I was born and raised
in Ukraine. Since childhood I have been drawing for teachers and
fellow students, publishing school newspapers, creating
posters, displays and entire art shows for various school events.
I guess I have always been an artist at heart. However, my art took
a breather while I concentrated on completing my education and dealt
with life’s various surprises.
My creative bent awoke again after moving to Southern California.
There, I found myself in an entirely different cultural and artistic
environment. Soon, I discovered that colored pencils could do so
much more than just sketch. I began to understand that a medium
I had overlooked from childhood could produce a wondrous
array of colors
and tones. I discovered new systems and methods that changed my
perceptions and molded the results into something more than
I had previously
thought possible.
Sunny Southern California is a rich environment of floral wonders.
Floral motifs hold preeminence in my work. I think of a bouquet
of flowers as though I would a crowd of people. It is difficult
to see
the detail of any one of them. However, when I paint a close-up
of a single flower I create an image much like a floral portrait.
Flowers
have unique shapes and colors and their delicate lines underscore
their individuality. It is the hallmark of nature. Like humans,
each flower has its very own life and a wonderful story to tell.
A great influence on my work has been the talent of Hans Christian
Andersen. He could weave very innovative stories about the simple
events in every day life and make them fascinating to listen to.
I use the language of shapes and colors to do the same with my
paintings. Capture the simple movement of a leaf caught in a breeze
and, though
it may happen the same exact way only once in all of nature’s
complexity, it is saved for a lifetime when rendered by my pencils.
Most artists pursue certain goals in their work. Some make a tool
of art to demonstrate their own point of view. Some make a statement
with it. Some use art as entertainment. Though life is full of
negative images, I try to catch and hold the positive side. I enjoy
the process
of creation by itself and through my art, try to convey the miracles
and everyday wonders of the world.
I wish I had enough time to finish all of the projects I have in
my head. Since colored pencils require long and tedious hours to
achieve the exact effect desired it is critical to carefully and
meticulously plan the process of creating each piece. Knowledge
of the medium’s essences, constant improvement of skills
and techniques, searching for new ways to use the medium and being
open to experiment
are crucial keys for success. Hard work and passion brings results.
This year my works have been juried in two highly rated and competitive
shows. I am enjoying my journey and looking forward to new challenges.
