1. Can you tell us about your journey as an artist and how you developed your style?

I have drawn for as long as I can remember, but one moment when I was thirteen really stands out. Sitting at my desk, I glanced at a small mirror and decided to draw a self-portrait in pencil. When I finished, I was surprised by how much it looked like me. That was the first time I truly recognized my artistic ability, and I began drawing portraits of my classmates. For many years, art remained a passion while I held on to my dream of becoming a full-time artist.

My academic background is in linguistics and Japanese language studies. In 2016, I moved to Japan to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Tsukuba. After graduating, I gradually began making art my main professional pursuit. I still teach languages on the side, but art has become the center of my working life.

Although I had some oil painting lessons, most of my artistic development has come through self-study and experimentation. Pencil was my starting point and remains very dear to me, but over the years I have also explored pastel, pen and ink, oil, and watercolor. I pay close attention to composition, texture, and atmosphere, and I deeply enjoy the physical process of making art. The sound of a pencil or pen moving across paper is calming to me, making drawing a meditative experience.

2. How would you describe your artistic style and the main themes explored in your work?

I would describe my style as realistic, with a poetic sensibility. My work is grounded in careful observation, with particular attention to composition, texture, light, and atmosphere. I work across drawing and painting, choosing different media to explore my subjects, from the intricate details of architecture to the shifting colors of the sky and sea.

My work includes urban landscapes, architecture, portraits, and still lifes. I am especially drawn to places and objects that have a distinct character or evoke a particular feeling. I have a nostalgic nature and often want to preserve places that are meaningful to me through drawing and painting. Looking back at older works, I find that they hold not only memories of the places depicted, but also traces of the experiences and circumstances surrounding their creation.

For many years, I focused on technical accuracy, believing that faithfully reproducing what I saw was an important measure of artistic skill. More recently, I have become interested in moving beyond direct representation and allowing more room for personal interpretation. I want to discover how my own perspective can become part of the image. My Ukrainian background and life in Japan are also part of this ongoing exploration, shaping the way I see and respond to the world around me.

3. Can you tell us about the artwork that received the award and what inspired it?

My award-winning piece, ‘Steps Toward Yasaka Pagoda’, grew out of my affection for Kyoto and my interest in the details that give the city its character. During a walk toward Yasaka Pagoda, I came across a street where traditional wooden buildings stood alongside utility poles and overhead wires. I was drawn to the contrast between the historic architecture and these everyday elements of modern life, as well as the many lines and textures in the scene. Using black-and-white ink and detailed hatching, I wanted to capture how the old and the new coexist in an ordinary Kyoto street. For me, the city’s beauty lies not only in its historic monuments, but also in its everyday streets, where traces of the past remain part of the present.

Exhibiting my work in Japan and internationally has been a rewarding new chapter in my artistic journey. I began participating in exhibitions more regularly last year, so receiving recognition has been especially meaningful. Sharing my work with a wider audience has encouraged me to keep developing as an artist and shown me that personal observations can resonate with people from different backgrounds. It has given me confidence to continue exploring the details and contrasts that catch my eye and make me want to draw.

4. What does your creative process look like, and what do you enjoy most about making art?

My ideal workspace is quite simple: a large table, plenty of natural light, and enough room to spread out my materials. While drawing, I usually listen to music or have YouTube playing in the background.

One of the things I enjoy most is watching a piece gradually take shape. It often begins with just a few outlines, and little by little, details, textures, and depth emerge. I find this process deeply satisfying, as a blank surface slowly becomes a finished work. Watching this transformation keeps me engaged, even when a piece requires many hours of careful, detailed work.

5. What are you working on now, and what are your hopes for the future?

I am currently working on a pen drawing of a traditional Japanese inn. The piece is still in progress, and I am enjoying exploring its architectural details and textures through linework.

Alongside drawing, I want to expand my technical skills and explore new possibilities, particularly in oil painting. I would like to experiment with its rich textures and discover how the medium can bring new depth and atmosphere to my work. At the same time, I hope to move beyond precise representation and find more ways to express my own interpretation of a subject.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my artistic journey is seeing how people connect with my work. It means a great deal when people from my hometown of Kherson recognize familiar places in my drawings, just as it brings me joy when Japanese viewers respond to my depictions of Japan. I enjoy sharing Ukrainian subjects with people in Japan and introducing Japanese scenes to friends and audiences back home. Through these exchanges, art can bring people closer to places and experiences beyond their own.

Looking ahead, I hope to keep refining my technique while developing a more personal visual language. I want to create work that invites people to pause, look closely, and discover something meaningful in places and details that might otherwise pass unnoticed.

Published by New Road 2 Art Editorial Team