BEHIND THE PIECES

 "Art is a human experience. Art is how you see yourself. Art is a way to engage with your own humanity."

In her original paintings, Ruslana draws from lived emotions, translating feeling into image, portraying them in a realistic as well as imaginary ways. She firmly beliefs in getting the most from our lives that are all too fleeting.

"You must enjoy the little moments, allow yourself the indulgence, and have the strength to choose yourself when need be. To walk your own path and be rewarded for it beautifully. This doesn’t mean avoiding sadness or grief or failure. It means finding yourself within them too. And living fully."

In these unique paintings, Ruslana creates a personal experience for the viewer, creating meaning that cannot be explained, only felt.  

  

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 In each painting, I create a

world, a world for you to live

in and that world whispers to

you - 'live beautifully'." - Ruslana

JOURNEY

Ruslana holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Toronto and an Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts from Sheridan College. She has studied under master artists, with further education unfolding in studios, museums, and years of devoted practice, absorbing classical discipline, and then stepping beyond it into her own evolving language.

Her work is rooted in the legacy of the Old Masters, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, and the Pre-Raphaelites, yet it is also shaped by modern visionaries like Edward Hopper and Gustav Klimt. From this fusion of eras, she creates paintings that feel both timeless and alive.

Cinema plays a profound role in Ruslana’s creative journey. The play of light, atmosphere, and composition in film inspires her to infuse her paintings with a cinematic aura that imbues each piece with a sense of story and emotion, as if the painting is a single suspended frame from a much larger dream. 

With international solo and group exhibitions, art awards, and features in leading art publications, Ruslana’s work has earned global recognition. Her paintings are held in collections across North America, Europe, and Asia, uniting collectors who value the authenticity, emotion, and storytelling inherent in her art.

CRAFTSMANSHIP

Art that carries personal meaning deserves the most exquisite of mediums. Oil painting is demanding and unforgiving, requiring years of dedication to master. There is a reason the great masters of the past chose oils: no other medium offers the same depth, luminosity, and sense of life upon the canvas.

Each work begins as a simple sketch, sometimes followed by a small study, before Ruslana commits fully to the canvas. From there, the painting evolves slowly and intuitively, taking anywhere from two weeks to several months to complete, depending on the scale and complexity of each piece.

After more than a decade devoted to mastering oils, Ruslana has developed a refined, limited palette uniquely tailored to her vision. Select pigments are sourced from Parisian ateliers, while her brushes are handcrafted in Dutch and English studios. This ensure that each painting captures the emotion and atmosphere it was meant to hold.

I remember reading endless amount of books, many old and

dust-covered volumes that hadn’t been opened in ages,

searching for techniques and knowledge that we weren't

taught. The history of fine art is vast and no formal schooling

can be enough. Through years of reading, experimentation,

and trial and error, I was able to develop my own approach.

Today, I combine these olden methods with contemporary

sensibilities, bringing my personal vision and inner world to

life on canvas." - Ruslana

BEHIND THE SCENES OF A PAINTING