In my childhood, I loved spending time at my grandma’s. She was stunningly creative in her skills in traditional arts and crafts. She would transform old clothes into cute rugs and patched duvets, her embroidered pillows and shirts were a proud part of her legacy. She would tell me that I am the first artist in the generation, but I learned from her that creativity can go alongside every part of your life.
My first illustrating experience was when I created a small book of poems and stories for my sister to help her learn how to read. Back then, I was impressed that drawing is a realm in which you can do anything. Putting an elephant on a tree? Sure! Clouds made of dandelion fluff? Absolutely! My exploration of old masters led me to the art school for children. I received a scholarship and studied for a few years. I had to attend it sneakily because my parents didn’t support it.
But I was stubborn in my efforts and luckily received recognition in this field. Now I can definitely tell everyone who is afraid to make art or have a stigma that it is unnecessary, - the world needs creators and the visual part of life can never be underestimated. I have a master's in literature and languages and my art background helps me create effective learning methods and approaches. And complete translations of the books in a very vivid manner.
My scholarly experience didn’t stop and I was investigating traditional arts and folklore. In Ukraine, it's part of the household, so it was easy to get fascinated by them. Paper cutting is a part of Ukrainian heritage. And still, it was an absolutely different experience for me. I like to compare my watercolor sketchbooks and schematic ones for the paper cuttings. Paper cutting is more like a sculpture but made of a tender material.
When it comes to large-scale paper cuttings, the challenging part is to weave the patterns for the common image to look put together. But at the same time, this process is very inspirational. The more I work, the less difficult this part is. A smooth sea never made a skilled (artist) sailor! And of course, the difficult part is cleaning up! Just imagine how much paper waste I get from a 4-meter-long work!
I hear many people consider that I have a lot of patience to make all the artworks from paper but I am very humble in this question. It takes much longer for me to create the composition than to cut it out. Sometimes I investigate a topic (especially if it’s an illustration) and combine patterns for a week or so. And then I cut the paper in a couple of days. I also prefer to cut quickly because my fingers would hurt the next several days. So it’s better to finish the deed in a shorter term.
Most of my works are made in a symmetrical technique, which is a feature of Ukrainian traditional paper cutting. This symmetry plays with the mind, letting it find new images within the patterns. It allows the spectator to look inside himself, and immerse in a kind of meditation, following the whimsical motifs. I noticed that even the music I listen to while cutting has an influence on the flow of work. Sometimes you lead the paper, sometimes paper leads you. And the atmosphere of the piece is very visible. Therefore, I try to cut in a good mood so the people will get good vibes only from my art and it will serve as a mascot for their homes.
Recently I finished a giant piece for the Ukrainian location. I was more than happy to create it because it meant that even during the war, Ukrainians find time to cherish art and traditions. It gave me more strength and I decided to create a book on Ukrainian paper cutting to introduce it to the world. Meanwhile, I am working as a book illustrator and translator, conducting workshops on paper cutting and continuing making exhibitions
I am glad to see that galleries all over the world give a platform to Ukrainian artists and I am grateful to all the people who purchase my art as it helps me raise awareness of the war and make donations.
