Artist
Reggio teacher
Children's books author
Illustrator

Helena

Zagrijtschuk

Artist
Reggio teacher
Children's books author
Illustrator

“ I am inspired by fascinating

intersection of reality and fantasy ”

I was born in Ukraine and live and work since 2000 in Austria, in the beautiful city of Vienna.

(Me) I was born in the family of artists, always surrounded by creativity and art throughout my childhood. This enabled me to always be open to creative experiments, to see beauty around me, to think aesthetically.

After completion of the Ivan Trusch arts college in the city of Lviv (Ukraine), I continued my studies in Vienna at pursuing architecture and design education at the university, and in addition to that studying fashion creation and creative pedagogy and gathering further knowledge at numerous workshops and courses in the art and creativity field.

I draw, experiment and run various workshops for children and adults (drawing, art therapy, handmade, creative development groups: www.helenaz100art.com ) in my art own workshop 100 ART-Space studio in Vienna.

I intend to continue my artistic journey, expand the boundaries of my creativity and share my experiences with others.

(My style) is abstract painting

with elements of mixed media

Mix technique is a type of creativity that does not impose any restrictions, it is a creative field, open to all who has interest in creating art!

Lines are intertwined with spots, with overlays of various materials, such as threads, fibers, nets, paper, etc., a contrast appears between thin, delicate linear interweaving and voluminous, sometimes even relief-like structures.

I like to combine different techniques, mix acrylic paints with other materials, use structural pastes, mix ground coffee, wood sawdust, creating layers of textures.

I work on several artpieces at once, exploring the same idea or theme in different ways. This is how small series of works are created, for example series of three, six or nine squares, which are combined with each other in color and compositionally. Working on many pieces at the same time allows me to express myself freely without being too self-controlling.

Gradually accumulating textured layers, I observe the intuitive creation of relief structures, as well as select the color scheme with acrylic paints. It's all part of the creative process. Allowing the picture to develop naturally, I look for a balance between color and texture, between line and spot, between disorder and order.

(My thoughts)

“I am inspired by nature”

I start with and from nature, from the natural elements. I want to convey the mood!

The feeling of connection with nature helps to be in harmony with myself. I am inspired by the sounds of nature and music. Everything that surrounds us is diverse, but exists I harmony and combination. My work is about the power of authentic expression. Authentic art heals, lights the way for others, and connects on deeper levels. Irregularities and layering create a living active tactile surface. The picture breathes! The artpiece is alive!

“I trust my feelings”

My work is related to emotions. I pour my feelings into the paintings, working intuitively, listening to myself, trusting myself and my feelings.

At the end of the day, my art is about finding connection. Connection with yourself, connection with emotions. It's a therapeutic search process! For me, self-expression means letting my hands express emotions on the surface of the canvas.

(Selected works)

I love pastel, light, delicate shades that carry the mood of the spring wind. These series were created in the spring, when the earth wakes up from its winter sleep, the first grass sprouts in anticipation of the warm summer...

Autumn herbs

40*40 cm, canvas, acrylic

Autumn painted everything in shades of yellow ocher... I am in the middle of the field, standing, looking into the colors of autumn. I still feel a warm breeze on me... I inhale this breeze... The sun, before its setting, still illuminates the grass swaying in the wind with gold, warms it with warmth and spreads a golden glow around

Morning

40*40 cm, canvas, acrylic

Morning... the sun has not risen yet... Everyone is sleeping... I slowly wake up and look out the window, I look at the enchanted nature, the frozen morning, still asleep... and even the river below seems to be frozen... time for morning meditation

Winter forest

40*40 cm, canvas, acrylic

The breath of winter...The forest in the mountains...The fresh mountain wind shakes the tree branches and pierces the body in winter...

Fog

40*50 cm, canvas, acrylic

The morning fog in the mountains... The mountains are barely visible in the distance... I am in the fog... Soon it will disperse and everything will be clearly visible.

At the bottom of the sea

40*40 cm, canvas, acrylic

I look at the bottom of the sea at the sun's rays

(Selected works)

Autumn herbs

40*40 cm, canvas, acrylic

Morning

40*40 cm, canvas, acrylic

Winter forest

40*40 cm, canvas, acrylic

The breath of winter...The forest in the mountains...The fresh mountain wind shakes the tree branches and pierces the body in winter...

Fog

40*50 cm, canvas, acrylic

The morning fog in the mountains... The mountains are barely visible in the distance... I am in the fog... Soon it will disperse and everything will be clearly visible.

At the bottom of the sea

40*40 cm, canvas, acrylic

I look at the bottom of the sea at the sun's rays