I am a Ukrainian artist and I paint flowers in oil on large canvases.
I actively develop my artistic practice and present my work in local and international exhibitions. For me, art is a continuous process of exploration, searching for new images and finding ways to convey beauty through painting and express sensitivity.
Based: Kharkiv, Ukraine
@tanya.golodynska | FB
INTERVIEW
How did you find your way into art – was there a specific moment or person that set you on this path?
I have been painting since childhood, but I began to think of creativity as a profession during the pandemic.
What can I do now, with what I have today?
I took out an old watercolor set that had remained from my studies at the Academy of Design and Arts and created a series of illustrations for my sons’ children’s room. Soon after, I received my first commission — a watercolor airplane, and later a one-meter watercolor ship.
While searching for my own style, I realized that I was constantly drawn to plants. I painted eucalyptus branches, then a large 120 cm succulent plant, and eventually discovered oil painting.
Soon after, I created a large-scale floral composition that I later realized was a copy of another artist’s work. However, something important happened during the process of creating it. I felt: “This is it. This is mine.”
Since summer 2021, flowers have become the central theme of my artistic practice.
How would you describe your artistic practice to someone encountering your work for the first time?
My artistic practice centers on large-scale oil paintings that explore floral forms as spaces for contemplation and emotional presence. Flowers fascinate me—not only because of their beauty, but also because of their ability to embody both fragility and resilience.
Scale plays a central role in my work. By enlarging flowers beyond their natural proportions, I transform them from decorative motifs into monumental subjects worthy of sustained attention. Their spiraling petals become landscapes of light and movement, encouraging the viewer to slow down and enter a meditative state. I am interested in the moment when close observation gives way to emotion, allowing nature to become a mirror of our inner world.
As a Ukrainian artist, I believe that creating beauty is an act of resilience. My paintings invite viewers to pause, reconnect with themselves, and discover moments of clarity and hope through an encounter with nature. Through scale, light, and meticulous craftsmanship, I strive to create works that offer both visual immersion and emotional reflection.
What themes or ideas keep returning to your work, even when you don’t plan for them?
A recurring theme in my work is the exploration of beauty within natural forms as a source of emotional experience and contemplation. My paintings are connected by a shared idea of examining floral imagery, yet each artwork possesses its own character, atmosphere, and inner story.
Although my works are united by a common subject, each painting differs in form, color, scale, and emotional expression. Some pieces convey a sense of tenderness and calm, while others reveal strength, energy, and the dynamic rhythm of nature. I am interested not only in the flower itself, but in the feelings and reflections it can awaken in the viewer.
One of the central ideas in my practice is the creation of a space for slow observation. Through large-scale compositions, I transform flowers from decorative elements into independent artistic subjects with their own presence and significance. My paintings are not created simply to decorate a space—they are intended to engage in a dialogue with the viewer, reveal new details over time, and evoke personal emotions and memories.
Through light, color, texture, and meticulous attention to detail, I strive to create works that become more than visual images.
Can you walk us through your process – from the first idea to a finished piece?
An important initial stage of my process is the moment of encountering an image that creates an emotional response within me. Everything begins with photography as a way of capturing that moment of fascination with form and light, which I later transform into a painterly expression on canvas.
Once the image is found, the painting process begins. It is difficult to fully describe in words, as at this stage analytical thinking gives way to intuition and emotion. Reflection takes place mainly during the selection of the photograph and composition, while during the actual painting process I become completely immersed, letting go of conscious thoughts.
My paintings are created through several stages. The first layer is exploratory — it is the stage where I establish the main relationships between light, shadow, and color. The second layer becomes the moment of transformation — this is when the petals gain depth, realism, and painterly expression. Afterwards, I gradually add details, deepening the texture, light, and volumetric quality of the work.
What are you currently working on, and are there any upcoming exhibitions or projects you’d like to share?
I am currently actively working on expanding my collection of floral paintings, continuing to explore floral forms through different compositions, scales, and emotional states.
I do not limit myself to depicting a single type of flower. I am inspired by the diversity of natural forms — from delicate peonies and elegant roses to complex floral compositions that combine different flowers, colors, and rhythms. This continuous discovery of new possibilities for visual expression makes my artistic exploration feel almost endless.
In August 2026, my work Infinity is presented at the international Chianciano Biennale 2026. Additionally, a new gallery will soon open in Ukraine, where three of my paintings have already been selected for the exhibition.
One of my next artistic aspirations is to create a solo exhibition dedicated to my floral practice. I would like to present a cohesive collection of works that reveals the development of this direction and the diversity of my ongoing exploration of floral forms.
How has your practice evolved over the years – what has changed, and what has stayed the same?
At the beginning of my artistic journey, there was an active year of exploration — I was searching for my own style, materials, and the visual language through which I could most accurately express my sensitivity.
When I chose flowers as my main source of inspiration, my artistic practice began to develop around exploring the expressive possibilities of floral forms. With each year, my painterly language has become deeper, and my works more emotionally rich.
I have not chosen one fixed color system, as different approaches allow me to convey a spectrum of emotional states and experiences. Paintings with flowers against deep, dark backgrounds create a sense of mystery and inner depth, while lighter compositions express tenderness and weightlessness. Recently, I have also been incorporating more vibrant colors into my work.
At the same time, this does not mean that I want to limit myself to one particular direction in color or mood. As a person, I experience a wide range of emotions, and it is this spectrum — from silence and contemplation to energy and vitality — that finds its reflection in my paintings.
What advice would you give to emerging artists just starting out, looking back on your own journey?
For me, this is a very difficult question, as I feel a great responsibility when speaking about the path of other artists. Each person goes through their own unique life journey, and this experience inevitably finds its reflection in their creative work. Beyond the desire for self-expression, an artist brings their own emotions, discoveries, joys, and challenges into their practice.
My main advice to young artists is, first and foremost, to trust their inner feelings and not limit themselves by external rules, expectations, or certain artistic conventions. It is important to develop technical skills and continuously refine one’s practice, while at the same time preserving one’s own voice.
I believe that every artist has a unique vision and an inner idea that can be expressed through creativity. The most valuable thing is to allow this unique seed to reveal itself through one’s own hands, while remaining honest with oneself and with one’s art.