Through her expressionistic, gestural figures, Masha Ermeeva transcends complex emotional and psychological states, exploring such themes as intimacy, duality, femininity, personal and interpersonal relationships.

Trust

Studying at the Art Academy in Russia, Masha went through intense traditional training and developed a strong understanding of human figure proportions. After she relocated to the US in 2011, she graduated from FIU with BFA and continued her MA degree in Modern and Contemporary Art at Christie's in New York. To dive deeper into the contemporary art world, she studied at Sotheby's art institute in New York. Her diverse educational and cultural background allowed Masha to develop her unique artistic style, recognized by a sense of movement, broad expressive brushwork, monochromatic palette, and textures.

"I am interested in portraying a continuous transformation of identity, soul, and emotional states through the figurative subject."

Without further ado, the art and words of Masha Ermeeva...

How long have you been an artist?
I started drawing not like an average child when I was 2, so my mother knew right then and there that this should be my path. Nobody in my family was an artist and nobody influenced me, it was something natural that came to me at an early age. Throughout my life I  was always engaged with arts. There were short breaks when I stopped creating due to life circumstances. But overall, I had always been creating art and really suffered when I wasn't. So to answer this question, i guess I was born an artist...I did not just decide one day that it would be cool to be one. 

Is your art your full-time career?
I decided to turn my passion into my career 3 years ago. I closed my beauty business so that I can dedicate the majority of my time to art. Right now I have multiple streams of income, however I identify myself primarily as an artist. 

Love

Do you have favorite places you like to create?
My art studio

What does a typical day look like? Is there a typical day?
A typical day when I create art looks like this: I wake up and walk my dog Mr. Mishka. I come back, feed him, do my yoga practice, turn on my fav music or my fav show and start creating. Usually time goes by very fast. I prefer working in the natural light, so when it gets dark outside I usually stop paining. In general, I am more productive in the mornings and during the day. 

What materials do you prefer?
Currently I am using acrylics on linen canvases, watercolors, wood panels, pencils, pastels, gouache, and iPad Pro for digital art. 

embrace

Where/How are you inspired?
I get inspired when I go within. Sometimes I see images in my head triggered by random views in the streets, imagery, photography, dance, anything really. I gather inspiration in nature, my personal feelings, experiences. Usually I write  down different ideas in my notebook so I can revisit them later. One idea develops into another when I start my creative process, it is exciting to see how things evolve and change on canvas/paper and usually turn out better than I planned. 

How do you know when your piece is done?
When I see harmony and balance, when there is nothing else I can add / remove. I think less is more, and it is crucial to stop at the right time.  You need to speak to the painting and it will tell you :)

Do you work on one or more pieces at a time?
I work on one piece at a time. 

If you were not an artist, what would you do?
Musician or psychologist

How can our readers find you, and purchase your art?
You can find me online at https://www.mashaermeeva.art and at https://www.instagram.com/by_mashaermeeva

All photos courtesy and copyright Masha Ermeeva