10 Questions with Liza Odinokikh

Liza Odinokikh was born in 1990 in Novosibirsk. She lives and works in Berlin.
She graduated from the Saint Petersburg University of Technology & Design with a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design. Liza advanced her artistic education at the Italian academy NABA. She is a graduate of the Paidea Contemporary Art School. In 2020, Liza took a sculpture workshop at E. Sokolovskaya studio.

Liza Odinokikh works in various media, including painting, graphics, and objects. In her art projects, Liza addresses the themes of personal identity and introspection. Through the practice of emotionally figurative therapy, dreams, automatic writing, and other techniques of working with the unconscious, the artist finds evidence of the possibility of influencing and controlling her consciousness.

lizaodinokikh.com | @studio.odinokikh

Liza Odinokikh - Portrait in her studio - photo by Sergei Misenko

ARTIST STATEMENT

The main subject that the artist works with is the activity of the unconscious and its influence on human life. Liza`s artistic research is a reflection of her deep psychological work.

In her projects, Liza turns to personal identity and introspection. Through the practice of emotionally figurative therapy, dreams, automatic writing, and other techniques of working with the unconscious, she finds evidence of the possibility of influencing and controlling her consciousness.

The artist works with various media, such as paintings, graphics, and objects. A long-term tactile connection with the artwork is, for Liza, an integral part of working on a project. Through a monotonous meditative process, the artist dives deep into herself, becoming aware of her inner psychological processes and experiences.

INTERVIEW

First of all, introduce yourself to our readers. What is your background, and how did you start getting involved with art?

My name is Liza Odinokikh. I am an artist, and I started my career in the fashion field. For five years, I have been creating fashion collections and developing the eponymous brand of women's clothing. Then, I switched from fashion to illustration. As a freelance, I created images for large world-renowned companies and local projects. At the moment, I am focused on developing my artistic practice. If I could describe my work in one word — I am an artist. The definition is extensive, including various aspects of artistic activity.

How would you describe yourself as a person and an artist?

I associate myself with autumn—a melancholic, reflective state. In working with art, I also pay great attention to my inner, spiritual effort. It is important for me to grasp the connection between the image and my heart. And when I can't have that, I can't draw because the art will turn out to be insincere. Smooth, unhurried, thoughtful, deep works are the main points of my artistic practice.

The night Cat, tempera on canvas, 200x300 cm © Liza Odinokikh

You work with different techniques, mainly revolving around figurative art. Why did you choose this medium? And what does it represent for you?

I started my work in art with painting. I think at that time, it turned out to be the most understandable medium for me. I didn't catch my visual language in painting right away, the style was changing. From detailing, I came to simplification and large shapes. Now I feel comfortable working with a large-scale format, using shapes and colors as the primary expressive methods. In addition to painting, I am fascinated by graphics. Colored pencils are my big love. I draw them slowly, meditatively applying stroke after stroke. Figurative art is how I perceive the world around me. I enjoy expressing my inner world through such forms, it happens naturally.

Can you tell us about the process of creating your work? What is your artistic routine when working?

My workflow is very harmonious and gradual. When I work in the studio, I light up palo santo, turn on the music, and dance — this gives an additional mood. Other times, I can stay in silence. Then, I start working and usually fall into a creative process for 3-4 hours. Several times a day, I take small breaks, but the rest of the time, I am at work. If I work from home, I occupy my large desk with a sea view. I like it when extra things don't distract my attention. Unfortunately, it is extremely rare to maintain order on the desktop.

Your work often refers to the unconscious, dreams, and automatic writing. What would you like to communicate to the viewers? And what do you think differentiates your message from those of other artists?

The main message of my art is an appeal to the inner part of yourself. I am sure that creativity helps people to hear themselves, their needs, and their psychological difficulties and solve them through sincere acts of creation. At my drawing workshops, I tell and show people that drawing is available to everyone. This is a basic skill of a person, given to him from birth. Often people forget about it; they believe that talent is necessary for self-expression. I'm sure that all you need to do is open your heart. Art releases and fills. And my main goal is to inspire people to create.

Let's talk about the colors in your artworks. Do they have a specific meaning for you? How do you choose them?

I always choose the color scheme for my works intuitively, at the inner sensibility. At a certain point, I realize that I want to use a particular color. The palette I have chosen doesn't carry any special meaning. However, I feel that in my recent works, green and blue shades prevail, setting up a meditative, relaxed state. I use a lot of white paint to soften the color. I never use an open color. Furthermore, I like to achieve unusual shades and color combinations in my works.

Is it tidy inside, tempera on canvas, 60x70 cm © Liza Odinokikh

Lou wearing green, tempera on canvas, 60x70 cm © Liza Odinokikh

How much planning goes into each artwork?

I like to plan my artworks. This is a full-fledged stage of my creative process. Talking about painting, I often start with a sketch in Procreate using my iPad. It is easy to choose a palette and plan a composition there. After the sketch is transferred to the canvas, I color the paints. This step takes a lot of time. It is important for me to feel the color, to see how it works on canvas and in combination with other shades. I like to work with pure shades, and I apply them locally, without mixing one another in the painting. Talking about graphics, I draw sketches in a sketchbook. Here I like to feel the texture of the pencil. I draw a lot of quick, small sketches, searching for the shape and direction of movement. I also select the palette in advance and only then do I start drawing.

Is there anything else, art-wise, that you would like to experiment? Any new techniques or mediums you would like to incorporate into your practice?

During quarantine, I tried working with objects for the first time, and I was struck by this medium. The experience of creating artworks on a plane and in 3D is completely different. By creating objects, I feel a deeper spiritual fulfillment. I would like to devote more time to this field. I am also thinking about education in art therapy. I would like to make this method a part of my artistic practice.

Untitled №1, colored pencils on vintage paper, 21x29.7 cm, 2021 © Liza Odinokikh

Underwater, colored pencils on paper, 29.5x28 cm, 2021 © Liza Odinokikh

What are you working on right now? Any exciting projects or exhibitions coming up soon?

To be honest, a lot has changed recently in my life and in the life of my country. I had to leave my country. Many planned exhibitions and collaborations were canceled or put on pause. At the moment, I'm focused on creating new works and building a new community around my art.

And finally, what is your biggest goal for 2022?

I focus my attention on submitting applications to the art residencies. I want to create a major art project in an art residence based on the local context.

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