Launch Artist – Natalia Bystrianyk

My name is Natalia and I am an artist. However, for most of my life I didn't allow myself to embody it. Fearful of the term "starving artist" and all that society has heaped on the artist's shoulders, alongside being a full time single mother, I have created a work life for myself that is neither emotionally fulfilling nor monetarily sustainable. After many years, I am finally realizing how the arts are an integral part of society and without the artist our lives would be very dim indeed. I believe there is a paradigm shift happening where peoples' true callings are being put into play and we are allowed to flourish. It is no longer necessary for an artist to be starving - we feed the world and ourselves with what we create.

Life has taken us all down many paths. We have all known joy, fear, happiness, longing, and love. There are some paths I might not have chosen knowing the outcome, but they were certainly the ones I was meant to walk. These avenues have made me who I am today, but I am now ready to choose a path that is calling to me - the path I am meant to walk. This path whispers to me and causes little champagne bubbles of joy to fill my heart. I know now that art is my true vocation; to inspire others through my creations and in turn encourage them to create.