Her hometown of Pyatigorsk, Russia is a full day’s drive south from Moscow, but local artist Tatiana Samoylova Hawkes finally found her way home to Texas, via San Francisco, when the Bay Area economy started to die and the foul air became too unbearable to breathe. An exhibit of Tatiana’s work was hosted by the Lone Star Art Gallery at TX and Beyond in Historic Montgomery just before Christmas. The plaza owners Anthony and Rebecca Noriega, routinely host area artists to showcase their talents and Hawke’s artwork was well received. Tatiana is a multi-talented artist, sculptor, and yoga teacher, and her works are prominently featured for sale in a gallery’s exhibit.
Hawkes work uses oil on canvas and panels, employing a multi-layer Flemish technique for longevity and depth. Tatiana’s art explores allegorical realism, with hidden meanings and symbolism, especially around figures such as tigers and engages in the reality of human emotions. The gallery offers Hawke’s original works and prints for sale, with her focus on making art accessible to all visitors.
The Flemish Masters Painting Technique that Tatiana uses requires a lot of patience. The discipline was first used way before Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. Jan van Eyck (1390-1441) first perfected the process in the 15th century by using the multi-layered oil method which is used to create extreme detail via deep luminous colors, and extraordinary light effects for the day that promoted a realistic looking subject. ‘The Arnolfini Portrait,’ 1434, an oil on art painting, is one of van Eyck’s greatest non-religious works, and shows the depth of the artist’s talent that results in superior glossy finish that was created even before Leonardo’s ‘Mona Lisa’ in the early 1500’s.
Tatiana’s patience in her art explores the capacity for human thought, and the layered narratives in her art. Her works are primarily done with oil on canvas and panels, and with several pieces, such as the Tiger, from a distance average patrons would think it to be an enlarged photograph. Hawke’s use of the Flemish technique, coupled her version of allegorical realism, an artistic style that confers a deeper meaning in her works. For instance, a flower represents a human soul, while spirituality or inner peace can be represented by a Buddha statue, and a Tiger can symbolize a fear or an aggressive emotional response. All are designed for finding symbolism in her work that relates to the audience’s nature that provokes engagement with the artist or individual thoughts. It’s as if one of her works can be used in self-therapy to help in healing of one’s psyche.
Hawke finishes some of her works with a varnish for luminosity; that results in an extended drying process, as compared to acrylics, which allows her to address other projects. Her price points are designed for all budget levels. Tatiana’s husband Alan makes prints of her work making it more accessible to the public, and their quest for a deep introspection is shown in seven layers.
Gallery owner Rebecca Noriega praised Tatiana not only for the results of her hard work, but in her ability to teach patience to her students in art that represents their individual personalities. The Flemish technique, with its multiple layers, is designed to last generations. Hawke described herself as a traditional oil painter, but soon plans to start painting with oil on linen, which she sees as progressing to a higher level in the oil technique.
The Flemish Masters Technique starts with the first layer, then letting it dry, followed by each successive layer and appropriate dry times. The monotony does pay off with the amazing lifelike presentation of the piece once complete, in essence almost photolike depending on the intentions of the artist. Hawke is one of the few artists in The World who still paint using the time consuming Flemish technique, but upon completion finding the completed task rewarding.
For those interested in viewing Tatiana’s art or receiving lessons in painting or yoga, please inquire at info@txandbeyond.com.