I’m back in the studio, back to normality, and ready to continue sharing what I love most — my knowledge of art, different techniques and practical skills that can open up new possibilities for your own creativity. This October, I’m offering two very different workshops, both suitable for all levels and for adults and young people aged 12+. Come and spend a few hours making art, learning a new technique and getting your hands back to the brush. I look forward to seeing you in the studio!
Discover the beautiful Ukrainian folk painting style of Petrykivka.
In this workshop, you’ll learn about the history of Petrykivka and how flowers, leaves and berries are built through different brushstrokes. You’ll also learn how to load two colours onto one brush and control its movement to create variations of colour, shape and tone.
This is particularly valuable for artists and beginners because it gives you a chance to really understand your brush as a tool — how its shape and size affect the mark, how to control pressure and movement, and how to master the stroke of your brush.
How do you make a flat painting feel deep and spacious?
Working from a morning view of the Australian coastline, we’ll explore the visual tricks that create the illusion of distance.
We’ll look at how lines, tone, lightness and intensity, warm and cool colours, and detail can change our perception of space. You’ll learn how these elements work together to bring the foreground forward while allowing the sea, horizon and clouds to recede into the distance.
Both workshops are designed for all levels — whether you are an experienced artist, a complete beginner, or simply curious to learn something new.
Bookings are essential https://www.t-koldunenko.com/shop?category=all-things-creative
Cultural Production at Scale: Behind the Scenes of Diplomatic Performances. Large-scale cultural productions rely on careful planning, close collaboration, and deep respect for historical detail. The costume performance at the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, in 2019 was the most complex project of this kind that I coordinated. It was created for the Embassy of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Women’s Association, and held in honour of the late Christine (Hrystyna) Syvenkyj-Bailey, whose lifelong dedication to Ukrainian cultural heritage continues to resonate deeply. The project required working across multiple teams and private collections to deliver a unified and meaningful performance for a diplomatic audience. For this event, I coordinated 29 models and 17 private collectors, alongside multiple cultural organisations and contributors, bringing together diverse elements into a single coherent presentation. Every detail — from costume construction to the order of presentation — was carefully curated to communicate a clear cultural narrative. My responsibilities spanned curatorial decision-making, logistical coordination, visual design, and narrative development, ensuring that each component supported the overall experience. An earlier performance in 2018, initiated by Christine Syvenkyj-Bailey, was created primarily on the basis of her personal collection. My role focused on shaping the presentation, coordinating contributors, and translating the collection into a clear and engaging public performance. Creating region-appropriate floral head wreaths and jewellery for such a large number of models was particularly challenging, both creatively and logistically. Managing the transport, handling, and return of numerous historical and handmade items required precision and care, but the process was completed successfully without loss or damage. Following the event, I designed a commemorative calendar featuring photographs taken during the performance by Tetiana Matsypura, extending the life of the project beyond the event itself.
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:
