ENGThe story of the painting
I started painting at the end of 2021. It was emotional look at how the world is changing under Covid. We, people, also me, working from home, watching theater, cinema, concerts at home. Art exhibitions could also be viewed at home. For a moment there was a feeling that we - humanity remains an underground civilization that has no reason to go out, because everything necessary is served! And this feeling is reflected in my painting by the empty, black eyes, like two deep nowheres. But, in the hope that this dark time will also end one day, I plan to call the painting as "Treasures found in the depths". Just like underwater archaeologists, explorers find ancient cities in the depths of the seas, bringing lost treasures to light.
The direction of this painting was originally "look up". From the depths slowly towards the sun. Hope. From darkness to light.
But... in 2022, on February 24th, war came to Ukraine. And the painting radically changed the direction. It went from light down, to darkness. This was again symbolized by the empty black eyes, which this time expressed true horror and hopelessness. I gave the painting the title: "Have you ever died? The Big Game, Falling Into The Deep". I put this game of life, the checkered square, almost invisible black lines stretch across the ancient face. This ancient face is our history... As the invisible "border" beyond which there is no way back. Which side is civilization on?
Some time ago, I read Zen Buddhist stories. I do not know why, but I remembered exactly one. And I read it again. The disciple asked Zen teacher "can we talk about death?". The teacher asked: "Have you ever died?" The continuation of the story is interesting....
That is how the title of the painting came about.
In the painting, there is a noticeable reference to one of my latest graphic work, named "Fairy tales of the distant sea", in which I included a story about a sultan who was a great of his time as a bringer of destruction at the same time. Read here!
With these parallels, I would like to say - man, as God's creation, is like beautiful creation and like monster at the same time. We can do beautiful things, we are capable of immeasurable generosity and love. By risking our lives, we are able to save lives, save the planet and cultural values. And also, we can destroy, we can kill with words and deeds as well. And we see all this today, in our lives, in a few years.
During the lifetime of each generation, there have been and will certainly be moments when civilization puts itself on a " edge of life".
That is what this my painting is about.
- In May, 2022, my painting participated in the visual art exhibition "ART DAYS 2022. WAR. UKRAINE". Latvian Artist's Union Art Gallery. Riga. Latvia.
Foto, info: LOOK HERE!
- From August to October 10, 2022 this painting participated at the art exhibition in the contemporary art gallery "bazar't", Krasta street 46, TC MOLS, Riga, LATVIA.
Foto, info: LOOK HERE!
- From October 29, 2022 to January 06, 2023 this painting was shown in my solo exhibition in Liepaja, LATVIA.
Foto, info: LOOK HERE!
"HAVE YOU EVER DIED? THE BIG GAME. FALLING INTO THE DEEP". Oil on canvas. 79,5x50,5cm. 2022
Illustrations for poetry
It was a great pleasure to design my mom's poetry book!
I read poetry for the first time to get a feel. The second time I read, I already saw the illustrations in my mind. Whenever I read books, I see stories in my mind, like a movie. I think, book lovers know about this feeling!
And then, I started drawing. But, one day, I stopped, realizing that it is not right! There are too many paintings, there are too heavy for poetry! In the first illustrations of the book cover and text I am looking for the right expressions, color, feeling. I created several variations for the cover. But, it did not seem right to me. So, what to do? I just did another works for some next days and did not think about the book. I knew, that the right solution will come to me! I only hoped that it would happen soon, because the illustrations had to be ready by a certain time, when the finished sample of illustrations should be given to the next stage - a person who would put it all together for printing house!
The final idea, how I see the design of the book, came when I was already asleep! So, I get up, sit at the paper and made sketches.
How the illustrations were made, you can see: HERE!
What was the idea?
Absolute different from my first drawings! Absolute minimalism. Poetry is the basic point, illustrations are just a small touch. I did not want anything on the cover of the book. Just one red point! That is why the book is completely white on all sides.
There is only one illustration inside, which appears in some places in different shades. The main point is red - it begins on the cover and continues in the middle of the book. The red circle, which running.
Only one drawing. Why? I have always been interested in history. Great achievements, great personalities, life stories. The Ancient Egypt and everything related to it seems to me like a miracle, mysterious, mystical, unbelievable. And this one drawing is "my" Ancient Egypt! I think, you will recognize this image. This is Nefertiti. She still captivates us with her beauty that seems to have came from another reality! This is how we know her from the famous sculpture. Another detail in this one drawings came from my work of art, inspired by a documentary about Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II. You can read the story about this my work: HERE!
Also you can see the lines in this one drawing. It is a time of our lives, that begins and ends without a definite point in the whole universe. Vertical and horizontal....
Red color - it keeps our lives pulsating. It is the color of the widest range of our emotions.
And that is exactly what my mom's poetry is - feminine, strong, emotional, beautiful!
When I designed the book, I wanted to concentrate the message of poetry in one conditional point which pulsates more and more strongly with each turn of the page, taking the reader into unknown beautiful places!
