Irena Painting

My work focuses on storms and the light we find within them. I paint intimate and real scenes that invite the viewer to look closer and embrace the darkness. The darkness is something that most shy away from but for me there is nothing more comforting than a storm creating chaos- after all there can be no darkness without light. My work has evolved from painting the sea as a subject to painting it as a person; historically boats were named after women and it felt fitting for me to adopt the same practice. Each painting is personified and named after women, whether they’re a historical figure or simply a strong woman who altered my life in some way. My paintings include stormy skies and rocky shore lines. I leave the edges unfinished in order to create the illusion of hazy memories. Within each I try to portray the subtle lighting, tones and mood of each seascape creating powerful emotions for the viewer.