The dot in the "i"

This will be a story about the frame of the painting. Why?

Not all my artworks require a frame, but when choosing, I spend a long time in the framing workshop. Finding the one, "final word" for the painting is both an exciting and challenging process for me. Placing the painting in the right frame, signifies completing the artwork. I can draw numerous comparisons here, like matching accessories to clothing, a handbag complementing shoes, lipstick color harmonizing with a dress. I tell stories through my art and the framing is as much a part of my narrative as the artwork itself.

The wrong frame can ruin a piece, even completely destroy the paintings' idea. When I find the right one, I can confidently say: "Yes, this is a whole. They complement each other".

I feel some frustration when I see a magnificent art framed in a wrong frame. It is evident that it was done without considering the story the artwork tells. As I mentioned, poor presentation can destroy the idea. Yes, perhaps this is a categorical opinion and it is open to discussion, but that is how I perceive my work.

There have been several times when I could not find a perfect frame for a specific painting. Then I feeling of being unable to complete the painting would overwhelm me. Sometime it took a year until unexpectedly, I spotted a right frame. And when I receive a finished, framed artwork, this is an absolute moment of happiness!

The dot on the "i" has been placed!

"Spring in My Garden".

Miniature. 15,5x13,2cm. Oil on paper. White-toned wooden frame with dots. 2024.

This miniature will be featured in my solo-exhibition in September. Information about the exhibition: HERE!

"FOUR WINDS"

The story of the painting

In the summer of 2023, I received an offer to paint for the interior.

I went to look at the particular interior. In cooperation with the interior designer, we agreed on the size of the painting.  I felt the vibration in the air about the place where my painting will be, what is behind the window, the silence, the tones, and the people with whom my painting will live.

The canvas was not ready, but the general mood, like a golden string already began to spin the threads of the painting in my head. Very often, before this work, I listened to the song "FOUR WINDS"("Četri vēji") by the contemporary Latvian composer Raimonds Tiguls. Every time I listened to it, like electricity run through my body, as if something wants to say to me. It happened again and again. When I came to see the room I "saw" these four winds in the painting.

I have had works that live in my head for a long time and the moment I start to paint or make graphic - my hands are like a conductor of electricity from my head to to canvas or to the zinc plate, to the paper. The work came like a smooth road. That is how this painting was made.

The music turned into colors.

I worked for three months, layer by layer. If I had to explain, why exactly I did this or that at each moment, I couldn't... I just knew - it was needed and what would happen next. The painting flowed on the canvas like music.

It was a beautiful time, as the story was told, until the moment come, when I realized - "everything has been told".

• The painting process, see: HERE!
  

"FOUR WINDS". Oil, pigments on canvas. 135x135cm. 2023

Knitting thoughts...

It is quiet evening, the hum of the day's work at home died down, Erkil Poirot is doing his regular, intelligent investigation on TV, other evening the poeple of Midsomer are chatting... And in this irreplaceable home atmosphere, my socks, gloves, sweaters are made. Yes, I paint a lot and also knit a lot. I think these activities complement each other. While painting, a pattern that should be knitted often comes to mind, and by knitting I can come up with the outlines of a new painting. Knitting is very calming, especially if like "black hole" occurs while painting, I take a knitting needles and slowly, stitch by stitch, "walk" through my painting to find the next path. And so, socks are ready!

I am a frequent visitor to the yarn shop. I choose the yarn emotionally, following the mood of the particular moment. Recently, just as emotionally, I bought a warm yellow, thick yarn, because I thought in the spur of the moment - I want to knit long, yellow socks! Why not bring a little more sunshine in to the coming winter? Initially, there was an idea of another color, but when I saw this beautiful yellow, I felt the sun, the warmth... I did not hesitate for a moment. This yellow appeals to me so much that I can not wait for the evening to pick up the needles again! The morning and afternoon are devoted to painting, the evening hours to knitting. That is how this creatively full ball round in my head, like in a centrifuge, every time, with great impatience, waiting for the next step. It is my non-stop-engine that does not allow me to stay still!

It is hard for me to knit two identical things, just like painting two identical things, because, in general, I do not like repetition. In my imagination, it is like a record that keeps hitting one point and never goes any further. I knit thinking on the spot and I am interested in what the result will be. Basically, it is the same as painting, in the emotion of the moment.

I remember, in my teenage years, there was one such moment when I painted, sewed and knitted for myself, I did it a lot and intensively. Then came the BIG LIFE, the big challenges, in which neither knitting, painting nor sewing had a place. But, life is like a boomerang - once thrown, it will definitely fly back to the starting point. So, I am painting, sewing, knitting again!

All my knittings: SEE HERE!

The Icon

I found this Icon while searching the internet for information about another Icon. At that moment, the idea that I would definitely paint this Icon of Our Lady came into my mind.

