The Art of Stillness: Svetlana Malkova’s Vision at OPA’s Spring Online Showcase 2025
May 27, 2025
On May 18, the annual Spring Online Showcase 2025 by Oil Painters of America (OPA) concluded. This exhibition, held since 2011, highlights significant developments in oil painting and draws wide attention from collectors, galleries, and educators. OPA unites over 3,500 representational oil painters across North America and maintains a reputation for expert jurying, professional standards, and strong industry visibility.
This year’s showcase featured various approaches to contemporary realist painting. Among the participants was Svetlana Malkova, a painter and educator with over a decade of experience, who exhibited five works. We spoke with Svetlana about her impressions of the showcase, her observations on current trends in oil painting, and her mission to use art as a medium for education, inclusion, and transformation.
Svetlana is the founder of Art Studio Mavrica, which was launched in Slovenia in 2019. She has created several original teaching methods, including “Clear Image to Abstraction,” “Illustrative Reading: From Fairytale to Drawing,” and a thermosensitive painting technique for children. Her Modern Painting Methods manual gained widespread attention and usage. Svetlana has led more than ten international plein air programs in Italy, Austria, Croatia, Germany, and Slovenia, engaging students across Europe. Her research has been published in respected academic journals. She has served on the United Talents Award 2024 jury and Best Talents of Russia 2025. Svetlana is a member of Oil Painters of America and the U.S. chapter of the International Association of Art, the only artists’ organization in the country officially affiliated with UNESCO. Her work continues to influence how painting is taught and experienced across borders.
Svetlana, what drew you to participate in the Spring Online Showcase 2025, and how did you select the five works you presented?
The Spring Online Showcase offers a strong platform for engaging with a serious artistic community and reaching a wider circle of thoughtful viewers. I chose five pieces that reflect my interest in structured composition and emotional depth, combining representational techniques with layered color fields. The Silence of the Hills and Mountain Stream reflect stillness in motion, while Rocks by the Blue Bay, Snow at Dusk, and Shore of Memories trace quiet, personal spaces shaped by changing nature. Each work relates to my ongoing research on how painting techniques support narrative and perception in both formal and emotional terms.
Svetlana Malkova. The Silence of the Hills.
How do you see the current state of representational oil painting—what themes or ideas do you think resonate most with audiences in 2025?
There is a visible shift toward sincerity and craftsmanship, where substance matters more than style. Audiences respond to works that convey clarity of thought, emotional integrity, and a strong visual language. Viewers value paintings that offer a moment of calm or reflection. In a fast-moving world, focused and skillful work leaves a more profound impression.
You’ve organized over ten international plein air programs in Italy, Austria, Croatia, Germany, and Slovenia. What impact do these experiences have on participants and local communities?
Plein air programs encourage cultural dialogue and shared creative focus among artists of different backgrounds. Participants develop a stronger bond with nature and context, while local communities often get involved as hosts, guides, or observers. These events turn into collaborative exchanges that go far beyond technique. They create continuity between place, process, and people.
Svetlana Malkova. Snow at Dusk.
Some of your methods, like “Illustrative Reading” or “Clear Image to Abstraction,” are used with young learners. What changes have you seen in how children relate to art when using these approaches?
Children gain confidence in expressing visual ideas and begin recognizing structure and rhythm in their choices. They spend more time refining their work and show more curiosity in combining images with meaning. The narrative aspect improves their memory and sequencing. These methods also help them see painting as a tool for communication, not just decoration.
As a juror for the United Talents Award 2024 and Best Talents of Russia 2025, what qualities do you look for when evaluating emerging artists?
I look for coherence between the idea and execution, and for work that feels considered rather than rushed. Strong submissions often show control and risk—a personal vision supported by solid technique. I value restraint, clarity, and the sense that the artist understands their process. Even when the result is simple, the intent should be unmistakable.
You’ve published academic research in journals like Reflection and Pedagogical Compass. How do these scholarly efforts support your work in practical education and studio teaching?
Publishing research allows me to organize and test my methods in ways others can replicate or build upon. It provides a framework that links studio experience with broader pedagogical questions. Writing sharpens how I evaluate success in the classroom. It also gives my colleagues tools to adapt to their settings.
Svetlana Malkova. Mountain Stream.
During the pandemic, your studio transitioned to an online format and reached international audiences. What did you learn about teaching art remotely?
Remote teaching revealed how much can be achieved with careful planning, visual clarity, and direct structure. It helped me refine my explanations and identify which aspects of a lesson truly carry meaning. Remote art instruction can create a genuine connection when there is trust and consistency. In some ways, the limitations led to better focus.
You’ve worked with children with autism and students from various countries. What lessons have you learned about inclusivity and adaptability in teaching visual art?
Each student processes visual information in their own way, so adaptability starts with listening and observing. I’ve learned to offer multiple entry points into a task—different speeds, materials, and forms of guidance. This approach supports independence while reducing pressure. Inclusivity becomes natural when you meet each learner with respect, not expectation.
Your social programs reached 23 senior care homes through online art classes. What value does artistic practice bring to older adults, particularly in such settings?
Art gives older adults a sense of agency and creative identity, even in limited circumstances. Through shared online sessions, many reconnect with forgotten skills and memories. It lifts mood, improves focus, and brings structure to time. Most importantly, it reminds participants that their perspective still matters.
As a member of an organization affiliated with UNESCO, how do you see the role of visual art in fostering dialogue, empathy, and cultural understanding across borders?
Visual art offers a space where people can encounter differences without confrontation. It builds understanding through shared attention to shape, rhythm, and gesture. These elements communicate human experience in ways that cross language and geography. Art doesn’t erase difference—it makes it visible and approachable.
Didihurov Oleksii
