Lena Sotskova was born in Moscow in 1963.  The only child of her parents and a descendant of generations of Russian aristocracy, Sotskova benefited from the immersion of art and culture through artists, musicians, and actors frequently visiting her parents’ home.  With classical music, the paintings of old masters, and sculptures surrounding her, Sotskova’s artistic and creative instincts gained life.

          Traveling extensively with her parents, and later by herself, Sotskova visited Florence, Paris, London, various Asian capitals, and many regions of her native Russia.  This exposure to the diverse, rich, and vast cultures of centuries of global art and music continued to mold her inherent artistic qualities.

          She started painting at the age of four which prompted her parents to seek formal education for her in art school and through private lessons from extremely talented and highly acclaimed artists.  Studying music and art simultaneously until the age of seventeen, Sotskova gravitated to the canvas.  Her renderings celebrated her love for the fine arts through the continuous exploration of musicians and dancers as subjects.

          At a young age Lena already realized that her gift of talent alone is not enough to become a master, and therefore she took her education very seriously: Sotskova gained entrance into the most competitive art university in Russia.  Named after Count Stroganoff, this elite university only accepted one student to every three hundred applicants.  During her six years at university, she studied (among many other disciplines) the history of art world styles, art techniques of Renaissance masters, and methods of icon paintings as found in Russian churches.  Sotskova even studied anatomy and observed actual corpses in a morgue to become better acquainted with the human form and enhance her painting of the human body.   She was among selected group of people permitted to access archives of the Art Fund of Russia, closed to the general public; Sotskova gained entrance to the vaults of prestigious institutions such as The Hermitage, The Louvre, and royal palaces and cathedrals of Moscow and St. Petersburg.  She was involved in the restoration of rare pieces of art that were damaged during the Moscow fire of 1812, in the war with emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. 

          After her many years of formal education in art and a wealth of cultural experiences, she relocated to New York City where the vibrancy and excitement of the place coursed new life, impulse, and enthusiasm into the veins of her art.  In America, with its effervescence and omnipresence of color permeating every aspect of life, Sotskova’s classical art training merged with elements and inspirations of this new environment to support an artistic evolution that embraced the morphing of subject matter and tonality. 

         Commencing yet another chapter of life, Lena Sotskova moved to Miami where she met her husband: Sergei Ovsiannikov.  The two were both born in Moscow, lived in the same neighborhoods in that city, socialized in the same circles, and had mutual friends, but ironically, they met thousands of miles away from their homeland. 

         Formally educated at Moscow State University, Ovsiannikov holds two doctoral degrees in law and journalism, and he is a savvy businessman.  Combining his good business sense with Sotskova’s flare for the fine arts, the two opened a publishing company and began releasing Limited Editions of Lena Sotskova paintings.  Now, Sotskova creates having all of the benefits of a publishing house without the pressures associated with the corporate structure and absent of the conflicts of interest suffered between artist and publisher.

         One of today’s most acclaimed painters with many international awards and titles, Lena Sotskova presently resides in Miami, Florida. She knows that being in a state of comfort is destructive to the creativity of an artist, so she is constantly at work, in the further development of her unique art style.

         Lena Sotskova does not repeat herself in her paintings, evolving to the next, more superior level in every new art piece.

         Q:  While growing up as a child, describe how your exposure to classical music and musicians shaped you as an artist?

         A:  We are surrounded by music everywhere. From kid with headphones to classical music connoisseur we exposed to music throughout our lives. For me it were piano evenings at my parents home, frequent visits to “Bolshoy” theatre in Moscow, opera, ballet… I was lucky to be introduced at my early ages to music of Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Mozart, Beethoven... to have a fortune to visit European capitals and to be exposed to vast riches of centuries of music and art. I don’t want to bore you with list of names and titles of composers, whose music I admire, played myself and some of them I met personally.

  I studied music and art simultaneously from age 4 to 17, and then dropped the music and dedicated myself entirely to the painting and studied 6 more years in Art University. I was blessed with gifted and caring teachers, and also with my ability to feel the music and understand it on a deeper level but I gravitated to canvas.

  That exposure to classical music shaped me as an artist and most importantly as a person, as a human being. I strongly believe that good classical music, like a good painting makes us better; and contrary: commercial, mass-produced music and art creates bad taste and have negative effect on people’s lives; some of it can even trigger violence, depression, and make people physically sick.

         Q:  How does music influence your work?

         A:  Every painting for me has a melody. And vice versa, when I hear a melody I imagine how it will look on canvas. That’s how many of my paintings were born.

  When a melody creates an image in my mind and I transfer it to canvas, that melody stays with me during all the process, separating me from the reality and giving me a “shell” when I paint. I am a kind of strange person: when I paint and music plays in my head I forget about everything else. Don’t ask me questions at that time: I don’t know when I eat last time; it is now summer or winter; what country I’m in now.

  I want to tell you about another influence. William Shakespeare said: “All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players.”. This philosophy has a tremendous influence on my art. In my paintings I try to tear off peoples masks and reveal their inner personalities. And I believe that music helps here, because when real talented musicians play, they forget about public, they do it with all their hearts and at that moment the masks and makeup of performers disappear and power of their talent brings their souls to the surface, and truth revealed. 

         Q:  Describe how/why the art world appeals to music lovers.

         A:  I can not speak for all art world. I don’t even know what Art World is. I know personally many talented artists, publishers, gallery owners, auctioneers, but it is not like we are union members and at our convention we make plans for directions of development of visual arts.

   When I create painting with musical theme I not intended to appeal to music lovers; to tell you the truth at the moment of creation I don’t think of anything, I just let myself go with the flow and I let the inspiration guide me. And I do not plan my paintings. Painting is just the way to express my feelings. With my paintings I do not try to please anyone, including music lovers, it is just happens that they love it.

         Q:  Have you noticed an increase in the popularity of music art? If so, why do you think that is? 

         A:  Let’s imagine for a moment that I answer “Yes” to this question. After reading that some publishers and gallery owners will demand music art from their artists, and I am not sure such “art movement” would be successful. So, to be in a safe side I answer: good, professional musical art is popular at all times. 

   The subject of music was romanticized in visual arts through the centuries. Shapes, lines of a musical instruments, like shapes of human body, inspires many artists, after all, art is all about shapes and lines. For me it creates a moment of intimacy because a musical theme has an emotional wave coming from my soul. But it is me. Every artist has his or her own inspiration.

   Talent, soul, inspiration, professionalism – not an optional components. Creation of art piece also involves spirituality, even brains. 

                 Q:   What other connections or associations between music and art do you see? 

       A: I believe that music and art have the same emotional roots. They both are expression of emotions of an artist or composer. They help us to gain emotional strength, to overcome our sins and weaknesses, to be better. In order to achieve this goal it is artist’s task to fill his or her musical or art creation with that strength and power; and it is audience’s ability to embrace it. 

   Both music and art do not accept false notes, they both punish for superficial or dishonest approach. 

   I can not imagine the world with absence of music and art. What will be left to us to help us to deal with everyday worries, lift our spirit, and recharge us with positive emotions? That is the art and music makes us happier, gives hope, sometimes brings a smile, helps to tell a loved one that you love him or her.