10 Questions with Aleksandra Paranchenko

Aleksandra Paranchenko (b.1987, Kherson, Ukraine) attended the State Academy of Managerial Personnel of Culture and Arts Department of Design in Kyiv, Ukraine, between 2003-2007, receiving a Bachelor's degree.

Because of the war in Ukraine, Aleksandra moved to Sweden and became a member of the National Association of Artists. In spite of all the complexity, she continues to create art. Over the past year, she took part in Ukrainian and international exhibitions and opened two solo exhibitions in Sweden.

Aleksandra has been professionally engaged in creativity for over 16 years. During this time, she tried many directions: drawing, teaching at an art school, creating decor items, decorating interior furniture, jewelry art, illustrating children's books, creating scenography for a puppet theater, painting walls, and making bas-reliefs.

Her focus, however, always remains on painting. She is constantly improving her skills, experimenting, and looking for new ways to express herself.

@paranchenko.art

ARTIST STATEMENT

Aleksandra was born and lived in a small town in southern Ukraine. When she was a little girl, she spent a lot of time in the countryside surrounded by fields and forests. Thanks to her complete immersion in nature, Aleksandra grew up to be a happy child. Every day she would go out to the edge of the fields, watch the sunset, and dream of learning to paint as delightfully as the sun paints in the sky. It was then that she decided to become an artist, to learn how to convey her admiration for this world.

Since childhood, as soon as Aleksandra learned to hold a pencil in her hand, she began to create. I can't stop creating! - she says. Aleksandra tries to draw as soon as images come to her mind. There are days when there are too many, and then she sketches to capture the ideas. Aleksandra's work has different themes, but what unites them is beauty and love for the world. Aleksandra always starts new work only in a good mood and creates only good subjects. She says - "I am a living person and, feeling and seeing pain, and injustice, I can also be sad. But I don't see the point in multiplying those emotions by making hard pictures - that's my principled position. "

A magnifying glass shows the beautiful aspects of this world: love, goodness, and happiness. With her art, she is in dialogue with the inner child of each viewer, addressing the soul itself and reminding that life is happiness. And it is in each of us.

Inspiration comes from many sources. One could say that life itself inspires Alexandra. Each moment is special and gives birth to a ready-made story in her imagination. "Waking up in the morning is a great joy because there are blank canvases waiting for me." - she says.

INTERVIEW

When and how did you start getting involved with art? 

I was born and lived in the south of Ukraine, in the city of Kherson. Before the war, it was a quiet, cozy place that disposed to creativity. When I was a little girl, I used to spend every summer on a farm near the city. Every day I went out to the edge of the fields, looked at the sunset, and dreamed of learning to draw as delightfully as the sun does in the sky. I think it was at that time that I decided to become an artist, to learn how to convey my admiration for this world. 
Since that time, I began to create art. I drew all day at home and in class at school; I couldn't stop making art! 
Then I went to art school and then to the academy. After I received a higher art education, I began to work professionally in the arts. 

Your statement mentions always starting a new work with a good spirit. What is for you the most enjoyable part of your work?

The most enjoyable part of the work is creating the sketch and transferring it to the canvas. It's like giving birth to a baby; then I work on the painting and enjoy the process of adding more and more detail. 

Let's talk about your work. What inspired you to work with painting? 

My inspiration comes from many sources, and one could say that life itself inspires me. I had a happy childhood in a very difficult time, and the country was on the brink of poverty. But wonderful parents who taught me to be happy and to see the beauty around me. When I saw people with frowns, I always wanted to show them that there were many reasons to be happy. I want to share this happiness with others, so I work with inspiration every day. There are rarely periods when I have a bad mood, then I stop working and restore my condition with the help of my favorite activities and meditations. I can't afford to waste my life in a bad mood, I have too many interesting plans.

You have a striking style, populated by recognizable characters. How do you choose the subjects to paint?

The subject for the paintings finds me everywhere because I look at the world through a child's eyes and can see a fascinating story in ordinary things. But it's bound to be good stories and positive characters.
I try to paint as images come to my mind. There are days when I have too many of them, and then I make sketches to fix the ideas. I have very different subjects but the common denominator is that I want to capture the beauty and splendor of the world in my work.
I always sit down to work only in a good mood and create only good subjects. I am a live person, and to feel and see pain and injustice, I too can be sad. But I don't see the sense of multiplying these emotions, creating heavy pictures - it is my principled position.

Where do you find inspiration for your work and what is your creative process like? 

I could create all day long; ideas come to me like radio waves. You just need to tune in to the right vibrations and be grateful to the world for every opportunity. The process of creating art is magic.
When I draw, I often talk to my characters, and they tell me the stories I draw around them. And it often happens that the final look of the picture is different from the sketch, which is always very interesting. I can say that the picture draws itself. I guess from the outside, it looks a little crazy. But in this way, I go inside myself, just as little children talk to their toys as they play. In fact, when the person creates it too plays, and it is not necessary to concern to creative process strongly seriously. The creative process should be easy and playful.

How would you define your style? And how has it evolved over the years?

It's hard for me to define exactly what style I'm working in. Perhaps I should ask the art critics about this.
My style comes from experience, and I've been learning, practicing, and experimenting for years. I am constantly evolving and changing, and my painting style is also transforming with me. I think transformation is not inevitable for those who are looking for better ways to express themselves.

What do you hope the public takes away from your work?

My paintings are a place where the viewer meets his childhood. I hope that when looking at my paintings, viewers will smile and discover the best that is in their souls. I believe that the more happy people there are, the better the world becomes. To lift your spirits and remind you how beautiful this world is the main message in my paintings

What are you working on now, and what are your plans for the future in terms of new projects? 

I am currently living in Lapland, and this place inspires me with the theme of local mythology and nature. I am planning to go deeper into the subject and create a series of paintings with fantastic creatures and spirits of nature. At the same time, I am continuing to work on a series dedicated to Ukraine. Because my thoughts are in my home in Ukraine every day. This is my opportunity to show the world the beauty and culture of my country and to show what we stand for.

Do you have any upcoming shows or collaborations you are looking forward to?

I have several projects in progress at the same time, such as creating a mural in collaboration with a local artist, working with a puppet theater, a book illustration project, and I am also preparing for the creation of a land art this summer. I give my best every time. It's like it's the most important project of my life.
A lot of people might say that you can't do so many things in parallel. But for me it is real because I don't divide my life into work and leisure. My whole day is a continuous creative process, I have a fulfilled life, and therefore, I have the energy to do everything.

Finally, share something you would like the world to know about you?

It would be great for the world to know that I exist and tell me, "Hey, let's do something great!"
And I would also like to ask people to be careful with nature, kind and tolerant to the people around them. That we were born is great luck, don't miss the chance to live your life in a fun, interesting and happy way.