Biography

Native of Russia, Veronica Winters / born Grigorashvily / was born in 1976 in Safonovo, Smolensk Region. She has spent her childhood living in Zelenograd, a suburb of Moscow known for its electronic industry. Veronica always thought of herself as an artist but with the collapse of the Soviet Union she was forced to pursue a different career and received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Zelenograd Business College, a joint venture of the Moscow Institute of Electronic Engineering and the University of Tulsa. In 1995-1996 she was awarded a scholarship and studied at the University of Tulsa for two semesters.

Married at the age of 19 Veronica immigrated to the United States in 1997 where she has joined her husband Max Fomitchev after almost a year of separation. Only in the United States Veronica could fully explore her artistic abilities and started taking courses first at the Tulsa Community College and then in 2003 completing her Bachelor’s of Fine Art degree at the Oklahoma State University. From the very beginning colored pencil was Veronica’s medium of choice and she has shown formidable skill. Her colored pencil works has always displayed astonishing detail and deep saturated colors.

In 2005 Veronica has adopted her new name – Veronica Winters – and has completed her Master’s of Fine Art degree in painting at the Pennsylvania State University. Veronica also took figurative art classes at the Art Students League of New York in New York City in 2008 and 2010. Today Veronica paints in her studio as well as teaches art. Veronica currently teaches at the Art Alliance of Central PA and the Galaxy, art-in-education program in Pennsylvania. She always welcomes new students to study painting and drawing in her studio.

In 2008 Veronica has completed her first instructional book – Painting in Colored Pencil: Basic Realistic Techniques for Beginners – complete with guides and how to-s on colored pencil drawing. She has also published a catalog of her works – Life in Colored Pencil available for purchase on-line.

Veronica has received numerous awards and magazine publications (including "Artists & Illustrators,” "American Art Collector" and "Leisure Painter” UK art magazines) and commissions and her works can be found in private collections in the U.S.A. and Europe.

Veronica is represented by the West Shore Gallery (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania), KR Designs Gallery (Fort Myers, Florida), and Fleyta Art Salon (Zelenograd, Moscow, Russia).

Press Quotes

"Winters focuses on capturing the delicate forms and colors in landscapes.
She hopes her work conveys a deep respect for art and its place in people’s lives.” -- American Art Collector, 2009

"...In her endeavors, Winters has developed a keen knack for rendering the play of light on human skin...
She is skilled at depicting piercing emotions on the faces of her subjects...” -- Centre Daily Times, 2007

"Winters portraits tend to capture ordinary moments & emotions that are often overlooked” -- The Collegian, 2007