1993-1998 Study in the Graphic Department in the Academy of Fine Arts,
Krakow, Poland
1998 Diploma with accolade in the Studio of Prof. Jacek Gaj

My central interest and artistic accomplishment lies in the study of the human being form.
At the heart of my approach is the exploration of an artistic experience to gain a deeper understanding of human body expression, rather them creating a life-like depiction. It allows me to develop my own creative means of expression.
My preferred artistic technique is drawing but I also use print graphic methods.

During the preparations of my diploma thesis with the title Dream in the studio of Prof. Jacek Gaj I developed, with his assistance, a technique that unites feather-pen, chalk and pencil with prints of the human body. In other works I also used Monotypes.

The idea to use prints of the human body as a foundation of my artistic work emerged through the analogy to papillary lines. Although the existence of these linear patterns is shared by everyone, their individual uniqueness is also proof of our individuality. This fact holds in itself a generic truth about mankind. The print of the palm of a hand and its papillary lines can be a symbol for the enduring desire of a human to leave something behind, to leave a trace and our instinctive longing for immortality.

My most important project in the near future is the continuation of the theme and techniques I started with my Diploma thesis but in a way that is more remote from the realistic picture. At present I am looking for the artistic means that allow me a simplification and distance to the sense of realism in the drawing of the human body. The image should transform into a sign, an ideogram without losing dignity and expression.

My other interests include landscape painting in which case I prefer to work with Aquarelle colours. In contrast to my love for detail in the depiction of the human body the detailed study of nature comes only secondary. My portrait landscapes are mainly products of my reading, of music and of travel memories. Also the old masters, especially representatives of the Italian Renaissance, prove to be a source of inspiration. When working with landscape my emphasize lies on colour and light. Most recently I started to use other techniques such as Lithography, Etching, Aquatint and Oil paintings. In the background of some of my landscapes, sometimes genre like scenes and fantastic architecture appear like an inspiration from the drawings of Piranesis.

This kind of work brought me close to the illustration of books. Currently I am working on a series of drawings and print graphics for selected prose that I feel related to, especially the works of Russian and Ibero-American writers.

Anna Wiraszka