Irina Bakumenko May- August 2021

In the Atrium

Heritage Homes of Kelowna

Artist Statement

The fact that I am a creative person, I have never doubted. In childhood, this was expressed in participating in various activities, including: studying at a music school, issuing school wall newspapers, organizing holidays, and even writing poetry.

In my more than 25 years in business, I participated in many entrepreneurial activities that reflected my creativity. I was a driving force in the development of new directions, marketing a company and stimulating staff and customers.

Four years ago, for the first time after drawing lessons in school, I picked up watercolours. It was an emotional moment when I realized that I had returned to my real self, my special bright world in which my soul was filled with beautiful images and inspiration. I suddenly realized that I was looking at the surrounding world through the eyes of an artist, and I wanted to return to that beauty that I felt.

Starting to draw, I am constantly learning. I took several online courses from 1 to 6 months in teaching the basics of drawing, academic drawing, and watercolour painting.

 I take part in numerous online marathons and training from world-famous watercolour artists. I paint in watercolour, this technique gives me the opportunity to constantly experiment, moving from transparent, light images to dense multi-layered fills. I love watercolour for all the wonders that it does with water, for the possibility of creating hundreds of colour options.

I am constantly inspired because I perceive the world as an amazing and beautiful picture with millions of colour images. But I am especially inspired by trips in which I discover cities with the unique architecture of each country, ancient buildings and castles, colonial-style houses, elements of household utensils and furniture, door and window decorations, bridges and streets. Therefore, one of the main topics in my work is the urban landscape or cityscape. I also like to create portraits of houses to order. When I paint such a picture, I reflect on the owner, the holidays and dinners in the house, the birth of children and their growing up, friendly gatherings and parties.

Having walked this artistic journey for such a short time, I am delighted that my work causes joy, appreciation and sincere emotions in people. I constantly get feedback and   I am happy that my collectors are in countries such as Russia, Canada, France and the United States.

I'm still looking for my style and place in the art world but what I know for sure is that I am grateful for the ability to see beauty and share it with others through my watercolour work.