First Day on Earth Print

I was born in Odessa, near the Black Sea, and began drawing as a child. Art has always been part of how I understand the world – through observation, imagination, and emotional response. My earlier work was darker, shaped by personal challenges and a need to make sense of difficult emotions. After moving to the United States and building a more stable life, my work gradually shifted. I now work as a financial professional at a large university, which allows me to support myself while continuing to make art without external pressure. I work mostly in oil, and occasionally in ink, watercolor, or mixed media, depending on the subject. Over time, I’ve developed a recognizable style that combines surreal imagery with quiet symbolism – I call this approach Softique. It’s a gentle, introspective way of painting that blends memory, emotion, and imagination. My paintings often include imagined women, animals, and dreamlike landscapes – not as direct representations, but as reflections of inner life or emotional states. My color palette leans toward soft, muted tones – cool blues, purples, and greens – balanced with warm accents like coral, rose, or gold. I build contrast through subtle shifts in tone and texture rather than sharp lines. Light often appears to come from within the image, adding a quiet, atmospheric quality to the work. I sketch regularly, and many of my paintings begin as small drawings. Each piece is part observation and part interpretation – a way to express beauty, contrast, and a sense of calm.