Virginia A. Spiegel

Natalya Aikens

When I look at the studio photos from Natalya Aikens, I see a direct reflection of her artwork. Natalya’s website is bilingual and her art reflects the Russian fairytales, folklore and decorative traditions of her birth city of St. Petersburg. Her artwork is instantly recognizable and, according to Natalya, “The focus of my materials and techniques is on recycled elements; vintage fabrics of personal history; sheer, translucent effects; intense hand stitching and machine work; computer manipulation.” Visit Natalya’s blog for updates from her studio as well as many beautiful photographs under “Wordless Wednesdays.”

1.  How do you find/make time to be in your studio?
I really can only be in the studio during the school day, so I make sure to schedule all my errands and “to do’s” either into one day a week or in the morning so that I can a have bulk of the school day in the studio. I am not always successful, but I keep getting better at keeping regular studio hours and keeping distractions at bay.

2.  Describe your studio in five words.

Functional, cluttered, organized, cozy, conducive to inspiration… can we count the last three as one?

3.  If you could pick only one thing from your studio to represent your art practice, what would it be?

My book cabinet that holds my favorite research materials which are books on different aspects of Russian and Slavic cultures and decorative arts, books on different art styles and movements, books by and about inspiring artists, my journals and on top a collection of glass weights, glass jars with mementoes, icons and postcards.

4. What is the best/worst space you have ever had as a studio?
The dining room table in my parents house was probably the worst. Having to forever clear it for dinner was not conducive to my creative flow…but that was eons ago. The best place is now, it is a converted garage that is part of the basement of our house. Two large windows were cut in to let plenty of light and there is a door off to the side so I can step outside as needed for a breath of fresh air or an extra dose of nature.

This is a detail of one of the three Fiber BONUSES Natalya is donating to Foto/Fiber 2012. Each of her Fiber BONUSES is a different colorway and contains hand painted dryer sheets, an ATC, color coordinated unique bits and pieces from her personal scrap selection, ribbons, yarns, buttons and threads. You may choose Natalya as your Fiber BONUS artist of choice on February 15.

5.  What would make a “dream studio” for you?

Taking over the adjacent playroom from my kids and spreading out! I wonder if they would notice if I slowly start encroaching on their space?

6.  What would you advise someone setting up a studio for the first time?

Take advantage of any space you have, whether it’s big or small, and just start creating in it and and adjust as necessary. It’s not the space or place that matters, it’s the work that’s created in it!

7.  Any unique features/studio pets you would like to share?

No studio pets in my house, but my children are occasionally inspired to spend time in there with me and I alway enjoy watching what they create and how they eek out a space for themselves among my clutter.

8.  Any exhibits or special projects we should know about?
I have several exhibitions coming up in Winter/Spring of 2012:
Piecing It Together at ArtsWestchester in White Plains, NY from January 28th to March 28th.
Russian Art II: Fiber, Paint, Photo - a two person exhibit at the Mahopac Public Library in Mahopac, NY from February 2nd to 28th.
My work will be at two venues during FiberPhiladelphia – Synchronicity at the HighWire Gallery from March 30th to April 27th, and Softer Edges: Fiber Artists and the Urban Environment at the Fleisher Art Memorial from April 2nd to 28th.
Links to all these exhibits are on my website.

***Please join us on February 15 and 16 for Foto/Fiber 2012, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  Our goal:  Add $7000 to the $215,000 we have already donated to the ACS.***

Natalya Aikens’ artwork embraces images of architectural details, mysterious text half-concealed by layers of transparent fabric, and hand stitching that is often invisible until closer inspection when its extravagant use is at its most stunning.  Born in St. Petersburg and spending summers there with her children, Natalya brings back a treasure trove of inspiring photos to use in her artwork. But Natlaya isn’t always looking back; one of her workshops and a DVD for Interweave focus on the tres trendy use of recycling and upcycling in making fiber art. Natalya is generous in sharing her inspiration, design studies, and beautiful photos on her blog.

1.  Why are you participating in the ONE fundraiser for the American Cancer Society?
Because Virginia is an extraordinary person. She does so much good and does it so well. I am honored that she has asked for my participation.

Piterskoie Kruzhevo/St. Pete Lace 8 by Natalya Aikens.  This artwork will be available during the ONE fundraiser on February 16.

