My world is a world of beauty and truth. When I paint I try to express the colors I see in my mind and the shades of emotions I feel. I like clear, rich outlines and pure, bright colors. I enjoy using acrylics but I also like crayons and the soft fluidity of watercolor. My subjects are often animals, usually my pets from the past or present. I put them into dramatic contexts and create visual narratives. There is always an underlying meaning. I have two recurring characters in my artwork, Poppi and Moppi. Poppi is a white rabbit and a Moppi is a pink piggy. Their temperaments are often at odds but they somehow complete each other with their naive charm and offer a glimpse of the harmony we might one day all share.

I’ve liked animals since my childhood. I have a strong relationship with them. Their emotions are honest and straightforward. Unlike many humans, more “primitive” creatures are very sensitive. They communicate on an emotional level. They can read others’ feelings and offer sympathy. Many humans have lost this ability. But humans and animals are also very similar: they both have a character. What's important is how deeply you are connected to this world.

I want to give the viewers and readers of my works some positivity and hope. I want to enrich their lives by sharing my sensitivities with them. I want to feel I am not alone, or alone in feeling the way I do. It’s important for me to retain a certain purity in my art, to reveal my personal truths without any pretense. I want to convey strong emotions so that the world too can become a little more emotional, more caring and compassionate.

all images and text copyright © 2007-09 Yumiko Tateishi Petrova | web design: Daniel Petrov