vetlana Pavlovna Sokolovskaya-Shirokova is a real master of the art needlework (miniatures, pictures).
She works in the technique of painting on velvet and silk using needle, beads, silk and gold thread or moulinet.

    Svetlana Sokolovskaya was born in Gorky. She is a professional musician. She has worked at different philarmonic societies as a leader of chamber concerts and as a performer of old Russian romances for a long time.
     Inspired by the grandmother, she became keen on needlework in her childhood. Knitting and embroidery were always more than everyday occupation for Svetlana. All the impressions of her activity as a student and the numerous temporary engagements over the country realized in her works as if they were the continuation of her musical activity.
     The beginning of a new period in the biography of S.Sokolovskaya starts with her visit to the Museum of Decembrists in Irkutsk. There is a very interesting collection of embroidery created by the Decembrists' wives during their voluntary exile. There Svetlana realized she could also express herself through embroidery as well as by means of music. Therefore she came from music to embroidery to become a real master of the art needlework.
     The crucial moment in her creative work was her participation in the exhibition 'Artists of Russia' which was held in Nizhny Novgorod Trade Fair in 1991. Carried away by her talent and the beauty of her works, the Metropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamass Nicolas gave her his blessing. Once blessed, she 'got wings' as an artist, due to her own expression.
     Since that time S.Sokolovskaya has become a constant participant in the local art exhibitions there as well as in international ones. Her works can be found in private collections of Russia, USA, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Finland. Her genre is an embroidered picture in Satin-stitch. That genre was very popular a century ago in Europe and in Russia. Unfortunately, it was forgotten later on. The technique is called the art embroidery of patterns with a needle. Being very constant in her tastes, Svetlana has never digressed and always conformed to her rules and favourite theme in music as well as in the art of needlework. Obviously, the refined nature of the artist has determined the choice of material for her works. It is delicate silk or velvet giving us the impression of particular lightness, elegance and the beauty of jewelry. All the works of Sokolovskaya are filled with love of life, major sounds, happiness and joie de vivre. That is why their emotional influence on spectators is great.
     S.Sokolovskaya is unique in everything, as a musician, as an artist and as a personality. Having a surprizingly harmonious inner world, she is always ready to share it with everyone through her pictures.