By Ron Evans
Local (by way of Russia) painter Sasha Syssoeva can often be spotted out in the wild, skillfully and purposefully capturing local landscapes, churches, urban settings and just about any scene where she finds beauty, dramatic lighting and texture, “and sometimes melancholy atmosphere.” All with an unwavering connectivity to her spirituality and faith. Syssoeva will be premiering her new collection titled “In The Valley Of Grace” this coming Friday (9/3) at Mela in downtown Wenatchee. I reached out to the artist to talk about this show and to learn about her style and inspiration to pursue a higher calling through her work.
Talk about your progression through the art world - when you got started, what art (artists/style) spoke to you early on? Was your path always steered toward painting for the most part? And did you zig and zag your way to your current style, or was this what you set out to do all along?
When I was 6 years old, my mother noticed that I was always doodling something. She took me to a kids’ art school in my Russian hometown, but they said I was too young. Not taking “no” for an answer, my mother promised the teacher that she would stay with me in class and supervise. This convinced the teacher to allow me to stay. Later on, I enrolled into a City Art School where I was fortunate to study under a very accomplished painter and sculptor, Israel Ginsburg. My art education was based on the traditional curriculum with many hours of drawing human bodies, anatomical casts, architectural studies and plein air work.
Throughout my life, I was fortunate to travel and visit the most famous Art Museums in Moscow and Saint Petersburg where I observed and studied works of not only many Russian Masters but also the most influential masterpieces by Italian Renaissance, Flemish and French painters, from Raphael to Monet. In recent years, I saw the renowned art collections of the Metropolitan Museum in NY, as well as Chicago’s and Washington DC’s galleries. After taking a break from painting in my 20s to go to a law school and to build my new life in the United States, I came back to my passion for art a few years ago with a new vision and increased commitment.
Tell us about your upcoming show at Mela?
My new art show is called “In The Valley of Grace”. The name is a takeoff from the documentary titled “In The Valley of Sin” that described harrowing claims of child abuse in Wenatchee from over 20 years ago. I’m presenting several new paintings finished over the last year and a half that mostly reflect life in the Valley, joys and struggles of the pandemic.
Many of these pieces combine elements of nature along with rustic buildings, dormant factories and bridges. Is there a concerted aim to play with those juxtapositions or has that happened more organically?
As a traditional painter, I would always gravitate to the traditional subjects, but I do not choose random objects or scenery. Every subject matter is selected carefully and designed with a meaning or a story behind it. In my two recent paintings of the Wenatchee Valley with the Confluence Health Hospital in the center and the Red Apple Wildfire I express my gratitude and prayer for the local health care workers, first responders and firefighters.
When you set out to paint a scene, do you mostly paint exactly what you see? Or do you allow yourself to significantly modify things as it suits you?
Actually, a lot of work on a painting starts way before a brush touches the canvas. The process starts with an idea or a story and my visualization of it, then I will do several sketches, color studies on location, research on the subject and talk to the people who are familiar with the history of a location or the subject. I may use my artistic license to change or omit certain objects to create a better composition and bring clarity to the message I want to convey with my work. My goal is not to capture places and events in a photographic manner, but rather use my artistic skills to bring God’s beautiful creations and glory into a sharper focus, edify myself and others.
Your paintings often have pleasant, quiet and serene elements, and yet I get a bit of a pensive brooding feeling from many of them. Maybe from the dark tones of the palette, or certain textures in the brushwork. Does this resonate with you - or am I just pensive and brooding?
That’s a very good observation on your part, Ron. I do, indeed, try to create a soulful, moody, and sometimes melancholy atmosphere in my paintings. During the last year of this pandemic (and still ongoing), people here and abroad have reason to feel anxious and unsettled. In this context, I felt the need to resort to the stylistic expression more appropriate to this very different temperament of the times. My landscapes, including local churches, provide a haven for the weary mind with the soothing softness, delicate colors, the subdued hours of twilight and romantic light of a new day. These are places where one could retreat from the anxieties and physical stresses of the outside world of 2021.
You refer to yourself as a Christian painter, and much of your work involves churches or otherwise religious-forward themes. Many of your paintings don’t. Talk about how your faith plays into your work overall, and what you hope to convey to someone standing in front of your paintings?
