Capturing the natural world with impeccable detail, embroidery artist Rose Andreeva honors both her subject and her art with stunning realism. Her expressive stitches rise from the background, almost convincing the viewer they can catch the scent of the blossoms. She begins with pencil sketches of her floral and animal subjects, but allows the finished embroidery to grow as it will because, “Nature cannot be planned.”
How did you find yourself on an artist’s path? Always there? Lightbulb moment? Dragged kicking and screaming? Evolving?
It is a well known fact that there is always a dilemma for everyone to find yourself in a particular aspect of the arts. And I have not been an exception. I started embroidery by chance when I was 12. At first it was simply small cross-stitch embroidery works, but after a while it turned into a constant hobby. In 2005 I decided to finish a two-year course in various types of needlework at the Museum of Applied Arts in Moscow.
Your work has such a strong connection to nature. Why do the tiny details of the natural world play such a large role when you stitch?
The main topic of my embroidery is the nature around me. It inspires me to embody my ideas into my stitched works. I like the nature surrounding us and admire its uniqueness as well as its beauty. That is why I prefer to improvise. Nature cannot be planned.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our affiliate linking policy.
What are the indispensable tools and materials in your studio? How do they improve your work?
Speaking about my indispensable tools and materials, they are various threads, needles and all kinds of beads. To tell the truth, an embroiderer`s workplace resembles a hamster`s den that contains everything. But what is really important for any embroiderer is her vivid imagination and skillful hands.
Do you use a sketchbook or journal? How does that help your work develop
Needless to say that I use a sketchbook for my sketches and I usually do them with a pencil. At the moment I am studying academic drawing in one of the Moscow studios.
What plays in the background while you work? Silence? Music, audiobooks, podcasts, movies? If so, what kind?
To get more inspiration while I work I usually turn on classical music, which plays in the background. I really like listening to music by Tchaikovsky (Swan Lake, Op.20 Suite –N 13) Giuseppe Verdi (La Traviata, Rigoletto) as well as listen to the classic literature Maugham, Dickens, Bulgakov and Gogol.
Can you tell us about the inspiration and process of one of your works? How does a new work come about?
Before I start my embroidery I usually do small pencil sketches. The best time to sketch is spring and summer when nature awakens. If I am contented with my sketches, the embroidery process begins. After pencil sketches, I make watercolour ones with the purpose of better understanding how my work will look in colours. However, embroidery lives by its own life and sometimes it happens that my designs in the embroidery are not quite the same as I intended to see them at first.
Do you focus on one piece exclusively from start to finish or work actively on more than one project at a time?
I always try to focus on one project, although sometimes I really would like to be distracted. Despite this I try to force myself to work out the smallest details, which is very important in embroidery.
What do you do to develop your skills? How do you get better at what you do?
I am engaged in artistic satin stitch, so I have to study not only the novelties in the handcraft world, but I am also engaged in drawing.
Do you think that creativity comes naturally to people, or do you think creativity is a skill that people can learn?
I suppose it is necessary to love what you are doing, and you just know you cannot live without it. If there is no love, it doesn’t matter how talented you are. You will never be successful. In my opinion, love for your work is the foundation for any creativity.
Where can people see your work?
People can browse as well as purchase my works on my page and on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/roniy1983/ where I post the photos of my drawings and my works.
Interview posted July 2021
Browse through more hand embroidery inspiration and projects on Create Whimsy.