In my early childhood spent in Siberia I enjoyed drawing and could spend hours immersed in putting charcoal, pencils or, when lucky, water colours to paper. I was lost to the outside world, totally absorbed by the process, leaving my parents to wonder whether perhaps they had the quietest and least troublesome child they could ever wish for. It was my grandmother though who, having realised I was born with natural artistic abilities, took me to the local art school a few years later introducing me into the fascinating world of painting and finding a perfect outlet for my artistic curiosity, creative passion and sheer love of painting. I will be forever grateful to her for that.