Photo: Courtesy of Alexander Shnayder
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.
I am a visual artist based in Toronto, Ontario. I was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and moved to Canada with my family when I was a child. I began my artistic journey when I was in grade school, and eventually enrolled in art lessons at the age of 15. To this day, I continues to develop my skills by exploring and experimenting with different styles, techniques, and media.
What inspired you to become an artist?
Although not an artist by trade, my mother has a remarkable talent for drawing. In my childhood, her drawings inspired me and I tried to copy them and imitate her style. It came easy to me, and so I continued drawing. In school, my interest shifted to drawing video game characters and sculpting clay video game character-inspired figurines. As I got older, art became more of a serious passion for me. I enrolled in art classes after school and studied art for many years under the guidance of local artists Vladimir Gurevich and Aaron Bendelman.
When I met my wife, she was studying metalsmithing, and she introduced me to working with metal. I wanted to delve into creating functional art pieces—works that people could interact with—for a long time, and so I started creating hand-made copper mezuzot, a process that I really enjoy.
What is your specialty?
I enjoy working in a variety of mediums and styles, and like trying different art forms. The majority of my works are oil paintings, but I also enjoy working with acrylics, oil pastels, and airbrushing. In addition to painting, I also work with copper to create one-of-a-kind etched mezuzot.
How and where do you work?
I work in my home studio. That is where I am most comfortable and inspired.
What is the most indispensable item in your studio?
It depends on what I am working on, but the most indispensable is my easel.
Where do you take your inspiration? Are you pursuing any themes?
I take inspiration from my everyday life, surroundings, emotions, and the people around me. In terms of subject matter, my focus tends to be nature landscapes as well as portraits. Judaism is a frequently recurring theme that inspires me in my work.
Do you do bespoke work?
Yes, I welcome orders and inquiries, and work with clients worldwide.
What projects are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on a couple of custom paintings and mezuzot orders.
What are your favourite items in your current collection?
It would have to be a portrait of an elderly man smoking a cigarette, because it has a lot of character, and of course, the mezuzot.
How do you know when a piece is finished?
When I am painting for myself, it often feels as if it is never finished; I always feel that I can make the piece better. When I am creating a custom work, a piece is finished when my client is happy with it. I take a very open and collaborative approach to custom work, sharing my process as I go, to ensure that my clients are truly satisfied.
What was the first artwork you ever sold?
When I was in grade 4, I sold clay figurines of video game characters that I sculpted, and I used the money to buy myself a pizza lunch.
Which project have you enjoyed working on the most so far?
I enjoyed working on the portrait of the smoking man, because the subject interested me and I loved the process of bringing out his character.
Metal is a completely new medium that I immensely enjoy working and experimenting with, and I put my whole heart into creating the mezuzot.
What do you want to achieve with your work and what are your wishes for the future?
I want my clients to be happy with the custom work that I create for them. The highest compliment from a client is when they return to me for more custom work and recommend me to others. And for myself, my hope is continue learning and never stop creating and growing as an artist and a person.
Where can we find your work?
Website: https://www.ashnayderart.ca/
Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ashnayderart/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.shnayder.art/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashnayderart/
Photo: Courtesy of Alexander Shnayder
Photo: Courtesy of Alexander Shnayder
Photo: Courtesy of Alexander Shnayder
