Capturing Nature’s Beauty, One Stroke at a Time
In this edition of TorontoPages, we are thrilled to introduce Elva Nykyforuk, a Canadian artist whose vibrant and textured creations have captivated audiences across North America and beyond. Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Elva’s unique artistic journey started with a deep-rooted love for both science and art. Although she began her career as a Medical Laboratory Technologist, her passion for painting eventually led her to co-found The Painting Pear Fine Art, an endeavor that has allowed her to explore bold, expressive styles and share her work with a wide array of clients.
Elva’s work is known for its dynamic use of color and texture, often drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of the Alberta landscape and her multicultural background. In this exclusive interview, Elva opens up about her creative process, the evolution of her artistic style, and the challenges and rewards of balancing her career as both a microbiologist and a professional artist. Join us as she reflects on her journey, her inspirations, and what the future holds for her flourishing art career.
“As an artist, you put so much into a piece that it becomes a part of you. When that painting finds its forever home, a little part of me goes with it.”
Please introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Elva Nykyforuk, and I’m a Canadian artist born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. I grew up speaking English and Spanish since my mother is from Guatemala, though my Spanish is more like Spanglish now, unfortunately.
Tell us about your education.
My original love for the sciences led me to the M.L.T. program at N.A.I.T., where I became a Medical Laboratory Technologist specializing in Microbiology. As for art education, I am completely self-taught. I’ve studied various techniques and styles to help hone my craft and develop myself as an artist. I believe trial and error, and most of all practice, is what makes a good artist. I think Michelangelo said it best: “If people knew how hard I worked to achieve my mastery, it wouldn’t seem so wonderful after all.”
How did you first discover your passion for painting, and what led you to pursue it professionally?
I’ve always had a deep love for art and the arts in general. I’ve been an avid purchaser of art pieces since I could afford to buy any. About ten years ago, I decided to buy a canvas and some paint and created my first piece, which was an abstract painting. My husband loved it so much that he started painting alongside me, simply for the pleasure of it, and it became a hobby for both of us. As I started posting our works, people became interested in buying the pieces, which led us to create The Painting Pear Fine Art. Together, we have had the fortunate opportunity to outfit medical facilities, commercial properties, and private residential homes with our art throughout North America and overseas over the past decade.
Your art often features vibrant colors and dynamic compositions. Can you share what inspires your artistic style?
I absolutely love painting in bold, vibrant colors. Often, I don’t even mute some of the colors straight from the tube (which is probably a faux pas for many artists). I equally love texture! I want people not just to look at my paintings but to feel the urge to touch them. I want you to feel as though you could walk into my canvas and escape. This combination of texture and vibrancy has helped me develop my own artistic style over the years.
Can you tell us more about “The Painting Pear Fine Art” and what makes it unique in the art world?
What makes The Painting Pear unique is the partnership and collaborative creativity my husband and I share. Even though our skill sets are quite different, we’ve been able to merge them to create pieces that our clients envision for their spaces. We also put on a gallery show featuring 27 pieces, more than half of which sold, and we donated most of the proceeds to a charity supporting terminally ill children in Alberta. In the last two years, I’ve been the sole artist, as my husband’s career in IT has taken precedence. He’s still a fantastic sounding board, and it’s great to have someone to discuss works-in-progress with. On the bright side, I’ve had more time to focus on my art, and I’m very thankful for that.
Living in Alberta, how does the natural landscape and culture influence your work as an artist?
Growing up in Alberta has given me the perfect backdrop for my landscape paintings, especially with the Rockies. When you grow up here, you visit Jasper and Banff regularly, and even now, those breathtaking mountains, stunning lakes, and dense forests never get old. What more could an artist ask for? I also love painting landscapes from different parts of the world or straight from my imagination.
What has been the most rewarding part of your journey as a Canadian artist?
The most rewarding part of this journey is creating something people love so much that they want it in their homes. As an artist, you pour so much of yourself into a piece that it becomes a part of you. So when that painting finds its forever home, I always feel like a little piece of me goes with it. I’ve also met amazing people and lifelong friends along the way, and the support I’ve received from friends and family has been overwhelming.
What challenges have you faced in your career, and how have you overcome them?
The biggest challenge in my career has been carving out time to paint. Many of my pieces are very large, textured, and detailed, so a landscape painting can sometimes take up to 50 hours to complete. When I have a commissioned piece for a gallery or a private sale, I set deadlines for myself to ensure it gets finished. Sometimes, after completing a painting, I need to take a short break before starting the next one to regroup and rest my back, lol.
