While preparing for her upcoming solo exhibition, SKIN DEEP, we managed to pull Tanya Gomelskaya away from her creations long enough to answer a few questions so we can get to know this fascinating artist a little bit better.
Catching Light, 2021
oil on wood
12 X 12 in
Why have you decided to become an artist? Was there a defining moment in your life when you knew you were an artist?
I have always loved painting, as far back as I can remember. My mother and sister are also very artistic so I was heavily influenced by them. Yet as I got older, I started making excuses as to why I shouldn’t be an artist. For some reason I thought an art career wasn’t attainable for me so I repressed it for the longest time.
I was working as a dental assistant/receptionist when I met my husband almost 10 years ago. During my lunch breaks I would create elaborate war scenes out of my sandwich foil and send him pictures that would blow him away. Whenever I had a free moment I would write poems because they were easier to hide from my boss than drawings were, and on days when I was alone in the office I would illustrate them. My husband immediately saw my potential and said “What on earth are you doing here? Quit tomorrow and be an artist already, what are you waiting for?”
So I quit, and that’s when my journey began.
I absolutely love that. How wonderful it is to have someone so supportive in your life who recognizes your talents.
What jobs have you done other than being an artist?
I worked as a dental assistant, bartender, freelance graphic designer, art teacher at a few small private schools and at one point had my own drink and paint business.
What are your ideal working conditions ?
My studio is in my home so I like to roll out of bed and get straight to work. Once I have my concept in mind and my photoshoots are finished, I’ll set up with some music, a podcast, or a documentary and start working. My paintings are never stationary. They often move around the studio whenever I feel inspired to set up in a different spot. Even my largest works have traveled to various rooms because, though I can’t explain it, sometimes they just felt better against a different wall.
I need my supplies to always be easily accessible in the case that inspiration strikes at an odd hour. Sometimes when I’m unwinding at night, I’ll take a small painting on my lap while I’m sitting on the couch and paint leisurely while watching TV.
What’s your background? Do you have a formal art education or are you self taught?
I studied at SUNY Purchase University but most of my growth has been through practice on my own. During my four years at Purchase I don’t think I was ever really creating for myself, but more so for my professors. After graduation I was so burnt out that I stopped painting completely for a few years. School seemed to suck the fun out of it for me and I had to find that passion again on my own.
When I finally started again it was like I opened the floodgates and all these ideas started pouring out. I was painting 10 hours a day non stop. During this time I learned the most.
How has your work changed over time? Has your skill or ideology changed?
My work has changed drastically over time and things really started to accelerate in 2018. Up until that point art school seemed to have engrained rules into my head about what I should or should not be doing. One day I decided to experiment with new materials but I couldn’t figure out if they would work. After doing tons of research with no outcome I came across a successful artist on instagram using those same materials so I sent him a message. I wrote out a whole novel asking all these questions and he simply replied with “ I don’t know, I just did it.” That 2 second exchange was enough to alter my entire practice. I was blown away at the freedom and how easy going it all was, and thought to myself wait… I want that. All those rules I was holding onto disappeared and since then the experimenting hasn’t stopped.
Roses Are Red, 2021, private collection
oil, spray paint, resin, and artificial roses on linen
20 X 24in
Where do you find inspiration?
I usually get inspired while I’m working on a painting. A twist or turn in my process will spark a new idea which I tuck away for the next piece. By the time I’m finished with the current painting, there's already a new one ready to go. I love painting skin, it’s an endless inspiration for me. Also, as frames are often incorporated into the paintings, when I go to antique shops or estate sales sometimes I’ll find incredible frames that will inspire the pieces.
Baby Teeth, 2021
oil on wood, frame
15 X 29 in
What do you think are your strongest abilities contributing to the success of your work?
Persistence, eagerness to learn, and self perseverance. The hardest thing to do is continue to work when you hear “no”. It’s so easy to get discouraged and fall victim to the inner critique that says “you’re not good enough”. Though I’m not completely immune to this, what I’ve realized is when something makes me THIS happy, no one can take it away from me, so I just keep going. When I look at other incredible artists I don’t get discouraged, I get excited because I see all the possibilities ahead If I just keep going.
When I was little my dad promised me that one day we’d go on a treasure hunt. I think about that all the time when I work, because it feels like I’m on a treasure hunt. There's still so much to learn and to discover.
This might be a strange question, but I always find the answers interesting. What’s your clearest memory from your childhood?
I remember being in Russia, so I must have been five years old or younger. I was sitting on the floor with my dad listening to fairy tales on a record player holding a little black guitar and strumming along to the songs that were playing. We must have listened to it hundreds of times before because I can still hear the narrator’s voice so clearly. It's a very brief memory but I remember feelings of wonder, comfort, and happiness. The colors black and red also stick out vividly.
