olechko

Flower sellers in Svyatoshyn metro underpass, Kyiv, oil on canvas board, 30×40 cm, 2008.

When I start thinking “flowers” when talking about Kyiv, I know I am truly homesick, xo. This was my way home for several months when living with my brother in his little Svyatoshyn flat for several months. The sellers took up most of the passage so it was hard to walk by, (the tunnel is also pretty narrow) but somehow nobody minded this too much. It’s officially the largest flower market in Kyiv. Maybe the Sunday trips to Columbia road flower market also triggered this fond memory. Oh and if your remember the typical smell of Kyiv underpasses and combine it with the aroma os roses, you get the picture, huh?

my friend Bila Kishka shared with me this artist Elena Mirosedina , who is exhibiting now at the two cool boutioues n Kyiv. Also she notified me of a new art gallery opening in Kyiv on 3 Tarasivska vul. (off Lva Tolstogo vul.) called Hudgraf, which I suspect also doubles as an art cafe.

Please send your bid by email if you want to purchase this painting.

On the way to the West End we always have to pass by the City that seems to be constantly built up. But besides going over to the West (recent find there - the Wallace Collection), our weekends comprise here of market going, coffee drinking, eating, eating and eating. There are four amazing markets within walking distance from our house - the Spitafields, Brick Lane (some food stalls there are still very good), Broadway market and the Borough. Every Sunday it became a tradition to take a coffee at Coffee@ on Brick Lane and buy some flowers on Columbia road market.

Currently working on a biggish painting of a flower market in the Ploscha Peremogy underpass. No progress to show off just yet.

Meanwhile check out Kerim Ragimov’s picture of bears and suvs from his Road off show. It is coming to London in July 19th at Museum 52.

Heron tower, City

Hoxston square, Shoreditch

V&A museum, all Copic marker and ink pen in Moleskine notebook

Grandma’s window, 30×40 cm, oil on canvas board, 2008

I’ve built up enough home sickness at the moment to turn back to my Ukrainian theme. The first picture turned out to be very nostalgic: a view from my grandma’s window that is no more.

Found this amazing photographer on Flickr. He captured people very to the point during his trip to Ukraine.

Just missed Gregory Crewdson at the White Cube, his stills look like the painting s I wish I made.

Please send your bid by email if you want to purchase this painting.

Ink pen and Copic marker in Moleskine notebook, 13×20 cm, 2008

Yesterday got a chance to go over to the West End to see the Victoria and Albert Museum. The English Sculpture gallery is stunning there, with it’s bay windows facing the course yard and clever spot lights. I jotted these two ladies down from life, as well as the youths.

26.05.08 - forgot to mention there is an interesting special exhibit aout artist’s book going on there called Blood on Paper.

Today went to the Wallace collection off Oxford street. Loved his Frans Hals portrait of a Cavalier: so jolly and healthy (check out the original ).

Island towers, oil on canvas paper, 9 x 25,5 cm, 2008

These two high rises looked surprisingly homey and comfortable comparing to Manhattan just across the river. We took a walk with my friend Yulia who lives in one of them, to check out the local landmark - vintage Pepsi Cola? bill board that is now a preserved landmark and the pretty dock with a sign saying Island. The place is two metro stops from Grand Central, but feels miles away…

I’ve updated my flickr with an amazing picture I saw in Kyiv last month called the Annunciation by Lviv artist, whose name I forgot :(. In real life it looks stunning with its larger then life figures and almost sepia tone with a fed dabs of color. It’s noticeable only slightly that angel’s shirt is embroided white on white - a little hint to the origin of the picture.

Please send your bid by email if you want to purchase this painting.

After so much travel, for the first time in many years, I woke up trying to remember where I am. Good to be finally home, even if it’s a brand new one… This guitar and amp sitting in our living room formed a great picture in a morning sunlight today.

Another fantastic artist represented by George Billis in Chelsea, New York is Chris Wright. Love his minimalist daily-painting-like small images of random stuff.

I wanted to go home after a few hours of it. Getting lost on the metro, ending up in Jamaica and then soaking wet under the chilly rain helped that a lot.  When over at the friends house just across the river in Queens, the magnificent view of Manhattan helped put things in perspective though.

Dupont circle fountain, The World Bank building in DC, ink pen and Copic marker on paper

Two of my most visited landmarks during this visit in DC. Seeing my former colleagues at the World Bank was a total blast - I could not have enough of the local coffee hangouts and felt very-very happy to be back there again.

Drew these with my new tools, from life while in DC.

Atrium at the National Gallery

Angel fountain at the atrium at the NGA

Done with Copic marker, ink pen on paper.