Through the eyes of a child

It doesn’t take much to please abstract artist Nicole Dina Naddak-Ivanov.

A few cookies, maybe a Barbie or two or watching a Disney movie will usually do the trick.

After all, she’s only seven-years-old.

But don’t hold that against her.

Naddak-Ivanov has been painting since she was 15 months old. Yes, you read that right: one year and three months old.

The American-born North Yorker first picked up watercolours at that tender age as her parents wanted their toddler to follow in the Russian tradition of children expressing their creativity — and learn motor skills to boot — through painting.

Naddak-Ivanov was soon hooked on the craft, and by age four she had turned to acrylics, choosing to paint her colourful abstract images, with equally colourful titles, on canvases her parents provided her with.

But unlike other children whose artwork is soon relegated to a box in the basement after it has done time on the fridge, Naddak-Ivanov’s artwork sees the light of day, literally.

The grade 1 student has racked up 44 pieces, ranging in size from 8” x 11” to 36” x 48” canvases.

Last year she exhibited in five different art events including an auction for the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund where she donated one of her pieces.

And she’s already sold to private collectors in the U.S. and Russia, and at Canadian auctions.

“Painting makes me feel excellent,” Naddak-Ivanov says as she fiddles with one of her pink, fluffy slippers in the York Mills apartment she shares with mom and dad.

“My friends don’t know what to say, they think I’m famous,” she giggles.

And it’s evident her schoolmates aren’t her only fans. Her parents — an accountant and IT manager — are proud of their daughter’s talents.

Their apartment is evidence. Almost every wall in the two-bedroom space is covered with Naddak-Ivanov’s paintings, including the living room where the youngster’s art supplies are housed, and where she paints her creations.

The seven-year-old’s bedroom is no exception. Amongst the dolls, assortment of toys and bunk bed, Naddak-Ivanov’s paintings are here, there and everywhere.

So much so that they have almost run out of wall space.

“She has unbelievable creativity,” says her mother Marina, as Toronto’s youngest abstract artist plays in the background.

To further promote her artwork, which she sells between $50 and $500, the cheeky youngster who tells her mother to be quiet during the interview has a website, complete with biography, artistic statement and a gallery of her paintings.

This month her notoriety reaches downtown fans with seven of her paintings on display at Insomnia Restaurant near Honest Ed’s until April 6.

She also plans to donate a piece later this year to American president Barack Obama to help raise money to support the country’s falling economy.

The Obama idea, says Marina, was Naddak-Ivanov’s.

“I am not sure if she is talented,” says Marina. “I know she loves to do this but no one in our family was never involved in art, we absolutely don’t know how to draw.

“We are very giving parents. If she requires something we give it.”

Judging by Naddak-Ivanov’s work: colour — and lots of it — is the child’s thing. Few of her paintings have any white space.

And she doesn’t have just one favourite colour either. Currently silver, gold, black, blue, red and pink are her top picks.

That and coming up with equally imaginative titles she gives her finished work.

A dark, brooding green piece is titled “Madness”, naturally.

“Circus” is the name for a 30” x 40” orange, blue and pink number.

So where does Naddak-Ivanov see herself down the road?
Studying at OCAD? Being picked up by one of the many contemporary art galleries on Queen Street West?

Nah, she sees herself as a writer. Fiction, specifically, Naddak-Ivanov says as she reels off a made up story about one of her paintings.

But until the book deal comes, her parents are keeping their prodigy’s options open.

Naddak-Ivanov does opera, skating, swimming and ballet along with her obligatory school and art classes each week.

She’s busy every night.

“I’m very excited when I’ll get three more toys … did you see my toy collection? It’s very nice,” she says, before asking her mom if they can have a pillow fight after the interview is over.