Ukrainian Klondike Painting

The Ukrainian artist, scientist and specialist on restoration of easel painting and copy of easel painting Iryna Somyk-Ponomarenko was born in 1974 in the city of Kyiv, Ukraine. As an artist she works in various genres: starting with still life, portrait, nude and up to the classical-style paintings for the reproduction of the Castlehyde mansions in Ireland. Since 2003 Iryna Somyk-Ponomarenko has been teaching Restoration of Easel Painting and Copy of Easel Painting at the Department of Technique and Restoration of Art Works, the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture in Kyiv, Ukraine. Under the guidance of professor Somik-Ponomarenko students create copies of paintings that are in the permanent exposition of the National Art Museum of the Ukrainian Arts. Iryna Somik-Ponomarenko is the author of numerous publications on conservation, restoration and painting techniques, and the presenter at various International and All-Ukrainian scientific and practical conferences on Fine Arts etc. In 2003 – 2004 the artist participated in the creation of classical-style paintings for the reproduction of the Castlehyde mansions in Ireland. In 2008, 2009 she created copies of Ukrainian historians portraits for the portrait gallery in the Palace of Cyril Rozumovsky (Baturin National Reserve «Hetman's Capital», Ukraine). Last year the Ukrainian artist Iryna Somyk-Ponomarenko was awarded by Honorary Diploma of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine for significant achievements in professional activity and long-term conscientious work. Painting works of the Ukrainian artist Iryna Somyk-Ponomarenko are in the funds of National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture, private collections of Ukraine, the United States of America, Canada, England, Austria, Russia and other countries.