Russian artist Olga Obukhova paints people and animals that exude fantastical nostalgia. Immersed in fairy tales and novels as a child, she found joy in illustrating their vivid characters, bringing them to life through her drawings. Although her interest later shifted to animal and human portraits, notably of renowned and unconventional personalities, the paintings preserved the same enchanted aura as her early works. In the portraits, Obukhova seeks to capture the subject’s very essence and reveal their inner beauty. She likens the process to a heartfelt conversation, which forges an intimate connection between the subject and herself. Her paintings inject positive emotions, while gently inviting us to view the world in a different light. Her style is loose, expressive, and evocative, allowing the viewer to free associate without constraints.
OLGA OBUKHOVA ON
The Stone Flower – Tourmaline, 2021 Oil on canvas
I paint images of famous and interesting people and animals. I am interested in their inner world, their psyche, and their inner beauty. My style is impressionistic, which I achieve by applying multi-layered strokes with a palette knife and a natural bristle brush, or pointillism. This technique allows me to create texture and depth with a more expressive emphasis on the necessary details of the painting. I favor this approach as it lets the viewer interpret the painting freely, without my vision overshadowing theirs.
