Christmas!!! What can be more glorious than this blissful holiday, full of joy, beauty and kindness, which like the most loyal of friends always returns to delight us each year.

Through the course of our lives, when Christmas time approches near, our homes and all that surrounds us transforms before our very eyes.We begin to believe in miracles and the coming true of our most sacred of wishes.

Christmas is one of the most joyous times of the entire year, and all that is associated with it is dear and beloved by us all! It is a holiday of family, friendship and love!

When I was a young girl,waiting in great anticipation for the moment my father would carry a glorious green tree into our home, with its ever fresh pine scent, remain one of the most dear memories from my childhood. 

The Christmas Tree, with its fluffy, satin branches would be placed in its place of honor, and I would be given the freedom to decorate it as my imagination pleased. I would place a footstool on top of a sturdy chair, just enough to reach the very top, and the magic would begin to fill the entire room, where I did not allow a single soul to enter until all the decorations had been put in place.

When the decorative topper shone high on the tree, strings of colored lights circled the evergreen branches, glass beads hung in twirling rows, the most delightful globes, pinecones, gingerbread pieces and the rest of the ornaments celebrated, rejoyicing at their moment in the spotlight, when Santa Clause and the rest of my favorite dolls and toys would be seated under the heavy branches, only then would I triumphantly invite my mother and father to witness my creation.

Naturally all would gasp in sheer delight and as a reward for my artistic efforts I was allowed to sleep on the sofa right by the Christmas Tree. The lights would be dimmed in the room and only the sparkling and magical multi-colored tree lights, painted the room with their unforgettable, twinkling glimmer. 

For a long time I would look at the Christmas Tree, the ornaments, the radiant reflections dancing on the walls, which lulled me into sleep, whisking me away into a fairy tale. I shall never forget that magical feeling of hapiness and eventhough I have since grown up and no longer the child I was then, I cherish those wonderful memories and endlessly adore Christmas time and all that comes with it.

In 2004, when I lived in San Francisco, I created the painting Christmas Eve Is Here At Last for all people who love and celebrate this glorious holiday!

During the creation of the painting, I endlessly listened to the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, composed for the ballet The Nutcracker.

The fine art painting was created in the technique of watercolor, with microscopic brushstrokes. This truly unique technique, which I created, allowed me to add a unique brightness and saturated shine of colors, so dearly reminding me of my childhood memories of those magical reflections of Christmas Tree lights glimmering on the wall.

I am sure all of you have your own, very dear childhood Christmas memories, and I am so glad to have shared one of mine with you.

The captivating music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, composed for the ballet The Nutcracker, cheerful and lyrical Christmas carols and songs, surround us during festive Christmas time.

Music is not just a beautiful and harmonious union of notes flowing into an enchanting melody, it is the voice of the composer's soul speaking to us through musical sound.In my childhood, I was truly fortunate to study the art of playing the violin, the piano and sang as the lead soloist in the all city children's choir and then the youth choir.

My music studies were serious and of much delight to me. Specialist of the vocal department predicted a career of a singer for me, but by pure chance, a meeting with a respected professional fine artist, who in moments discovered my talent for painting, calling it rare, unexpectedly changed my life forever and the devotion to fine art, which dwelled deep in me, emerged.

In my fine art creations, music has been and shall always remain a source of unending inspiration. My love for music is felt in every brushstroke, every line, and union of colors in my creative paintings.

In my magical painting, "Christmas Eve Is Here At Last", the creation of which was inspired by the fairy tale of E.T.A. Hoffmann and the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, for the ballet The Nutcracker, with much love and attention I painted the musicians- the violinist, the flutist (flute --player), and the vocalist.

This trio is simply charming and so dear to me. With great care, I painted the musical instruments, thus expressing my deepest respect and admiration of musicians who devote their entire lives to serving music.

On the book pages of sheet music, resting by the foot of the chair, with the finest of brushes, in watercolor, carefully painted by my artist's hand, are microscopic notes of a true musical composition.

Elena Vladimir Baranoff