And one of these wonderful places is Italy! Some poetry of my moms has been translated in Italian and sent to my mom!
The artist has the privilege of traveling in time, combining impressions, memories from very different time in on work of art, taking the viewers with him on this journey.
In this book, you will be guided through poetry with a little visual touch.
Art in the interior
An original artwork, made for only one exemplar to always be unique for the right interior.
The thought, that there is art in your house, which is one of a kind in the whole world and owned by you - exudes royalty!
Only for these feelings I create my art.
"Winter". Oil, gold on canvas. 1,20x85cm. 2018
The artwork is in a private collection in Latvia.
"Love"
In this artwork I have given the thoughts of love's eternal beauty, and, at the same time - love hurts. That is indicated by the wooden crack in the head of Jesus' baby. I created the painting in a way in which the crack can speak...
The Mother of God already knew the fate of Her child, and this pain can be read from Her eyes. But, nevertheless, we live in a beautiful world. And we love, and we trust!
We have each of us had, currently have and will have difficult moments in life.
But only love can raise and give the necessary strength to overcome any storm!
- This work of art was purchased in my store for a wedding gift.
Is the artist crazy?
This work is my dedication to the Latvian Minister of Finance for wanting to put a stamp on us - “Social correction”.
- This work of art in the exhibition in Latvian Artists Union - see HERE!
- This work of art can be purchased in my store.
- Click on the image and see my offer!
"Decision - social correction". Paper, rapidograph, ink, egg tempera. 34x28cm. 2020.
"COVID-19". A chronicle of our days...
Spring 2020. For a moment I was in a rather hopeless and indefinable sense of what was happening and what would happen next. Probably like anyone on the planet at the time. Sitting, listening to the radio, twisting a pencil in my hands, and hoping that the “freezing” hadn't taken me completely, an angel sketched on the ordinary A4 printer paper - quite weird and lined around like strings that were pulled to the last. Colors: red – anger and anxiety, blue - hope, black - hopelessness, white - Divine light, which, however, shines in the middle of it all. And, the angel himself is already white .... To some extent, it all developed itself, continuing the thought process. Artist just thinks in colors ... Mostly….
Suddenly, my attention was drawn to a sentence heard on television: "get worse before it gets better". I realized “YES”! That is the right thing for my angel! Sentence as created for an angel's black shirt. A sentence that describes the small planet EARTH, the hopes, despair, expectations and fears. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said exactly what I needed to hear at that moment!
As it almost always happens, the right idea comes at the most unpredictable moment and place.
Maybe, someday, 100 years from now, the people who will own this artwork will look at it and think of a time when the world was rolled over great plague with the codename "Covid-19" and that was the time when the world suddenly stopped ....
- This work of art was purchased in my store and is in a private collection in Latvia.
- This work of art was in the exposition of the art gallery Art Pegazs, Riga, LATVIA.
"Covid-19". Paper, rapitograph, ink, egg tempera. 26x17,5cm. 2020
Inspiration for work...
Some time ago, I watched a series of films about the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, about his life and dreams. What I saw impressed me so strongly that for a long time the idea of a painting came to my mind. Next, in my imagination, the idea became a real vision. I already saw the blue tone that will be and I knew that there would be a face somewhere… In my imagination - a fairy-tale-like image, something fabulous, mysterious, distant. I was looking forward to the moment to get to work. The commissioned works, which had to be completed and due to which I could not start this fairy tale, marked the visual view of the future painting even more and more vividly. When I was finally able to start work, it was ready in 3 days. Everything that was on my mind, through hands, brushes and paints, like antennas, just had to be put on paper.
Astrolab (astrolabia), what you can see next to the face, as a round pocket watch, is an ancient measuring instrument for determining the position of the sun and stars. Astrolab gained the highest point of spread and development in Islamic lands. Only later, around the 10th / 11th century, astrolab was introduced to Europe. It has been used by sailors for navigation since the 15th century.
I call the work "Tales of the deep blue sea". I do not know whether it is Sultan Mehmed II and what it has to do with seafaring, travel and the sea itself. This is just my fantasy, in which I leave room for you, my dear viewers, for your fantasy of what it is. As a mysterious journey into the fairy kingdom...
- From October 29 to December 31, 2022 this my art can be viewed at my solo exhibition in Liepaja, LATVIA.
Foto, info: LOOK HERE!
"Tales of the deep blue sea". 56x33cm. Monotype, egg tempera. 2021
Do Icons need to be copied?
Any copy, even the best one, will be a poor imitation. Because it will not have the artist's soul participating in the creation moment. Emotions can not be imitated. Every line of brush, every stroke of color - the emotions of the moment are everywhere in an art work. Can it be imitated? The artist himself can not repeat his own feelings twice. Because, after a second, it is already a thing of the past!
So, what is the value of the copy?...
I often paint Icons, that recognize the Icon of particular time, school, century. I have never had the goal of repeating what has already been created and is brilliant. I want to pass on this beauty by putting my emotions, my soul in each touch of the brush and color.
