My name is Neringa Sidlauskaite. I was born in the summer of 1984. I am second out of five sisters. My parents renounced me and my sisters when I was eight years old. When I was twelve I learned about my mother’s death and I just erased my father from my life. I was raised in orphanage in Plunge, Lithuania.
I liked to draw and living in orphanage I had a chance to devote myself to it. I remember all the presents, whether it was birthday, Christmas or incentive for studying good, was a pile of pencils, paintbrushes and paper. I finished school in strengthened arts class and consequently finished Art school thereafter.
While still in 9th year at school I started drawing paintings by request to get pocket money. When I sold a painting I would buy more oil colours and canvas for upcoming requests. If I had any money left I’d save them to buy something I wanted as I was a maturating teenager at the end of the day and wanted to feel and look same as others, but had no other recourses to get money from.
After graduating from Vilnius Art Academy I moved to London. I took on jobs in hospitality while painting on canvas on my free time. I knew I will never have my break this way and decided to take my skills, knowledge and love of art digital. It was completely new, yet somewhat same world and again I felt eagerness and joy of learning. First few free projects led to paid projects, freelancing led to temporary and consecutively fulltime position at Visual communication and design company. This was and still is great teacher of understanding and delivering clients’ expressed and also unexpressed desires. The decision to quit hospitality and step into the unknown has reaped sweetest fruits so far!
When I get asked why and how I fell in love with art, I find myself thinking. Everything actually started when I was still living with my parents. My family was poor; still remember that cold and dark two bedroom flat, a painting of my mother hanging at my parents’ bedroom, I knew it was my uncle who drew it. I couldn’t get my eyes of that painting; the likeness to my mother was driving my utterly insane. There was an old wardrobe in the same room which had a full shelf of monochrome pictures and albums. I can recall the feeling of finding the album which my father illuminated with flowers. I loved those roses; I wished I could draw like this!
When we lost our mother, I decided to find and finish that album. When I had my hands on that album I realised I could do a lot more than I believed I can and I started believing in those people who believed in me. From that particular moment all my experiences, dreams, aims and opportunities literally yelled in the paper. I found a platform where I can put myself in and express myself though.
I am and want to be that girl who fell in love and could never forget that monochrome pictures album. Because it is the belief that got that girl here in today.
