Nataliya

I am a kind and empathetic Ukrainian woman with a creative soul. I love expressing my thoughts and my unique view of the world through art. It is important for me to notice beauty around me and to create beauty myself. In Ukraine, I worked at a residential care home for children with profound intellectual disabilities. I was a rehabilitation educator, an art instructor in a creative rehabilitation workshop and a colour therapy specialist. I truly found my calling in this work: I was able to help others while also expressing my creativity. Unfortunately, due to the language barrier and differences in professional qualifications, I am currently unable to continue this career in France.

I come from the Donbas region of Ukraine. When I fled the war, I carried only one backpack filled with art supplies. That probably says everything about how much creativity means to me. I am a self-taught artist and painting is my refuge and a way to restore my inner balance. These days, inspiration comes less often because I am deeply worried about my mother who remains in a city devastated by the war and does not want to leave. I also love coffee and have learned to create decorative toys and mosaics using coffee beans. Every New Year, my colleagues and the children at the care home knew that they would receive handmade magnets from me featuring the animal symbol of the coming year. I love nature and enjoy landscape photography. I have an Instagram blog where I share the beauty of the natural world. I enjoy hiking in the mountains, cycling, and keeping fit. I would also love to travel more.

Eye contact is very important to me. When two people look into each other’s eyes and feel an emotional response, a spark can appear. It is like an invisible thread beginning to connect them. They say that the eyes are the mirror of the soul and I believe this is true. I want to look into the eyes of the man I love and see his soul before my mind can even explain what I feel. I want to discover his inner beauty.