Olga Polshina | Olga Polshina |
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Artist's Statement The Magic of Enameling
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My first exercises with this surprising technique were very shy. It was uncomfortable to feel and sense the coldness of metal instead of warmness of canvas or a sheet of paper, and to trade in the appeasable fluffy brush for gadgets like rasp, scissors on metal or sheer break. The drumming of hammer and the heat from furnace were scary at first, and high pitch of electric drill and saw were all but uncomfortably loud. So how come I said good-bye to all my former experience? I think the answer was in that special magic of the process, a certain risk and constant feeling of surprise which represents each and every new burn in the furnace. It is very decorative and expressive method. The color of enamel, thick and bright in the beginning, varies with temperature all the time, enriches itself and grows even more colorful. Its texture, manner of execution and style are very demanding of artist's experience opening a world of infinite possibilities. This world is free of rigid standards and rules giving birth to something fresh and unique. Furnace itself guides me and provides directions to the extent of becoming my creative partner. I like to see the transformation of my plain and dreamy images into something almost 3D and real. First I plan my work by sketching a composition, a color layout, and then it rolls on to working with material, and this is where the magic starts. Every annealing in the red-hot furnace brings new creative surprises and gives my ideas a new light. When the number of burns comes to 20, a new work would be born. But at times not without compromises. Only patience, experience and love for this wonderful technique allow seeing results of my work that only enamel can bring. Artist's Bio Olga is an award-winning enameller from Russia that is engaged in unique and modern art of hot enameling over metal. Olga graduated from Fine Art college at Krasnodar State University, Russia, in 1983. She initially worked in oil painting, water colours, wall decoration and folk lacquer miniatures while living and traveling in Russia and Kazakhstan. Her first public appearance took place in 1985 when a series of graphic designs "My World" was exhibited at Alma-Ata regional art show. She turned to unique and vibrant technique of art enameling in 1997 after moving to mountainous Caucasian region of Russia. Olga presently works from her own studio in the foothills of health resort town of Pyatigorsk (five mountains). She created several hundreds of decorative, folk and cult enamels that can be found in private collections, art galleries and european museums. Olga is an active participant in domestic and international symposiums, exhibitions and seminars on hot enamels. Affiliations
Exhibitions & Projects
Art Museums
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