A Production Designer with three award winning short films with numerous branded spots under her belt. Natalie has been working in the film + commercial field for over several years. She is an Art Dealer, Prop Artist and Fine Artist with over 12 years professional experience in these fields. She collaborates and produces films and commercials with her husband, Director Peter Skorupskas.
Natalie has held a position as a freelance staff artist at one of Detroit’s leading prop shops over the past 11 years, the Parade Company since 2010, primarily painting and sculpting towards events like the International Auto Show, Indy 500, Somerset Mall 3-tier castle and of course Detroit's annual Thanksgiving Parade. She continues to work on her own drawing & painting discipline, while working as a freelance artist/art director towards commercials, television and film projects big and small.
Daughter of a fighter jet pilot and professional ballet dancer - her foundation is rooted in arts, world creating and adventure. Natalie is fascinated by the complexity of the human condition of stage, screen and life as we know it - life imitating art, art imitating life - it's all wonderful.
Natalie graduated in fine arts from the University of Michigan concentrating in drawing & painting. Her additional studies at Michigan in the History of Art, Archaeology and Museum Studies & Practices led her to work at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, followed by the Detroit Institute of Arts. She also lived abroad in Paris, France studying costume design, art history and participated in shows and workshops as a fine artist.
Natalie lived in New York City for a few years directing and working art galleries and international art fairs representing artists like Keith Haring, LA II, STIK, COPE2, John Bageris, Richard Butler, Jim Flora, Damian Stamer, Meridith Pingree, Michael Scoggins, Richard Hambleton, 'The New York Dandy" Patrick McDonald and more. Thought she primarily works these days as an artist herself, she continues to keep relationships and work with galleries, artists and private collections as opportunities arise.
Fun facts: Natalie sang background vocals for the Electric Six towards their album, Mustang; speaks a little french, a little Ukrainian (she is Ukrainian); yearns to get back into playing the cello very soon; loves her dog Zulu, the tri-color spotted big bear of a pup; her dream job as a kid was to be a cast member on SNL; and she loves a good sugar cookie.