ARTIST STATMENT

My goal as an artist is to keep growing by trying new things and staying open to feedback. I see art as an opportunity to explore areas I’ve always wanted to dive into and to challenge myself both technically and creatively. I would describe myself as ambitious and determined. Most of what I know, I taught myself through videos, books, and a lot of practice, which has helped me become independent and motivated in my work.

My work is mainly realism or semi-realism, though I sometimes create more stylized pieces depending on the idea I want to communicate. I especially love drawing people and want to keep improving in that area, particularly in capturing anatomy, expression, and subtle emotion. That is why most of the pieces I have focus on the human figure. My portfolio includes a variety of materials and subjects because I wanted to show range, demonstrate my technical skills, and show that I am willing to experiment with different approaches.

A big part of my work is my country and how it appears in my art. I feel like the world knows about Ukraine only because of the war, but it’s so much more than that. I want to share my culture through my art, not only because people here don’t know much about it, but because it’s being erased. My dad is fighting every day for my country, and my mom is hearing drones and rockets on a daily basis while she attempts to keep our family store running. Preserving my culture through art feels like the least I can do.

In my work, I want to show a more accurate understanding of Ukrainian culture by including specific details like traditional clothing, patterns inspired by embroidery, familiar environments, and meaningful use of color. I want to explore ways in which I can continue to convey the intricacies of my culture, highlight the beauty of the complexities of humans, and show the diversity of the day-to-day experiences of people around the world. I want to become a professional in my field whose paintings inspire people to wonder about those ideas and consider the techniques used to create the story before them. I hope that people will walk away with not only a better ability to notice finer details in art, but also the finer details in humans and nature around them.

In terms of narrative, I don’t have much narrative work yet, but I plan to create more in the future. I believe the best paintings are the ones that tell a story through subtle expressions, tone, lighting, and small details that might not be noticed right away. That’s also why I’m drawn to concept art; it allows me to build narrative and make more intentional creative decisions. I’m inspired by my culture as well as by concept art and character design, and I want to continue learning from professionals in the field and applying those ideas to my own work.

My creative process changes depending on the piece. Sometimes I work from imagination and combine different ideas, and other times I use photos, either ones I take myself or ones I find online, and adjust them to fit the concept in my head. This helps me balance realism with creativity and develop stronger compositions. I believe in the future I will become bolder and more complex in my work and open myself up to more growth opportunities. I know the basics of drawing, have explored many different types of media, and pay close attention to anatomy, lighting, and atmosphere to make my work feel polished and realistic. At the same time, I know I still have a lot to learn, and I’m excited for that and for the chance to keep improving.