MY STORY

Victoria Dubinina

Children's Book Illustrator

My name is Victoria Dubinina-Twitty and I am originally from Volgograd (former Stalingrad), Russia, but I married a country boy with a real Southern charm and now live in Dallas, Texas.

My Path To Art

My great uncle was a professional artist who lived in the art capital of Russia, Sain-Petersburg. My Mother always said I had inherited his "artistic genes". I studied art in Natalia Mamardashvili's Studio for Talented Youth since childhood and won many local and international awards as a young artist, including second prize in a children's art contest dedicated to Charles Perrault in Dijon, France and third place in an art competition in Macedonia called "Biblical Motives".

Victoria sitting next to her mom after receiving an art award — Sitting next to my Mom, having received an award for my painting (on the background).

Victoria with art teacher Natalia Mamardashvili and winning works — Standing next to my Art teacher, Natalia Mamardashvili, with my winning works displayed on the easels.

Victoria being interviewed at her personal art exhibition — Being interviewed at my personal art exhibition in Volgograd, my native town in Russia.

Art Education

In 2011, I received a bachelor's degree in fine arts from the University of Valenciennes and Hainaut Cambresis (now Polytechnic University Hauts-de-France), France.

At the Porch in Senlis, France, 2011

Media: oil pastel on paper (gifted)

A Street in Valenciennes, France, 2010

Media: watercolor on paper (sold)

A Park in Saint-Saulve, France, 2010

Media: oil pastel on paper (sold)

Victoria with her mom in Paris — My Mom came to visit me in Paris during my studies.

Victoria and her mom visiting Versailles — Our friends took us to see Versailles.

My Family

I come from a family of gifted educators.

My Mother, now retired, worked as a Professor of Russian and English as Foreign Languages for over 35 years in Volgograd State Socio-Pedagogical University and was one of the founders of educational partnership programs with American colleges (Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ and Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA) in the difficult time of Perestroyka in Russia, when international relationships were yet hard to establish, as the Iron Curtain only just collapsed.

Photograph of Victoria's father, Boris Dubinin

My Father, Boris Dubinin, was the Head Coach of the Russian National Swimming team and worked with Olympic champions like Alexander Popov. He was also the Head Coach of the Egyptian National Swimming team preparing Mohamed El-Zanaty, the first Egyptian to win a medal at the FINA World Championships, for his bronze in Melbourne, Australia in March for the 25-km open-water event. My Father had been in his profession for more than 45 years.

My Professional Background

I turned out to be a combination of my two parents and became a teacher and a personal trainer. I have been teaching English, French, and Russian to students of all ages and cultures since my third year in college.

Staging Emile Zola's Au Bonheur Des Dames — Staging Emile Zola's "Au Bonheur Des Dames".

With students at the Regional Pedagogical Debut Contest — With my students at the Regional 'Pedagogical Debut' Contest (we won).

Working at EF Kids and Teens in Saint-Petersburg — Working at EF Kids and Teens, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

I have been a fitness coach since 2015, working with people from Mexico, Germany, the Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates, Russia, and the United States.

Working at Alex Fitness in Saint-Petersburg — Working at Alex Fitness, Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

With an online client visiting in Dallas — With my online client visiting me in Dallas, Texas.

Art In My Heart

I never forgot my youthful beginnings. I have always cherished a hope to be able to return to my passion. I am finally at a point in my life where I can do that.

Coloring with Mom as a child — Coloring with my Mom.

Childhood easel made by Grandpa — My Grandpa made me an easel to draw and paint at home.

Beside the portrait of Leo Tolstoy at the State Russian Museum — Beside the portrait of Leo Tolstoy by Nikolai Yaroshenko hung in the State Russian Museum.