Natalia Preister
“My name is Natalia Preister. I'm from Ukraine. I started drawing in 2019, when COVID-19 hit the world. The kindergarten where I worked as a teacher closed, and I decided to pursue my dream of drawing. I found an online teacher and my journey into the world of art began. I primarily drew nature. When I arrived in America in 2022, I found a portrait teacher, Slava Radzishevskaya , and began painting portraits. My first portrait was of my husband. He really liked it, which inspired me to paint more portraits of my family, which I gave to them as gifts. Then I painted more portraits of people and animals, participating in various exhibitions and competitions. I still attend drawing classes at the Lakewood Center and improve my skills by drawing every day. I love painting portraits of immigrants living in America. I enjoy painting people and animals and conveying their inner strength and fortitude. I love to look behind the curtain of invisible qualities, hidden far inside from prying eyes. I love to paint with oils and acrylics, not only portraits, but also paintings for the interior. I love to paint pictures on spiritual themes. For me, the most important thing is people's interest in my work, and their appreciation.”
