Three generations of an artistic family
An artist is more than a craft, more than a profession — it is a way of life and a unique way of seeing the world. In this section are gathered stories about members of the family who chose art as their profession or their passion.
For us, this section is a way to carefully preserve and pass on what usually remains “behind the scenes” — but what makes art alive and recognisable. Perhaps, in reading these stories, you will feel your own family memory responding to the subjects and histories. Look in on the stories of our creative family — you may find among them some that resonate with your own family narrative.
My Grandpa — Yanin Grigory, November 14, 914 — 1985
My grandfather, my mum’s dad, was a wonderful artist. He painted a lot, but, alas, only a small number of his paintings have survived because of the fire at our dacha in 1978.
He was the first to give me paitings lessons. On winter weekends, before taking a nap for an hour or two, my grandfather would set a still life for me with the words: ‘Here, little girl, draw, and when I get up you will present your work to me ’.I still remember one of my first drawing — the lilacs with a cylinder and magician white gloves.
This spring I found three of his paintings, the ones I never knew about, dated back to 1974-1977. Bit by bit the story of my family comes together thanks’ to kind people and modern technology/
Grandma — Zoya Seikova, April 18, 1921 — 2006
My grandmother from mom’s side. In the middle of her life, she decided to change her vector and became an artist: macramé, embossing, painting in different techniques, ceramics, you name it she tried it all.
Below is a series of her works inspired by a trip to Uzbekistan and, of course, flowers. My dream to visit Uzbekistan came true this year thanks to Sveta Kalashnikova, who helped us with travel arrangements.
Grandma flowers are very special. She grew them all at the dacha and then experimented with techniques. Her husband Volodya often brought forest flowers for her to paint. She would “hide” her name on the canvas among the fanciful lines of the plants.
Lyndin Vladimir, June 8 —
Granny’s second husband. He was an artist and decorator with a great love for the sea and wood, a man with golden hands. Uncle Volodya served in the Navy, and I think he painted only sea and ships. He also created ship models which I still have to find. He was a kind-hearted man!
Mom
My mom — Marina Skobeleva is an artist. She graduated from the school of artistic crafts, then worked at the design bureau with a terrible abbreviation KDMiHR.
The main thing is that everything in life mum does with a creative spark. She did not really paint pictures, but she sewed the best clothes in the USSR! When Alice (me elder duaghter) was in her first grade, we had a creafts exhibition at high school. I bought Santa Clause Tilda sweing set so that Alice could take part in that exhibition.
Mom helped me to sew all together. Later on she bought more Tilda kits and more dolls were created. Later on she designed her dolls which were our Christmas gifts. They now part of annual Christmas gear in my house.
My elder daughter Alisa
Alisa has always been a good student at school. She has enough willpower and discipline to keep going forward, looking further than obstacles on her way. The school that she went to (1514) is famous for being very competitive and demanding, with good traditions as well. A full focus in math did not stop her Alisa from writing two books which you can find here:
Is this really my ticket?
Alisa now is a student of Biological faculty at Moscow Stat University.
My younger daughter Nastya
Nastya goes to the same school as Alisa. Just like her sister she is majoring in math. She creates beautiful beads jewelry. Beading is a painstaking work: first you have an idea, then you select beads and think about the proper scheme to put it all together and then get to work. Easy but not so much.
