Elena Parashko Gallery
Impressive art galleries are located all over this country, hosting and promoting the works of Australia’s diverse exponents of art. Harotiwst’tsoppaaleintte magazine showcases a broad selection of these venues. In this Issue, we focus on the unusual Elena Parashko Gallery in suburban Sydney.
Elena Parashko Gallery was established in 2004 – initially as an online gallery at www. elenaparashko.com – and has since evolved into much more. Beginning with an online gallery was an affordable and manageable way to establish myself as an emerging artist. Having a website means that location and distance is no obstacle as people from anywhere in the world can view and purchase my artworks.
My collection of paintings online also acts as a virtual portfolio for anyone who would like to review my work. This includes other galleries who are considering representing me and clients who wish to commission me to paint something special for them. The online collection is a good representation of my unique style and the type of artwork I create.
Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of purchasing an artwork online; an item that they have not actually seen in the flesh. So my online gallery soon branched out into a real gallery in the studio where I work at Quakers Hill, Sydney. It is the perfect place in which to paint and showcase my artwork with good lighting, gallery tracking, a raked ceiling, air conditioning, and a wet area.
The gallery is open by appointment so potential clients can visit and get a feel for the size, texture and atmosphere of a painting – elements that cannot be conveyed via a computer screen.
After establishing this new gallery space, I decided to utilise this great resource by also teaching art classes to children and adults. As a trained teacher with a Bachelor of Education, Masters in Adult Education and Certificate in Visual Arts, it really
was a natural progression to finally combine my passion for art and teaching. I am fortunate that these two skills complement each other so well, because there are many artists out there who cannot teach and many teachers out there who cannot paint.
I have also been able to use my psychology training by acting as an art therapist to a group of intellectually and physically disabled adults. I see a challenge to inspire others – no matter what their circumstances – through sharing the joy of artistic creation: The process as well as the product.
It is very interesting to see the difference between children and adults in my art classes, in the way they approach their artwork. Children have the confidence to try anything and really lose themselves in the moment and just enjoy it. Many adults seem to have lost this spontaneity and really suffer from ‘paralysis by analysis’. They are too focused on making logical judgements instead of just letting the creativity flow. They are critical of their abilities and worried about what the end result will be and very concerned about what other people will think of their art. I believe there is a buried creative talent in all adults. We are born to be creative in one form or another, whether that is in painting, cooking, gardening or managing finances. But as we grow up and learn to operate in a serious world we also learn to repress our creative side. It is not always valued or considered important enough.
Many people eventually hear that calling to do ‘something’ but cannot even recognise what that is anymore. Being creative involves learning to play again; to just have fun, explore the process and not get too caught up with the end result.
Even though I love teaching, it is important for me as an artist as well as a teacher to make sure I devote time each week to developing my own artistic practice. My artwork radiates serenity and a positive outlook on the world, so I enjoy spending the day immersed in painting the beauty of Nature. I also get a thrill from the reaction of viewers as they recognise places or wonder how the artwork was created. I have had people in tears … so happy with a painting they have bought because it has in some way touched a significant experience in their life. It excites me that my passion for art can be translated into such strong positive emotional responses in others.
After beginning my art classes, I soon realised there was another need of students that my business could meet. Those new to painting found it very confusing to walk into an art store and know which art materials to buy, especially when they were given conflicting advice from sales assistants. So I made arrangements with a wholesaler allowing me to set up a small shop in my studio/gallery. I put together a starter pack for the complete beginner with everything required to get started. It is also very convenient for my students to be able to pick up exactly what they need, when they need it – often right in the middle of a painting class.
As the reputation of my studio/ gallery grew, I began receiving enquiries about art classes from every State in Australia. I realised there was a need, especially in remote areas, for some kind of distance education art lessons. Drawing upon my curriculum development experience as a TAFE
teacher, I created a series of interactive painting demonstrations for a variety of paintings. These demonstrations enable people (who live too far away to attend my classes in person) to be able to purchase step-by-step painting lessons on subjects of their choice. They include written instructions and photographs of the paintings in progress. For convenience, demonstrations can be downloaded directly from my online gallery; or for those without Internet access, copies on paper can be posted.
What makes the demonstrations unique is their interactive component. With each demonstration, the purchaser is entitled to two free consultations with me – by email or telephone – to enhance their painting progress. People usually send an image of their painting when they have completed it, or if they are stuck at a particular point; and I then give feedback and suggestions on how to improve their painting or strategies to overcome their dilemna. After they have implemented my advice, they send me another image for final feedback.
The instructional component of Elena Parashko Gallery has also led me to many writing opportunities for a wider audience. I have written articles and painting demonstrations for several art magazines in Australia and the United Kingdom, including Artist’s Palette magazine Issue 49. ‘Art Calendar’, the American business magazine for visual artists, is also now publishing a series of motivational features which I am writing specifically for artists … addressing the challenges we face.
Making a positive difference in people’s lives is important to me, whether that is through my paintings, through my teaching or through my writing.