How do you approach creating a new piece of artwork? Do you have a specific routine or process you follow?
My approach depends on what the painting is for. I’m best known for my landscapes, but I also paint portraits and abstract pieces. If it’s a custom piece, I typically meet with the client to get a sense of what they want. Sometimes they don’t know exactly what they want, which is okay too. I’ll give them a general idea of my vision, and they trust me to execute it. When painting for myself, I go with whatever I feel like creating at the time. It’s also a chance to experiment with new ideas or techniques. Sometimes I sketch a rough draft on the canvas, and other times I just start painting without one.
How do you stay motivated and creative, especially when facing artist’s block or creative challenges?
Staying motivated and creative hasn’t been an issue for me. I have so many paintings floating around in my head that I’ve yet to put on canvas. However, like all artists, sometimes what you envision doesn’t turn out as you hoped. Or you might like certain parts of a piece but not others. When that happens, I step away, study the piece through photos, and come up with a plan to make it work. Sometimes, it turns out even better than the original vision—and those are always good days!
How has your artistic style evolved over the years? Are there any recent changes in your work that you’re particularly excited about?
My style has evolved a lot. When I first started, I mainly painted abstract pieces for about a year and a half. When I moved on to palette knife landscapes, flowers, and trees, they had a more abstract feel, too. Over time, they’ve become more realistic and more textured. I remember my first cherry blossom tree painting, making the petals thick and 3D. I loved the look and feel of it, and that’s probably what set me on the path to creating more textured paintings.
Can you tell us about a piece of art you created that holds a special meaning to you?
That’s a tough question! The pieces that hold a special place in my heart often have personal stories behind them. For example, a girl I went to junior high with asked me to paint a cherry blossom tree from her father’s backyard because he was very ill. She wanted something to remember him by. I completed the piece before he passed away, and he was able to see it. He passed away a couple of weeks later, and I know she was so grateful to have that memory of him forever in her home.
Outside of painting, what are some of your hobbies or activities that you enjoy in your free time?
I love working out and golfing. I was a figure skater for 13 years, which gave me a deep love of exercise. I love lifting weights, though cardio days can be tough, lol. As for golf, it’s a love-hate relationship, which I think is pretty common among golfers.
How do you balance your professional art career with your personal life?
I’ve had an easier time balancing my art career with my personal life because they’ve often been intertwined. The real challenge has been balancing my art career with my microbiology career. Last year, I decided to go casual at my microbiology job, which has helped me carve out more time for painting.
What are some of the themes or messages you aim to convey through your art?
I want my art to provide a sense of escape. As I mentioned before, I want people to get lost in my art or feel a strong emotional connection to it. In the end, I think that’s what all artists strive for—it’s why we create.
How do you handle criticism or feedback on your work?
You have to be open to criticism and critiques. It’s never easy to hear, especially if you feel one way about a piece, but someone else sees it differently. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to really listen to your client when doing a custom piece. If they say, “I hate pink,” you definitely don’t put pink in it! I remember my first piece for an art gallery—I played it a bit too safe. The gallery loved the piece, but the owner told me to “give me more Elva” on the next one. That feedback was invaluable.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, either personally or professionally?
The best advice I’ve received is common but important: Stay true to yourself and always do your best. If you put in 100%, you can feel confident in your efforts. Also, my parents always said, “If you leave the house, look presentable.” You never know who you’ll run into! I’ve shared this with friends, and they often thank me for it—especially when they run into an ex, lol.
What projects or goals are you currently working on, and what can we expect to see from you in the future?
I’m currently working on a few pieces, all of which are very different. I’m excited about a nude abstract painting for a client—it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while but hadn’t had the opportunity until now. I’m also working on a landscape painting, but you’ll have to wait to see that one when it’s done!
Finally, what do you hope people take away from your art when they see it?
When people see my works, whether in galleries, buildings, or homes, I want them to feel that moment of escape. Whether they’re struck by the piece or imagine themselves walking in the field, or even if they just like the bold colors and vibrancy—if that happens, I know I’ve achieved my goal.
Your message for us at the TorontoPages magazine.
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to talk about my art career. I have to be honest—some of your questions were tough! They made me reflect on the last ten years and where I’m headed from here. So I appreciate the chance to be part of your article, and above all, thank you for recognizing not just my work but Canadian artists as a whole.
