Hold it tight! Print

Born in Moscow, raised in Berlin, I now live in London where I continue my art practice, which I have followed for over ten years. Working primarily in oil paint, usually on canvas, my work mixes an interest in both natural forms and the tradition of portraiture. This allows me to blend organic floral imagery with more human elements on the canvas to explore both meaning and effect. Initially, I was drawn to detail in painting, specifically through oil, yet this has developed to incorporate more expansive and contemporary elements of practice. This has created a distinctive and unique style, as to involve the application of gold leaf silver leaf and the use of print techniques which interact distinctively with the continued use of detailed oil paint. The reflective surfaces created by the use of metallic leaf results in an ever-changing visual plane, according to the light of the hanging space. The mixed media allows me to create a textured canvas, matched by the bespoke colour and tone choice, depending on sitter and subject matter. The use of colour is as important as the mixed media format, as the combination of the colours both personalises the image but also taps into the connotations and symbolism of each individual colour within artistic tradition, allowing for profound personal expression.