For some, their art is a representation of the subconscious mind, while for others, such as Irina Rezwan, art is an expression of the current state of mind; it’s a relief from suppression. The artist is constantly in the state of challenging her creativity, which leads to self-discovery and creative expansion.
The proficient artist has been drawing since the dawn of time, from the time she can remember to write. Her mother had always encouraged her to explore her creativity in art. Drawing and painting became a daily routine in her life, which made for a sweet escape from the harsh reality. It concealed her insecurities in a way and boosted her confidence. “Once I realized how big of a role art played in my life, I spent more time perfecting the skill – and I continue to do so,” explained Irina.
Irina coming from the marketing line of interest has thrived as an artist. Finding time amid the busy work life, she often makes way for mural art. Mural art has been a challenging area for her from the beginning. It’s the thought of failure that intimidates her, at the same time, motivates her to push the limits. The result that comes afterwards from it makes her pat herself on the back. “What I’ve enjoyed most about my mural projects is the creative freedom and trust I would receive from my clients,” says Irina.
Her work can best be described as “Abstract Realism”. Irina tends to combine realistic portraits with abstract themes. She draws inspiration by observing people around her and from music. She finds inspiration in Xenia Lau and Tamara Williams’s work and from local artists on Instagram like VeeVinci and Istellailustrated.
As most of her work is based on her emotions and state of mind, drawing female portraits is the best way for her to connect with her artwork. Putting emotions out on paper feels daunting to her at times, but the female portraits act as an avatar for her thoughts or personal experiences. Anytime she does feel overwhelmed, Irina takes it as a challenge to visualize her feelings by sketching them into a concept. Upon completing a female portrait, she looks at it and thinks “she represents everything I’ve been feeling, but failing to put in words.”
As a sketch artist, Irina’s most treasured tool is ‘pencil’. It comes in handy both for the drawing process itself, as well as for jotting down the concept behind it. Putting the concept into words is the foundation of her artwork, which reminds her of the purpose every time she sits to draw. Then with some mandatory music on, she sketches away in the comfort of her graphite pencil medium. However, recently she has discovered her newfound love for acrylic and wishes to explore more mediums.
The artist talks about one of her significant artworks, “Words That Pierce”, which was composed from a mental battle she had fought and combated, concerning societal values. Looking back at the art reminds Irina of her strength and resilience. Irina also admits to being in artist block more than not. Instead of forcing it, she lets it flow. Her plan is to keep learning, and exploring the depths of her curiosity while visualizing the ideas to the best of her abilities.
““I’m just here to tell my story through my work and if that can inspire at least one other person, I’d consider myself blessed”
— says Irina.
