The name of Klavdia Durdyeva is not yet familiar to a wide circle of art connoisseurs.But this cheerful woman with a great zest for life is a telling example of how being an artist is much more than just an occupation.
It takes real talent to express one’s special view of the world, original ideas and feelings through art and to add aesthetics to the everyday life.One can start doing this at any age… I first saw her works visiting one of the most recent themed exhibitions at the capital’s Expo Center.
When we met, much to my surprise, I learned that Klavdia Vasilievna was an amateur artist and had taken up painting only four years before.She has created some 70 paintings since then.
Naturally, I was very eager to see her entire collection.I visited her spacious apartment where one of the rooms serves as her studio and the other is a mini-gallery.
Stepping across the threshold, I found myself in the world of creativity - positive, sincere, and richly diverse with a wonderful mix of magic and reality, historical allusions and childlike simplicity and candidness… My imagination was running riot, visualizing a neon-filled street with skyscrapers… - Is this the USA? - Yes, I have visited my daughter there.
I was totally amazed by western culture and its dramatic contrast.The red tram I saw in Chicago brought back memories of the city of Krasnodar and all I wanted was to capture it on canvas.
The collection contains many optimistic landscape paintings, which are distinctly different, but are truly beautiful in their own way.No doubt, the collection would not be complete without bright sunflowers done in somewhat of a Van Gogh manner.
The bouquet of ruby-colored poppies in one of the paintings suggests something allegorical.One of the stirring themes Klavdia Durdyeva explores in her paintings is people’s lives.
Unusual angles and exquisite stylistic accents reveal hidden depths.Artists hold their works very dear to their hearts and after their painting has been sold and the buyer has taken it, they yearn for it worrying what fate awaits it.
Artists put their hearts and souls into their works, convey their moods and visions.Paintings reflect artists’ character, preferences, and life experience - these thoughts crossed my mind when I was viewing the collection.
How did Klavdia Vasilievna, who had not received any formal art training, manage to produce scores of fine works within such a short span of time?Replying to the question, she told her life story… - I was born in a small settlement in the Krasnodar Region.
When I studied at school, I always drew and designed wall newspapers, banners, and posters.But the idea of going to an art college and of becoming an artist did not even come to me.
After finishing school, I applied for admission to a building college.In 1978, in response to the call of the Komsomol (The Young Communist League), I arrived in Ashgabat together with a group of Krasnodar builders to construct Gaudan, a would-be residential area.
Upon arrival in sun-drenched Ashgabat in one hand I held a suitcase, in the other a little hand of my daughter Sveta, a first grader at that time.
Sveta’s father and I had ended our relationship for a number of reasons.I was offered a job as a stone mason and I accepted it.The next day I was given authorization to occupy a spacious one-room apartment.
This is how at the age of 27 I moved into the separate apartment in Ashgabat, and a new chapter in my life began.Shortly after, Kurbanmurat Durdyev, a young worker, joined our construction crew.
He had done his military service in the construction battalion and had learned brick-laying and plastering skills.It was love at first sight, and a little while later we got married.
Sveta’s half-sisters were born one by one.But at some time, my husband and I realized that we could not be together any longer… I found a new job at the precast concrete plant where I was in charge of three crews of concrete workers.
We made precast concrete slabs and beams.Our crews worked well and twice we won prizes competing with other crews.The plant provided me with a new apartment.
It was not easy to raise my five children alone, but we were a close-knit family and supported each other.Drawing was our favorite leisure-time activity.
My youngest daughter Jennet, who finished Ashgabat Byashim Nurali Art School, was preparing for her entrance examinations at the Academy of Arts of Turkmenistan.Taking part in an exhibition and competition organized by the US Embassy in Ashgabat, she met her future husband.
Some time later, Jennet left for the United States, and her large easel that stood in the middle of the room made me feel sad.And then I decided to use the easel myself.
The building technician turned into an emerging artist.Before I taught my daughters how to draw, but now they offer me some advice on paint blending techniques for creating effects.
I also find much helpful information on the Internet.When I have sudden mental images conjured up by my imagination I get so excited and fascinated that I try to capture the slightest nuances on canvas at once.
I think my love for what I do is the driving force behind my paintings.At the start of the year, we met with my daughters Jennet and Maya in Moscow to attend a palette knife painting masterclass led by famous artist Igor Sakharov.
It is a technique of applying paint to canvas using a palette knife (that looks more like a spatula) instead of a brush.During the five-hour session each of us created a painting: Jennet depicted American skyscrapers, Maya the glittering snowy Russian winter and I the spectacular Turkmen autumn… Initially, Klavdia Vasilievna produced copies of paintings by other artists, observed, remembered and tried her best.
She gifted her works to her friends and acquaintances.Then she began to participate in art bazaars.A while ago she was invited to display her paintings in the celebratory exhibition at the capital’s Expo Center… Her works captivate and make smile, bring hope and take on a dream journey, ooze with elevated poetry and help to understand true values.
To paint the world with paints of love and know that your painterly message touches a place deep inside the hearts of viewers is it not the artist’s happiness?!