From Observation to Expression. My Journey in Landscape

Recently I have felt compelled to steer the focus of my art practice towards landscape painting, drawn to the ways light and atmosphere constantly reshape the relationship between sky, land, and water.

My approach is grounded in tonal realism, where careful attention to value and colour creates depth and mood. I am most inspired by painters like Issac Levitan and Arkhip Kuindzhi, as well as Australian painters such as Arthur Streeton and Sidney Long. Their mastery of colour harmony, composition, and atmospheric depth informs my approach and inspires me to create landscapes that resonate emotionally and spiritually.

While I also paint still life and portraiture, I see landscape as a distinct challenge, one I am eager to embrace. Depicting a constantly changing environment requires both careful observation and interpretation. To achieve a pleasing and effective composition, I must be deliberate in my design and colour choices. I am particularly drawn to the dynamic effects of clouds and the subtle emotion of low light at dawn or dusk, moments that allow the landscape to reveal its beauty and mood.

My technical foundation allows me to render landscapes with realism and confidence, while my current focus is on developing a more personal, expressive direction. Landscape painting challenges me with its infinite variety, the constraints of a well-selected limited palette, and the opportunity to explore composition, rhythm, and harmony in every scene.

On a personal level, it connects me to a deeper sense of belonging, shaped by memories of my childhood in Crimea by the Black Sea. Through these works, I aim to offer viewers landscapes that are visually compelling, technically assured, and emotionally resonant, reflecting a professional practice anchored in both skill and expression.

Feodosia, Crimean Peninsula at sunset