IRENA SHKLOVER’S WHIMSICAL ART!(2)
IRENA SHKLOVER, part 2. Last week the first part of Irena’s article was published and as promised, here is the rest of her fascinating point of view and more of her whimsical art. Just to put us back in context, Irena is originally from Russia, now living in British Columbia, Canada. And for her, art is a shot of Artitamins!
Welcome back Irena, let’s continue with our interview.
No. 5: When you are painting, creating, how do you feel (you’ve sort of answered this one but maybe you want to add something)
I can add this:
Mixing colours is very exciting, much more exciting than mixing batter. A little bit of green, some yellow, drop of white – mix, mix, mix….ready! Do I use a pallet, a classic wooden one? No, never. It’s too serious and official, like wearing an evening dress to a beach party. I don’t like serious stuff. Usually my pallets are: tops of big cans of paint that I easily can findaround me or – my very special, small and portable palette – palm of my left hand.
When I paint I’m always looking for Beauty. What is beauty? I think that
beauty is not cuteness and smoothness but some kind of uniqueness. Uniqueness is usually created by deformations. A tree root is a good example of it. If a root is straight as a stretched rope do you see any beauty in it? A beautiful root is very curvy; every twist of it shows the struggle that it had with other roots and stones on its way. Same happens with the human face. All kids’ faces are cute and pretty but when a person gets older his face shows his own and unique way through life. Not every deformation makes the object beautiful. I’m permanently looking for the deformation that gives me vibes of sophistication, harmony and lightness. This kind of deformations I try to reflect on my canvases.
No. 6) Do you identify with your subject and if so, on what level?
When I paint I feel definite connection with the subject, but I’m not the subject and the subject is not me.
No. 7) When do you do your best work? (You’ve talked a bit about that as well).
I don’t know. I always try my best.
No. 8) Does painting help you connect with your higher Self, whatever that is for you?
Yes. They help me a lot. People and creatures on my paintings are always 
asking questions and looking for answers. They are curious, they have their own secrets, they smile mysteriously. They do not really belong to canvas, they are using it like a window to look out, at our world. Their world is hiding behind the canvas, deep-deep behind. Actually, it’s a wonderful world. It has purple mountains, orange grass and every hour changing colour of skies. The gravity there is very low and it’s make it easy to jump and fly. They live in present, their past is in my dreams and memories, their future – is in dreams and hopes of their future owners. When I look on my own canvases, I try to see things behind the canvas, they help me to understand myself better.
no. 9) Many people seem to feel that the school systems kill creativity. What are your views on that?
I think that all depends on teachers. Some of them are real “creativity killers” and some of them are “walking inspiration”. Here are few examples. Slim, small, mouse-like woman, always in light beige dresses. She happened to be my art teacher during one semester. I forgot her name, her face but I can’t forget what she told me once.
–“Why do you always use bright colours? Look at our life – it’s grey! So you have to start painting our real life and use lots of grey!” The most weird and funny in this situation was that she really enjoyed grey life around her and sincerely wanted to help me. Another art teacher gave me probably the most valuable advice that I got during my art education: when you draw a still life (or anything else) never draw things separately, try to see and draw them all as parts of one animal.
Here are some of my thoughts about creativity. All small kids are very creative, but most of them loose the great gift of creativity after delicate age of 10. When kids are getting older most of them start to see imperfections in their works, they become very upset with inability to hit the standard level of “total cuteness”. It ruins creativity. Art sessions without satisfaction, love and devotion are empty and can kill even a great talent. Laziness and loosing interest in the result are main enemies of creative folks and can lead to lots of problems.
No. 10) If you agree with no. 9, what do you think would be a very simple solution?
Teachers have to be more open minded.
Irena, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, your life with us, it has been a real pleasure and truly appreciated. Until we meet again, I wish you the best in all you do. Be blessed, my friend!
TO THE READER:
Here are Irena’s links again, be sure to visit her website to see more of her magic world!
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Comments
Thank you VERY MUCH Michele!
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Also I would like to invite everybody who like my work to visit my page on Facebook.
Hi Irena, I have enjoyed your articles and art immensely. While I love all of them the “Blue Flowers” sends my soul flying…Feels like blue skies, flowers, and bubbles everywhere. Visited your site and Facebook, both were well worth it. Thank you for sharing your art and thoughts….Cecelia
.-= Cecelia Gay´s last blog ..How Can I Tell You =-.
Thank you for your very nice comment, Cecelia!
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