Iryna Yermolova

Painting is a kind of meditation for me, time to be with myself and my thoughts. It helps me analyse certain things and not react as badly as I could. I've learned how to deal with certain negative things through the painting process.

When I put a pure new canvas on my easel there is that moment when I feel everything is within my power. The first brush strokes helps me to use my eyes and emotions instead of my mind. The connection between my soul and light, or shape, or composition and colours is more important than actually subjects of my works. At the same time the eroticism of the moment when a woman takes her clothes off, or getting changed, or brushing her hair will always delight and inspire me as an artist. For me the moment is very powerful. It requires expression and feelings, rather than rationalism and planning. The moment is my inspiration.

Publications and achievements:
Dorset Life Magazine
Artists and Illustrators Magazine (January 2014)
1st Prize Winner of the Windsor and Newton Prize for Life Drawing Portrait in 2011. Mall Galleries, London

Lugansk Art College, Ukraine
University of Economics and Management, Kharkov, Ukraine

Sept 2014 'Embrace' Personal Exhibition. Bath Contemporary Gallery, UK www.bathcontemporary.com

March 2014 'Spring Fever', exhibition of emerging artists from Saatchi Art. Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill, London, UK

Feb 2014 The Russian Evolution Exhibition. Paragon Gallery, Cheltenham, UK www.paragongallery.co.uk

Dec 2013 Mall Galleries, London, UK. The Royal Institute Of Oil Painters. 126th Annual Exhibition www.mallgalleries.org.uk

Nov 2013 Selected paintings at Claremont Antiques & Modern Art Gallery, Kent, UK www.claremontantiques.com

Oct 2013 Selected paintings at Gagliardi Gallery, London, UK www.gagliardigallery.org

June 2013 "Pushing the Boundaries" Joint Exhibition. 6th June - 6th July. Bath Contemporary Art Gallery, UK www.bathcontemporary.com

April 2013 Exhibition of selected paintings at Paragon Gallery, Cheltenham, UK www.paragongallery.co.uk

March 2013 'Cherchez la Femme' Personal exhibition. 9th - 30th March 2013 Bath Contemporary Art Gallery, Bath, UK www.bathcontemporary.com