2.  What are you working on in the studio now?
My studio is littered with bits and pieces of costumes for my kids Russian School play right now. For the month of January my own art will be on hold as I must concentrate on the costumes that need to be created for the play at the end of the month. I have been enjoying this challenge for three years now. In my past life I was a costume designer and a costume supervisor for film and TV, so it’s a special treat to dip my toe into those waters once a year for my kids. It’s nice to be able to challenge myself in this completely different way.

3. Where do you find inspiration?
The easy answer in everywhere! But for me the most meaningful inspiration comes from my heritage and my past. I always look to Russian folklore and fairytales for whimsical inspiration, and I think it as been ingrained in me from a childhood spent reading and being read to. I have had the incredible gift of being able to return to St. Petersburg, Russia every summer with my children, and that has served as inspiration as well as I am able to look at this beautiful city with the eyes of a native and a tourist at once. My past careers in fashion and costume make me notice the details – stitches, pleats, darts, ruffles, seams. These three different sources come together to inspire my work.

4. What advice do you have for artists who are seeking their unique voice or direction in their own artwork?
Keep creating. Keep working. Keep trying new materials or supplies that call out to you. Eventually you will come upon the right direction and find your voice, and it will probably happen as a surprise and take a while. Do not put a time limit on this process, it’s different for everybody and no one can predict how long it will take for each individual. Do not try to rush the process, just keep working. All of a sudden you will sit up and realize that things have clicked and you are in the zone and your voice is singing!

5.  What would you do with a year free to do what you wanted with no responsibilities or financial concerns?
I would set up my studio (this studio will be an exact replica of mine, with all my favorite supplies, plus other new ones that I have not had a chance to play with yet) in many cities (favorites from past visits and new ones from my bucket list) around the world, travel extensively and take breaks in those studios to create when the muse demands it for as long as I wish without any interruptions, except to take breaks to eat in the best restaurants in those cities. Then I would go back out and explore some more, and come to another studio and create create create! Repeat repeat repeat…..

Piter 4 (detail) by Natalya Aikens

6.  Any upcoming exhibits, new artwork, books, etc. we should know about?
My piece Piter 4 triptych will be in SAQA New Frontiers: Beyond Comfort exhibit debuting at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, England. I am also participating in two Fiber Revolution exhibits in the beginning of the year, at the West Windsor Arts Council in Princeton, NJ from now to March 1 and Windsor Art Center in Windsor CT from now to March 5.

Logo by Jeanelle McCall

The preview of ToteTuesday 2 is now up here.  Please bookmark this webpage as it is also the site of tomorrow’s ToteTuesday’s auction.

Warm up that charge card for the good cause that also lets you have a great time shopping.  There will be 13 themed totes (custom totes, artwork, gift certificates, books, DVDs, beads, hand-dyed fabrics, more, more, more) AND three very special individual artworks.

The donors/sponsors have been busy adding bonus items such as special art.  For example, Natalya Aikens has a tote based on her DVD, Texture Transformation.

You can imagine the fun materials she has pulled together for your own experiments in Texture Transformation.  BUT she has also added to the tote the cover artwork shown on the left side of the DVD above.  And Natalya’s not alone in her generosity.  Enjoy the preview and I will see you tomorrow when the bidding opens at 11 a.m. CST.

Okno V Dom/Window Into the Home 2
Natalya Aikens 

Artist Natalya Aikens is donating a most special artwork, Okno V Dom/Window Into the Home 2, to the Invitational Reverse Auction of Fiberart to benefit the American Cancer Society.

The artwork is featured on the cover of Quilting Arts 2009 Calendar.  The lucky patron of this artwork will also receive a copy of the Quilting Arts 2009 Calendar donated by Pokey Bolton of Quilting Arts. 

The artwork is 12×12″ and materials include silk organza, synthetic organza, dryer sheets, painted, free-handmachine embroidered, hand stitched.

Natalya’s art is an exploration of her heritage.  The Russian fairytales, folklore and decorative traditions infuse her work with their fanciful spirit. St. Petersburg, her birth city inspires her with its elegance, grace and grittiness. The pagan/Christian-intertwined history of Russia makes her dig deeper into her soul.

Natalya has exhibited her fiber art in juried shows throughout the US. Her artwork has made several appearances in Quilting Arts Magazine and Quilting Arts TV.

Her work has also been published in The Quilting Arts Book by Patricia Bolton, Art Quilts at Play by Jane Davila and Elin Waterston and SAQA’s Portfolio 15. She is a member of SAQA, Surface Design Association and the FiberRevolution.

Natalya earned her BFA at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and had a previous career in the fashion and film industries.  She currently lives and works in Westchester County, NY.

The Invitational Reverse Auction opens March 24.