Born Countess Svietlana L.B.M.J. Deym von Stritez in the Czech Republic in 1955, scion of a feudal central European family whose lineage has been documented since the 13^th Century. Her great-uncle on her mother’s side was Hans Noble Skramlik von Cronreuth, a famous 19^th century Czech painter whose work hangs at the National Gallery in Prague. On her father’s side another great-uncle, Rene d’Harnoncourt, became the first Director of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Since early childhood she began to draw and was exposed to a great deal of art and philosophy. In addition, she was raised in several countries (Venezuela, Colombia, Germany and the US) and therefore became intimately acquainted with Hispanic, American as well as European cultures and tastes.

Attended the National Academy of Design in New York City where she completed four years. She studied under known artists such as Harvey Dinnerstein, Colleen Browning and Serge Hollenbach. She received diplomas in Fine Arts for Drawing, Anatomy and Painting. She excelled at the top of the Academy by winning the best prizes eligible to her in the field; the Dr. Ralph Weiler Prize and the William Auerbach-Levy Prize, judged by known artists and critics.

Later she studied privately with Burt Silverman, known for his paintings and Time magazine covers. She moved to Florence, Italy and studied Old Masters independently.

While traditional art in the Grandmaster styles challenged her skills, it left her mostly unmoved intellectually and spiritually. Equally modern art, while challenging her mind, failed to visually touch her heart or spirit. She resolved that she would find a way to consolidate and create a new synthesis of both art worlds. The vast majority of great philosophers throughout history had known and taught that to arrive at fresh visions and new understandings it was critical to be able withdraw from the world, both physically and spiritually. To achieve this goal, just like Spinoza, Descartes or Kant, she gave up a very active international social life and retreated into contemplation and work.

She has deliberately chosen to avoid the limelight, but on occasion has been persuaded to show by demand and need. In New York City she was exhibited at the National Academy of Design and the National Arts Club. In Austria she has had one-person shows at the Kitzbuhel Schloss Kaps. In Rhode Island her work has been represented by Lenore Gray and has been shown by the Bert Gallery. She has developed a quiet following and has been collected by, among others:

Sothebys.com - Auctioned online in 2001

The Kish Galleries, New York City; Keisha Hayle curator

Borden Stevenson, son of the famous Adlai Stevenson, Idaho

Lady Alexandra Hay, London

Countess Astrid Lamberg, Kitzbuhel, Austria and Germany

Law Offices of Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, New York City

Gilbert Videau, Paris and New York City

 

I do not plan my paintings. I work from a state of deep relaxation and intuition, drawing inspiration from sketches and snapshots taken on walks or travels around the world. The new image on canvas exists only in my mind’s eye; I refer to it as a still dream within the moving dream of life. I approach the act of painting as a meditation, letting my hands subconsciously tap universal energies and thereby be guided.

A successful painting is one that connects all levels of a person’s life, i.e., emotional, intellectual, spiritual and physical. Harmonies of shapes and color create an underlying rhythm and poetry in any structure but if the setting is unfamiliar the emotional connection is lost. Using the above process with landscape can evoke a sense of awe and magic that restores and empowers. The subtle and delicate balances in the patterns and tones of a painting bring to mind the analogous balance of interdependence exhibited in Nature’s ecosystems. Consciousness of the concept of unity on so many levels breathes energy into every aspect of our lives.

A fragmented and separatist world view of ourselves and of life leads to careless and self-destructive policies and actions. The lack of feeling of unity in our daily thinking results in chaotic and restless lives.