About the Artist

 “
 Elena’s natural artistic grace is no accident; it mirrors her disposition, sweet and true, which shines eloquently at the heart of each of her paintings. Her love of animals and nature has always been a part of what inspires her work and her life. Elena always wanted to travel but did not have the opportunity to travel until she moved to Houston Texas from Russia in 1998. Only then was she able to live out her dream of traveling to beautiful places in the USA and abroad. She saw things she had never seen before – oceans, waterfalls, canyons, and mountains. Elena’s artwork captures the very essence of her travel experiences. She invites her viewers to share in her love of nature and the animal world. As a child growing up in a small town in Russia, art has always been a big part of Elena’s life. Elena was surrounded by majestic forest and wetland landscapes. She spent a lot of time adventuring outdoors, helping cultivate her early desires to create. She has always had a great passion for creativity. One of Elena’s passions is helping animals. Some of her work has been donated to benefit auctions to help animals in need. Currently she is working in 3 mediums: graphite pencil, colored pencil, and acrylic paints. Her paintings are distinctive for the use of color and her ability to “capture the moment” of her subject matter. Elena’s work covers a wide variety of subjects; animals, birds, seascapes, and people. She loves spending time outdoors exploring and photographing nature and animals. Moved by the subjects that interest her, she strives for continuing excellence. Elena’s work has evolved and continues to do so as she strives to learn and experiment with new things every day. 

 Her artwork has been published in Colored Pencil Magazine and Ann Kullberg's Color Magazine in 2015.

She was also one of the featured artists in Colored Pencil Cats and Dogs by Ann Kullberg published in 2015.

She had a Solo Exhibition in Third Coast Gallery in Galveston Tx, 2020.

Elena joined the CAL (Conroe Art Leage) which has given her the opportunity to get more deeply involved in the art community in her home town of Willis.  She has her artwork on display at the Madeley Art Gallery in Conroe.

She is a juried member of the International Guild of Realism.  
She is a member of NOAPS ( National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society) and a Signature member of The American Society of Marine Artist

 

She attended an online Xanadu Art Business Academy.

Elena says her goal is to build up a larger body of work, with hopes of future joint exhibitions and being included in more publications.

  

 'When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope

  that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say,

 "I used everything you gave me," - Erma Bombeck.

 

 

 

                                                                                Artist Statement

 

 Animals, nature, emotions, and connection; these are the things that drive my passion to create art. My work is about the emotional life of animals, the interconnection of all beings, and the unseen magic that surrounds us all.

As a traditional and representational artist, my goal is to create a high degree of realism, although quite often some of the shapes will take on abstract nature. My most basic desire is to capture on canvas the wonder and awe of God's creation within the scene's emotional impact.

I try to capture every single moment in my paintings and put a smile on someone else's face.

Hopefully the viewer is moved to appreciate the beauty of the natural world around them and at the same time make them feel like they were there. 

 

                                                                         Exhibitions and Publications

 

NOAPS 2026 Associate Online Exhibition, “Breaking Waves” 

ASMA 2026 Art of the Sea Exhibition sponsored by the National Maritime Historical Society

and the American Society of Marine Artists, “Ocean Balance “, “Timeless Rhythm”

CAL July Exhibition Juan Cantavella Award 2026, “Shining Through “- 2nd place

CAL June Exhibition Juan Cantavella Award 2026, “Ocean’s Roar” - 2nd place

CAL May Exhibition Juan Cantavella Award 2026, “ Ocean Rhythm “ - 3rd place

CAL April Exhibition Juan Cantavella Award 2026, “on The Look Out” - 3rd place

LSAG 2025 Show , “Untamed” -  Best of Show and First Place Accomplished Oil/Acrylic. 

NOAPS 2025 Associate Online Exhibition, “Ocean Balance”.

ASMA 2025 Art of the Sea Exhibition sponsored by the National Maritime Historical Society and American Society of Marine Artists,  “Untamed “.

NOAPS 2025 Spring International Online Exhibition, “Untamed “.

ASMA Annual Maritime Art Exhibition 2025 hosted by Coos Art Museum, "Freewheeling" -  PORT OF COOS BAY AWARD.

IGOR 19th Annual Juried Exhibition 2025 hosted at the Sugarman-Peterson Gallery in Santa Fe, "Momentum".

Bold Brash Competition 2025 February, "Lucent"- FAV 15%

Bold Brush Competition 2025 January, "Untamed"- Honorable Mention.

CAL International 10th Anniversary Fine Art Show, "Ocean Balance".

Woodlands High School Art Trust selected and bought "Morning Stretch" for their collection, 2024.

CAL September Exhibition Juan Cantavella Award 2024, "Dahlia"- 1st place

CAL Fall Show 2024, "Untamed"- 2nd place

IGOR Fall Salon Online Exhibition 2024, “Freewheeling “.

Regional Lone Star Art Guild Show 2024, “Morning Stretch “- BS and 1st place.

CAL July Exhibition Juan Cantavella Award 2024, “Happy Campers”-1st place.

Bold Brush Painting Competition June, “Momentum”- FAV 15%.

Galveston Art League Winter Juried Show 2024, “Freewheeling”- HM, “Shining Through”.

CAL International Show 2024, “Morning Stretch”.

CAL Fall Judged Show 2023, “Morning Stretch “- BL and “Freewheeling “- 1st place.

CAL September Exhibition Juan Cantavella Award 2023, “Timeless Rhythm “- 1st place.

CAL July Exhibition Juan Cantavella Award 2023, “Grace In Motion”- 1st place.

CAL April Exhibition Juan Cantavella Award 2023, “Freewheeling “- 2nd place.

IGOR Spring Salon Online Exhibition 2021, “Edges of Time”.

Bold Brush Competition 2021 March, “Shine On”- FAV 15%.

Bold Brush Competition 2020 June, “Edges Of Time”- FAV 15%.

IGOR Spring Salon Online Exhibition 2020, “Shining Through “.

Bold Brush Competition 2019 November, “Boundless “- FAV 15%.

Bold Brush Competition 2019 July, “Timeless Rhythm “- Outstanding Acrylic, FAV 15%.

Bold Brush Competition 2019 July, “Ocean Rhythm”- FAV 15%.

IGOR Winter Salon Online Exhibition 2019, “Everlasting “.

Bold Brush Competition 2018 September, “Everlasting “- FAV 15%.

Bold Brush Competition 2018 February, “Power Struggle “- FAV 15%.

Animal Art Competition, Light Space and Time online Gallery 2015.

All Women, Light Space and Time online Gallery 2015.

Colored Pencil Magazine and Ann Kullberg’s Color Magazine 2015.

She was also a featured artist in Colored Pencil Cats and Dogs by Ann Kullberg 2015