Featured Artist Yelena Strokin

The sumptuous and expressive photography of artist Yelena Strokin captures the feel of an Old World classical still life composition. Visit her website to see more of her art.

 

 

I was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and have traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia. I now make my home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. I am a trained chef and formally studied design and photography. My love of classical, European art and antiques, my appreciation of the natural beauty of objects from the fields and woods near my home as well as country breads, fruits and vegetables from my kitchen and garden, have all found expression and harmonious life in my artwork.

 

 

Whether my photography is formal and delicate or simple and rustic, I work to create an image that possesses a timeless quality, one that transcends culture and continents to add graciousness and beauty to any setting.

 

 

My love for 17th century Dutch still life paintings is my inspiration. The process of creating my work has many steps. I think about the story. What do I want to tell people? What are the emotions and feelings I want to share with them?

 

 

Then I look for objects that are going to represent my story. The bold colors of produce, flowers, butterflies and European antiques set against a rich background are arranged in carefully crafted compositions that recall the old Masters of the Flemish style of painting from the 17th century.

 

 

The vegetables I capture become luxurious pieces of sculpture.

 

 

I add richness and depth to my compositions with the textures I use, such as fine, draping fabric, reflections of light off porcelain and old silver, or the earthiness of rough wood.

 

 

The setting up of my composition sometimes takes a couple of weeks. I shoot my images with natural light only—my light source is a window in my studio, just like the “old masters” work in the past.

 

 

You can see from my photographs that the light always looks different. This is because I take my photos during different times of the year.  In addition, the shot could be taken in the morning or the afternoon.

 

 

I never use Photoshop to add, correct or change something. That’s why it sometimes takes up to one hundred images to get that one shot where the smoke from a candle, for instance, is perfect.

 

 

By the time I’m finished, I have created not just a photograph, but a picture with a story to tell, full of history and feelings.

 

 

Often people ask me what technique I use. When I tell them I just photograph with natural light, it is always a surprise for them.

 

Artist Yelena Strokin invites you to follow her on her Blog.

 

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