"Through the Smoke" Picture from the series "From Ukraine with love". I created this series of paintings while under occupation, in the city of Kherson. Rooster - ancient and new at the same time - a symbol of Ukrainian resistance. The whole world was covered with photos of a shelled, destroyed house, on which a cupboard with dishes remained hanging. And on top "sat" a ceramic cockerel. There are new war memes. Now this cabinet has been taken to the future war museum in Ukraine.
Now, the bright image of Ukraine, I convey with gray, dark colors.
In my paintings, I use the collage technique of different styles of painting, elements. I am inspired by female nature: tenderness, fragility, grace, which can be combined with charisma, intelligence and fortitude. Flowers are a symbol of the transience, variability and fragility of beauty. Poppy is often found in the symbols of Ukraine: in a folk wreath, in embroidery on clothes, in folk painting, which was used on the walls of houses, dishes.
Watercolors can create unique combinations of painting styles. She can be dry in classic looks; spread with shades, play with spots like in impressionism, be strict graphic and decorative. I love watercolor for its elusiveness, danger, unpredictability. I find these traits in the female image as well.
A series of paintings "From Ukraine with Love" are united by a common theme: will, freedom, struggle, sadness and hope for a new stage in the development of our society. The paintings from this series are made in watercolor with the addition of graphics with a gel pen, in restrained colors, dominated by brown, gray and muted colors of the flag of Ukraine. Also, in each picture, I added elements of folklore, ethnic motifs, stylized ornaments, our national symbols in the form of animals and flowers. With these pictures, I tried to make a cultural contribution to the fight against invaders and support for our glorious warriors, our suffering people.