Iconography is a specific and very beautiful art. The Icons must be recognizable, corresponding to the Canons, developed by the Church, long, long time ago. The Icons is not an object of the interior. The purpose of the Icon is to invite prayer, open a window to the Divine world, be a helping hand when it is needed. Therefore, the Icon must be lively, warm work of art.
And only the artist, with his emotions, when painting, can makes it so!
- My version of the late 12th century Icon "Annunciation" from St.Catherine Monastery, Sinai.
- Year painted: 2020.
- This Icon I painted is in a private collection in the Netherlands.
Original. Painted in the late 12th century.
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- My version of the 13th century Icon "Pelagonitissa" (also known as "The Virgin with the Playing Child").
- Year painted: 2019. 37,5x26,5cm.
- This Icon can be purchased at an Art Gallery in the United Kingdom. Click on the image and see the offer!
Original. The Church of St. George, Staro Nagoričane, Macedonia painted in the 13th century.
"Pretty cloths" for my art!
Like my children, I "dress my works in pretty cloths" - each has its own packaging. You will never find two of the same! I look up, what kind of box, what colors and ribbons would fit. I see if I have to sew a little bag, if I have to make laces, if it is a festive or casual packaging. All of that is determined by the character of the artwork and possibly by some special occasion. To package an artwork well is part of the process just like making art! I can sit by the sewing machine and create something beautiful with cloth and threads. When everything is ready, the art piece is packaged and ready to go to its human, I am happy, because I like what I have done. And if I like it, then others probably will too!
All of my artworks are single samples and so the owner of one will have a unique piece. I really hope that this joy of receiving will stay in owner memory for a long time.
There is a reason why we know that the first impression is the most precise...
As before....
For a long time working with art I have also made post cards and through the years many have found their people. I continue to believe that we will always want to make people happy with words written precisely for them and written by hand. Because, I receiving joy like a child, when postman gave me a letter!!!
Story of two little Angels
- Saint Guardian Angels.
- December 2019.
- If You want me to paint such a gift for You too, contact me!
- Painting time: 9 days.
- Media: wood, levkas, egg tempera, olifa.
- Size: 15x10,5cm.
- These two angels were painted to order for children at baptism.
Good memories...
It was avery good experinece for me, and a lot of artists from all over the world I met!
I was honored to meet the Latvian Cultural Attache from Embassy of Latvia Mrs. Irene Hamilton! Events like this really inspire me to work!
Who knows, maybe I will get in again and participate:)
My work idea
How are my works made?
Sometimes the idea of an artwork in my mind is formed for a very long time. And then the moment comes when the idea is ready. I "see" finished artwork in my head. That is the time to realize it! Often the idea comes from the impression of a task, experienced as an event, movie or book, or just of my life...
The idea for these two artworks came a long time ago - for one ("Singularity. Where does the light break I")- at the end of 2018. I started working on it in February 2019. The thought was about light. The many squares are our living space. The gold circles that have cracked - this is the light path in our lives. The second one ("Singularity. Where the light break II") was created for my solo exhibition in 2018. But, it took its final form in 2019. The idea is also about the light path. The idea is about a black hole. Even light does not escape from it. But, I believe that even in the darkest place there is light in our souls...
In September I submitted two artworks to the exhibition selection board. And, so, my art accepted and will be display until 05.01.2020. in the Annual Visual Art Exhibition "Autumn 2019" in the Latvian Artists Union.
But You, the viewers, always have space for Your interpretation. What do You see in a work of art? Perhaps this is a completely different idea than what the artist wanted to say?
For both artworks I chose text from the Book of Job 38:19-24:
"Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness where is the place thereof, that thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? Knowest thou it, because thou wast the born? or because the number of thy days is great? Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? But what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?"
- "Where does the light break I?".
- Size: 85x56cm.
- Media: paper, egg tempera, ink, gold powder.
- "Singularity. Where does the light break II?".
- Size: 39,5x39,5cm.
- Media: installation, glass, iron, authoring.
Kitchen story!
I like cooking, as much as to paint! In my kitchen there is my patron saint of cooks - Saint Euphrosine of Palestine. He helps me a lot!My experience
Even if I travel or am here in Latvia, my "little treasure" - the Icon of Our Lady is always with me in my pocket! There had been some difficult times in my life, and always when I look in the eyes of the Mother of God I can speak with God, think about my family. We, humans, are emotional. We need to believe. My little Icon of Our Lady is my Ocean of Faith. And this Ocean is in my pocket, always with me!
Three reasons why my art should be in Your home?
This artwork "Mother of God" traveled to Australia. A piece of Latvian forest (I painted on a piece of wood) always remains Australians of Latvia. And this is only artwork in the whole world, of its kind!- You have an artwork, which is the only one in the whole world of its kind!
- You have an artwork created specially for You!
- You have an artwork created in Latvia!