Nika Zakharov was born and formed as an artist in Odessa, Ukraine. Upon turning two, she received a little box of watercolors, and have been painting ever since. The atmosphere of the Black Sea port city Nika grew up in was infused with electricity, poetry and excitement, it has given rise to generations of writers, artists and musicians. Nika earned her degree in painting from Grekov State School of Fine Arts. Countless hours were devoted to an in-depth study of painting, drawing, anatomy, sculpture, art history and art materials. Five years of classical realist training gave Nika a solid foundation and an understanding of art history, in a scope rarely found in less traditional art establishments. After earning a degree in printmaking from University of Floirida, the artist has successfully engaged in sculpting, scenic and mural painting for theme parks and museums (Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, The Smithsonial Natural History Museum and many others). The artist has participated in numerous juried art shows and her work received awards and recoginition throughout Florida and the South Eastern US. Since 2009, Nika has been focusing her attention on figurative and landscape painting from observation. During her tenure at the Tench Art Studios in Gainesville Fl, she's facilitated a life drawing group and managed a gallery space. For the last decade and the half, Nika has been instructing art students in private classes and group workshops in and around Alachua County.