Time passed, the Icon I was working on, was finished. I looked for the Icon of Our Lady and started. The painting went easily, like a smooth conversation. Yes, indeed, it was my conversation with Our Lady, with Christ about what He wants to tell me, what do I need to understand from the events in my life? Events? Yes, different and strange events happen in my life... A step back - I usually only paint Icons for commissions. The others I created in parallel and only those that inspired me a lot. Therefore they are painted for a long time. I think, I painted this Icon of Our Lady  more than half a year, with some breaks. There was a time when I put it aside for two months, because I had other works. But maybe, my conversation with Mary and Christ swelled during these two months? I had nothing to say, nothing to ask, I was so angry... It is impossible to paint Icons in anger. It is appears in the eyes of the Icon - anger appears. You can see them, you can see the hate...

When I look at Icons, and I look a lot,  I think, with what feelings behind did the artist paint? As in any art, emotions is KEY! What about Icons?  The first, only and main task of the Icon is to call to prayer. That is why, it is so difficult, even impossible to paint an Icon in anger. Brushes do not listen to me... So simply. Yes, the Icon can be painted in sadness, even great sadness. Then, the colors flow like music, like poetry. Every sad "note" is painted in every color. While working on this Icon, I experienced that miracle - I started painting in my sadness and when I applied the last stroke, I felt just as much joy. No, it was not a joy - when you completing a job, it was something else. I was the joy of meaningful conversation that let me through the endless jungle of my mind, despair, questions to a beautiful , blooming garden.

So, my never-ending climb up my personal mountain continues...

Painting process: LOOK HERE!

"Rescuer of the Drowning" the Icon of the Mother of God. 28x20,5cm. 2023

A story of large formats...

My main work is icon painting and miniatures. I often indulge in graphics, which is actually my first love in art. But that is another story... There is another, in my opinion, important direction that interests me. That is painting with oil, in combination with pigments, paintings in large formats. Of course, true masters of large format could argue with me about the term "large format". For me - a miniaturist, an artist who thinks best in small forms, one meter is already a large format!

What am I searching for? I am interested in the interaction of oil paint with pigment in one plane. This is nothing new in art. Artists have been working for a long time, combining different techniques and materials. I am interested in exactly the point, what expanses that I have not yet known can I reach in order to express, sometimes shout out my thought? A very important moment in icon painting is silence, peace, maximum concentration on the main message that I, as an artist, must achieve in my work. All this is achieved with the symbolism of color and the character of the line, the "sound" of the icon, drawing parallels with music - this is already the individual touch of each artist. I try to solve this question of "sound" in large areas with color. Am I able to achieve maximum concentration on the main thing with just the tone of the color, without the details, the power of the message, the depth? Am I able to achieve the silence that is so important in icons? That is why I paint the big canvases - this is my search, these are my questions and also, probably, the answers.

The work "Land of the Rising Sun" is a story of hope. A story in the language of symbols. When I studying iconography, one of the most important knowledge is color symbolism. That is why icons are called the Gospel in colors. Each shade has its own symbolism. The structuring of the work - the order in which the icon is painted, first and last - also has a symbolic meaning. Following this structure, I also paint the large canvases - the order in which they are painted is an important part of the story. As in nature and in human life, everything happens sequentially. The first shade I applied was white. In several layers, mixing with grey and blue, approaching a smoky white. Why? White has the same meaning in icon painting as gold - it is the Divine light. In this light I saw a red sun gradually appearing before us through the smoky white until it culminated in the center. The color red has a very special emotional code, it is a symbol of both suffering and power. The most powerful color that stimulates thought. Next to it is a small black circle. It is a small planet that orbits the red sun and accumulates all the weight of the soul that balances our lives. It can also be a black hole that can swallow the big red sun at some point...There will always be something that can swallow hope. There is a small blue area next to it. Water? Yes, water is the basis of life. Perhaps its presence will prevent the sun from disappearing? Surrounded by Divine, white light, this process of hope and despair takes place. As a plus and a minus...

As always, I leave "space" for you, the audience, to see your own answers in this painting. Once I have had a conversation with a visitor to my solo exhibition about how one my work moved her to tears. And I heard a wonderful story about my work what the person had "read". It is that fragile, intangible dialogue between the artist and the audience.

In several works, I address these questions also: READ HERE!   ALSO HERE!"Land of the Rising Sun". Oil, pigments on canvas. 1,20x1m. 2022.

With this work I participate in the annual visual art exhibition "Art Days 2023" in the Union of Latvian Artists. Info: HERE!

The education I received in art, icon painting and, therefore, in theology opens up wide opportunities for me to ask questions, to go in search of both the Divine and human dimensions...

And it is exciting!

The 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.

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!
  

"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!
  

"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

The story of how two little Icons were made!

• 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.
  

Memories from LONDON...

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:)

Info about me from Parallax: HERE!

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!

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!