I try to put my Christian faith into the reason I create my paintings. I think I was blessed by God with the persistent desire to learn this craft so I can create for His glory.
Some of my work is my visions of Biblical stories and messages. I painted the walk on water with Jesus and Peter, and Jesus’ First Miracle turning water into wine at a Wedding at Cana. It’s my way of praying and speaking out loud about Christianity. I recently heard that the person, a non-believer, who purchased my Wedding at Cana painting started contemplating about Christianity and God. I’m currently working on a new Biblical painting about the Samaritan woman who met Jesus, from the Gospel of John. Even though the tale happened thousands of years ago, people of our times can relate to it. It is a rich example of God’s love and acceptance, breaking racial barriers and old battles, and uniting people in faith.
Aside from the connection to your faith, what is it about churches you enjoy capturing in paint?
I visited several local churches during the shutdown last year in Spring. They looked lifeless and abandoned. I wanted to say “we are not forgetting you, we’ll come back.” Since the founding of churches by Jesus and His disciples, the church has survived barbarian hoarders, modern tyrants and the powers of sophisticated ideologies. It will survive the pandemic too.
Religion of course can be quite polarizing in any situation but I’m curious if you’ve been met with any resistance or exclusion in the fine art community based on these themes in your work?
I find our Valley’s art community diverse and very friendly. I always feel welcomed. I enjoy occasional art talk and constructive criticism from Brad Brisbine, Scott Bailey and others... Most people I have met in the Valley are believers. Even though many people do not talk about their Christian faith at social gatherings, the United States is the country with the largest Christian population. Many famous artists of the past, including Rembrandt, Vincent Van Gogh, Levitan and many others, were Christians. We, contemporary artists, stand on the shoulders of the Old Masters, therefore we cannot deny their faith and the role it played in their work.
One thing we should certainly all be able to agree on is offering help to those in need in our own community. Lighthouse Ministries has been doing just that for decades in the valley, and you are donating a large portion of your profits from this show to that ministry. Tell us what personally speaks to you concerning this organization.
I learned about Lighthouse Ministries from my girlfriends in a Bible Study group a couple of years ago. This is a local organization in downtown Wenatchee that provides comprehensive services and ongoing support to the most vulnerable members of our community. People not only get help with the basic daily needs, such as meals, clothing and shelter, but also educational, mentoring & spiritual support. Lighthouse’s mission provides for people described by Christ “the least of these,” no conditions, no expectations. To me, it’s a model on how to live and be God’s agent of His saving grace.
Syssoeva in her element. Photo by Tyler Hale.
You often paint on location with a little portable easel - is this how you work most of the time or are you in the studio more often?
Thanks to the long summers of North Central Washington, I paint and sketch outside more often than when I lived in rainy King County. I enjoyed a guided tour of the Wenatchee Heights area with a local photographer John Applegate, getting lost in the orchards on Stemilt Hill, and walking the hills along the Columbia River. Working outside can be challenging with outdoor distractions, but it’s the best way to hone one’s observation skills and catch atmospheric changes in nature.
Are you a sketcher and pre-planner? Or do you prefer to just put brushes to canvas and see where it goes on the spot?
I improvise and I plan too. Both approaches require mental focus and attention, and both are equally valuable in growing in your craft.
What is your stance on reproductions? Do you sell prints or replicas of your work in any way?
Currently, I don’t offer prints of my work. I will try in the future after I learn more about how to make high quality prints that are affordable.
Has social media been a major means for selling your work? Where do you predominantly display/sell your paintings?
Definitely during the pandemic social media became a very valuable tool to share my art and communicate with potential buyers. I’m also very thankful to the local community, especially to the Facebook Group called “Love My Hometown Wenatchee” and my local friends for sharing their stories and giving me interesting historical facts about the Valley. These interactions help me see the subject matter from a more personal perspective. I prefer showing my paintings in person, especially locally, and you can see my artwork hanging at the Ohme Gardens, Two Rivers Gallery and other local venues.
Any shows or events down the road you have coming up? And where can people follow your art doin’s online?
My showing in Mela in September is the last one of the year. Next year in February people can see my artwork at the local fundraiser event Taste & See at Pybus Market to support Life Choices Ministry that cares for local pregnant women and mothers. People can always check out what I’m up to on my FB page Sasha S Artist, Instagram and my art website