Interview with Olha Pryymak
Trailblazer of Ukrainian Daily Life Painting and Blog
GO2KIEV: Please tell us what is a daily life painting blog site?
I take on the challenge of producing one small painting a day. My current subject matter fascination is post-Soviet Ukraine and the view on environment and uncertainties of life by its people. I was born and raised in Ukraine and have shared with my compatriots in life’s common experiences with this country’s tumultuous history. Though a most unusual event happened in my life and thus changed my perspective to Ukrainian life. Nine years ago I had the opportunity to move away from Ukraine and live in America which in a powerful way was exposure to a distinctly different lifestyle and culture. I am thankful for it favored such opportunities to complete a MBA in Business and briefly work at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. In 2006, with pleasure I returned to Ukraine but immediately and with great surprise experienced the jolt of culture shock. I truly felt like an “expat” within my home country. Thus, I chose to channel my impressions, thoughts and creativity into a daily blog which was a mixture of happenings in my life through the capsule form of a diary and guide site. Soon afterward I included small 15x15 cm daily photo realistic paintings which can be described as a perspective of the Ukrainian life, culture and art scene. In addition you will see occasional ink illustrations of England, travel, house portraits and commissioned pictures.
GO2KIEV: How would you describe this art medium as a daily life painter and blogger?
Many contemporary painters of this new century are daily life painters who showcase their work on the internet. This is truly a format gallery to be investigated and channeled. Trailblazers like Duane Keiser and Edward B. Gordon have opened the door for artists by posting small postcard sized paintings on the World Wide Web and posting an online journal. For myself, there is self-discipline, study and rhythm to blogging and painting on a consistent basis. What I’ve learned is that it’s not the most technical skill to be desired but clear representation of a leap of trust into creating a new and fantastic art medium with bold creative movement and decisive action. Most days when I write what I’ve painted I see a correlation between what I’ve painted and my moods and feelings. My paintings and drawings have improved due to my eye quickly grasping color and composition. Even though daily painting is not something new -- it has become a movement nowadays that makes fine art affordable to the beginner collector. As well, at a time when our culture is seeing the end of art education in the public school system, people have found a way to keep art at the center of the new tech culture.
GO2KIEV: Are there a tech sub-culture bloggers in the Kiev community?
Absolutely! My two favorite blogging sites are 2 Kievian based individual blog sites have been created by two international women who share their mainstream energy, criticisms, impressions, and responses in a very illuminating manner. This writing genre concept is fairly new to society but considered to be very long-lasting. Simply put, a blog or web log is a personal format where it is hoped that readers will respond and create a dialogue of some sort. Take a look at my wide range of links to Ukrainian and expat bloggers who write about the art scene, travel, life, political opinions and more.
GO2KIEV: How long do you plan to create work about Ukrainian life?
At this particular moment in my life, the majority of my time is in England and I return to Ukraine for three months or so. Ukraine is my home country and I have strong and long-lasting roots to my heritage. Truly there are infinite pieces of work that can be completed when devoting art to Ukrainian life. Unless specified, all paintings are for sale and can be shipped to any address location around the world. I still write about all things artistic coming out of Ukraine, just on a smaller scale.
   
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