Vanessa Storoniak
Vanessa is a visual artist based in Toronto, Canada. She loves to camp and ski in the beauty of Northern Ontario, and she is in awe of the magic of nature. Her goal is to convey this magic through abstract compositions.
Vanessa has designed extensively for the online marketing industry and continues to use digital technology to create "snapshots" of magical moments in nature—drawn from her imagination. She refines these snapshots using acrylic on wood panels, revealing combinations of vivid colors. Vanessa also enjoys working with sharp edges and flattened surfaces to create a modern, graphic impression. Through these snapshots, she gives herself the freedom to express and aspire toward well-being, seeking simplicity no matter how complex life becomes.
www.saatchiart.com/vanessastoroniak
What initially drew you to art?
I was six or seven years old, and I wanted to be an artist when I grew up! I went on to do various things, but I always knew I had to be the artist I had dreamed of being. These days, spending time re-imagining beautiful moments in nature continues to draw me to art.
What elements of your life have ended up becoming a part of your art?
The peace, calm, and sometimes awe I experience in nature are at the center of all my paintings.
What about your practice do you find the most fulfilling and/or energizing?
I love to explore my reverence for nature. Each painting represents a moment of clarity. During these moments, I feel calm and at peace—grounded like a "rock." That is profoundly fulfilling.
Tell us about your experience getting to where you are now. What has been the most important thing you’ve learned?
After completing a B.F.A., I became a graphic designer. I loved working in digital design and collaborating with teams of smart people. But I craved a more intimate and imaginative environment. Now, I spend my time drawing "snapshots" of abstract compositions from my imagination. With these snapshots, I give myself the liberty to express and aspire for well-being. The need to seek simplicity, no matter how complex life becomes, has been the most important thing I've learned.
How has ‘community’ impacted your artistic practice?
I have found my "community" in Mother Nature. I'm my best self after a long run along the lake, a walk among towering trees, or when I find a cluster of dancing tulips. For me, calm and peace have been integral to my artistic practice. I am grateful for and humbled by Mother Nature.
