Maria Nemchuk finds inspiration in the everyday. She likes to say "I paint things that look like things," highlighting her life-long dedication to representational art. She embraces the plein air practice year-round, whatever the weather, to capture the feeling of the season and connect with nature. Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Maria was exposed to the works of the great Russian artists from a young age, shaping her artistic vision. Though she initially pursued a degree in physics, her passion to create art remained constant and she sought out teachers to further those skills.
Maria has studied with some of the finest contemporary artists. She received foundational training in academic drawing from Nikolai G. Tereshchenko (1985-1988), and Don Karr (1998-2000) introduced her to the fundamentals of oil painting. Mark Hayden, CM (2000-2005), not only ignited her passion for portraiture but also instilled a lifelong love for plein air painting. She honed her skills in classical portraiture and figure painting under the tutelage of Tom Ouellette (2004-2009). Maria has further enriched her knowledge through workshops with renowned artists such as Viktor Butko, Tom Hughes, T.M. Nicholas, David Lussier, Karen Blackwood, Robert Liberace, Leo Mancini-Hresko, Donald Demers, Dennis Cheaney, and William Whitaker.
An active participant in plein air events, Maria was awarded the Best Seascape award at the Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival in 2023, 3rd Place at the Pemaquid Point Plein Air Day in 2024, and an Honorable Mention at the NHAA Annual Plein Air Paint Out in 2019. Her participation as a juried artist includes events such as the Adirondack Plein Air Festival (2024), Parrsboro International Plein Air Festival (2022, 2023, 2024), Hudson Valley Plein Air Festival(2021), and the Great Bay Plein Air Festival (2021). She participated in Ogunquit's Perkins Cove Plein Air (2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024) and was one of the Perkins Cove Artist-in-Residence in 2020.
Based in North Andover, Massachusetts, Maria keeps painting from life, finding beauty in the world around her. To see her work visit www.MariaNemchuk.com