Summer canvas: Painting life’s adventures

As an artist, I often find myself reflecting on the essence of summer, that fleeting yet profound season where possibilities seem endless and the world is painted in vibrant hues of blue, yellow, and red. In my native city, Saint Petersburg, where the sun graces us with its presence for a mere three months, summer is cherished as a small life — a time of magic and endless adventure.

The enchantment of summer in Saint Petersburg is magnified by the phenomenon known as the White Nights, when darkness barely touches the sky, leaving us immersed in a neverending twilight. It’s a time when the city itself seems to exhale, and the air is filled with the promise of new beginnings.

For me, summer beckons with the call of the sea. There’s a profound sense of rejuvenation that comes from immersing oneself in the cool embrace of the ocean, whether it’s swimming, snorkeling, or sailing. Even as a child, I found solace and inspiration in the forest, losing myself for hours in its winding paths and dappled sunlight. Sketching and collecting ideas for future artworks became second nature, a way of capturing the fleeting beauty of the world around me.

Traveling light is a necessity when embarking on summer adventures, and I’ve learned to embrace the challenge of working with smaller formats. A sketchbook or a set of watercolors becomes my constant companion, allowing me to capture the essence of a place with swift, fluid strokes. There’s a certain magic in translating the otherworldly beauty of a real place onto canvas, a process that breathes life into my creations. One such artwork, “Silver Mountains”, was born from the ethereal landscape of a place that seemed to exist outside of time.

MARINA FEDOROVA