites together into a harmonious artwork that expresses her unique vision and aesthetic and personal philosophy