Knowing your tools deeply — how they behave, how they age, how they respond to light and heat — changes the way you work and the confidence with which you make decisions.
During my time at Azur Studio in Kyiv, we took part in a number of art trips across Europe, visiting paint and medium manufacturers directly. These experiences were invaluable. Being able to ask questions about materials from the people who created them — the chemists, designers, and technicians behind the products — gave us insights no manual or catalogue ever could. Who could know the materials better than those who developed them?
Along the way, we also participated in workshops with local designers who introduced us to the full potential of different gels and pastes, transparent and opaque paints, and specialised products for textile decoration and pseudo stained glass. We explored techniques for creating patina, working with gilding, and layering surfaces in ways that expanded both technical knowledge and creative possibility.
I often find myself missing those times — being surrounded by like-minded professionals, travelling, learning, experimenting, and talking endlessly about what we loved most: paint, surface, and decoration. Those journeys shaped not only my technical approach, but also my respect for materials as active partners in the creative process.
My Master of Design (Hon.) at COFA, UNSW focused on one question: How can we improve children’s engagement with printed materials to support better learning outcomes? My research shows that the more areas of the brain engaged in processing information, the stronger the memorisation and recall. I explored how to activate as many of these pathways as possible — story for narrative memory, colour for emotional response, sound and action for sensory cues, spatial awareness for orientation, and visual coding for recognition. In short: designing visuals that teach, entertain, and stay in a child’s memory. But my journey with children’s design began long before my Master’s. Over the years, I’ve illustrated several children’s books and created my own comic book about the adventures of a Ukrainian boy in Australia — writing 20 stories and drawing all of the comic illustrations myself. These projects shaped my understanding of how we see, learn, and connect with visual narratives — a foundation that continues to guide my work today.
Over the past months, I’ve been honoured to be selected as a finalist in several exhibitions across Australia. Being part of the evolving art mosaic in Sydney and beyond is something I truly value. In October, my work was shown at Gallery 11:11, followed by Bridges to Belonging in Adelaide in November — an exhibition that explored connection, identity, and shared stories. December brought another exciting milestone: I was delighted to be a finalist in the 40 by 40 Exhibition at Newcastle Art Space 🎉 This exhibition celebrates over forty years of a vibrant creative community and showcases artworks measuring 40 × 40 cm — a reminder that great art can come in small packages. The exhibition ran in early December 2025. Also in December, I was selected to participate in The Summer Prize Exhibition at Northern Beaches Gallery, an exhibition absolutely worth visiting with many outstanding works on display. Among them was my painting Jingymia mallee — Eucalyptus synandra, shown in late December. Another memorable moment from this period was seeing one of my artworks sold at auction directly from the concert stage — a powerful reminder of how art can live and breathe beyond gallery walls. Currently, my work Nocturne for Large-Fruited Mallee is on display at:
