embracing change

As you might have heard, I closed my art studio in West Duluth. It's a decision filled with mixed emotions, however is not an end but an opportunity for the new and the better. I'm eagerly acquiring new skills at Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art, not just as tools but as pathways to enrich my artistic expression and redefine my style. It's deliberate effort to evolve. As I navigate this journey I'm not leaving behind my artistic roots; instead I'm weaving them into the new fabric, creating a narrative that reflects the ongoing evolution of my creative self. You can still reach me to see or buy my art by making an appointment. Of course, this website will stay active and I will continue to upload my new work.

And then, we'll see.

Summer Art Show

Summer is in the full swing and my Saturday Open Studio events are almost regular occurance by now. Tommorow's one is however very special: I will be hosting amazing artists that are all connected to Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art, where I take classess too. I am very happy to open my studio to works of Patrick Glander, Abigail Olson, Austin Jasurda and more. Event runs from 10 am to 4 pm at Ines Krolo Art Studio, located in 5723 Grand Ave in Duluth, MN.

Small Business Saturday

This Saturday, November 26, I'm offering 30% off all available art in studio. Remember, prices in the studio are 10% off the prices listed on my webshop and in studio purchase is only with cash or check. Studio location is 5723 Grand Ave in West Duluth. Hope to see you tomorrow!

Saturdays Open Studios (S.O.S.)

By now I've established a pattern of opening my studio to the public on -most- Saturdays. This Saturday 10 AM Open Studio will bring you a surprise half-off of any piece from the Eye Candy series. It is only in studio purchase and only this day.

Other than that you can browse my other pieces that are overflowing my space and see what I'm working on currently.

I strongly recommend confirming your arrival to make sure you don't miss me or the piece you might be interested in.

oh, boy

What can I say!? I am really not much into blogging, aren't I, but I told you that right at the beginning, remember? After all, if writing in Slavic, broken immigrant language is really my thing, I would probably take that direction. To make this short and sweet, let me tell you what is really going on. In short, nothing much! Those exciting poetry reading and art/fashion events that I used to dream of.. well.. that will have to wait a bit, but I can sense that things are slowly waking up. I'm still hopeful. Maybe. Still, there is something exciting. I am taking some really good classical realism classes at the nearby Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art that I really, really enjoy. I do wonder however how in hell will it be possible to fuse those two seemingly opposite loves of mine, crazy abstraction and old masters' techniques... So, bare with me. A lot to figure out. In a meantime, follow me for mostly Saturday's Open Studios that I advertise on my Instagram and Facebook account, or contact me directly if you would like to come to my studio on your own time. Enjoy the summer!

reflection time

Reflection no8

With yet another year closing behind us, I ask myself how did 2021 changed us? Do we like what we see in mirror? If there is anything good with getting older, it is a wisdom that we might acqire along the way. A deep contentment with things just as they are. There is beauty in long nights, cold, neverending winter; there is so much potential in darkness, imagination without boundaries, much hope in flickering lights. Be still, listen. Dream. And who knows, chances are that one day, that glimmer of hope and light starts shining steadily and brightly. We will finaly see ourself in the mirror - for what we are, without distorsion of the shadows. We might even like what we see.

“Shattered” at Duluth Art Institute

Hello, beautiful people! Summer is in full swing and my studio is open for you whenever possible - you just need to check out my social media announcements or give me a call or text. Exciting things happening there!! In the meantime, swing over to the Duluth Art Institute to check out my mixed media piece "Shattered". 2021 Annual Member Show is amazing showcase of Duluth's creative energy and runs until September 26, with reception on September 15, 2021, from 6:30 to 8:00PM. Hope to see you all, sooner or later. Enjoy summer.

open art gallery summer season

Summer is here! Duluth already has so much to offer, yet if you are interested in visual art, it is good to know that my studio in West Duluth is open for art walk - by appointment or by announcement on my social media art pages. Studio gallery is filled with artwork - new and old alike, and I'm readily available to give you an art tour about creative inspiration and my artistic proces. Studio is currently overflown with colorful floral art I'm working on, but a wide variety of abstract mixed media pieces that will perfectly fit into your living space is everywhere.

Swing over for a dose of energetic inspiration and chit-chat about one of the most important topics life can offer - imagination! Limits are an illusion.

how it all started, sort of

Night, mixed media

How long have you been painting, some may ask me. There are many answers to that questions, and all of them truthful. This piece of art however makes a turning point in my journey; one that made me push through my uncomfortable awkwardness and put my artistic sensibility out there in the wide, wide world.

Nothing was the same anymore.

Titled “Night” in hommage of those warm Mediterranean nights of my youth: dramatic color and texture, glittering gold, reds and orange. Shimer and shine. Thick darkness lightned by the starry sky.

Summer nights.

open studio and much more

Some of you who follow my art know that I occasionally throw open studio/gallery events, usually on Fridays or Saturdays. Pandemic stopped me from making something more out of those simple events - like I used to do, marrying my art to seasonal celebrations - not to mention my long-burning desire for more entertaining and cultured aspects to those parties. I hope that life will unfold in such a way that I will be able to fulfill those dreams of ethereal evenings filled with art, music, poetry, and much more.

But for now, I take pleasure in opening my beautiful space to those interested in my artistic process as well as my art. You can follow my social media where I announce those events in advance, but you can also contact me if you prefer to arrange a personal visit.

In my studio, along with old favorites, you will find a lot of different freshly finished paintings, including the start of new more realistic floral series that is smaller in scale, yet still vibrant and captivating. Small in size, but big on impact is my new motto!

Last but not least, don’t forget that you can commission just that perfect piece of art for that empty wall! Through miracles of technological advances, numerous living spaces - near and far - have found their happy, unique vibe with my art carefully born out of the exciting process of engaging with my clients, who often turn into dear friends or vice versa. A win-win situation, in my opinion.

Have a glorious Sunday night.

things of miraculous beauty

Eternal Spring Series, work in process

Spring is a time for renewal but this particular year brings that old saying to new heights - even an old skeptic like me had to reevaluate everything and start afresh. So I am thinking floral, abstract yet representational, smaller but still vibrant.

Flowers. Fragile and magnificent beauty, lasting only for a short time, bringing pleasant joy.

The abundance of color. Shapes.

And then that scent. Aroma.

And the inevitable decay, the sad and pretty passage of time.

So come over to my art studio to check out my newest series named Eternal Spring.

It should be efflorescent and blossoming soon.

bite the bullet

Those women never clutch their pearls.

A smooth ride was not their destiny.

They know hardness, they seize dark, and they take all in, never complain. And they resist.

Reflecting light, creating softness.

Turning pain in the story.

Dreaming colors.

I wanna be one of those women. Standing strong and beautiful, shining.

Carrying on forward.

art studio dreams

Parts of unnamed triptych in progress and “Unbearable’, an assemblage of mixed media

The best part of the creative process is that mystery of the unknown. Excitement.

My intention of renting art studio space quickly escalated into the dreams of having gallery walls to exhibit my paintings and space for events hosting a musician or a writer, or even something completely unique and off as a fashion show.

Turning my space into a little cultural hub still seems very appealing to me.

Everything you can imagine is real - that is the beauty of creativity. Inventing, experimenting, exploring, breaking established rules and patterns. Looking into things in a different way. Taking risks.

All while having absolute fun and enjoyment. That is my dream.

it’s complicated

Life reminds me of this mixed media piece: random layers of overlapping pieces of canvas, loosely connected with visible stitching, sometimes not even bothering. Meaningless on its own.

Reds in weird occurrences, circular blues, hoops and loops of many shapes and forms.

Mixed in between reds and blues, some patches of violets and purples. Naturally.

Black pathways lead nowhere.

There are holes.

Some shiny resin.

Mess, overall.

But somewhere there, there is a light.

Picture imperfect.

finding your style

Appassionato, triptych

What if finding your own style, that vibrant, glorious masterpiece of your vision, turns out to be nothing but an elusive dream? What if you keep changing and never in the same place long enough to be defined?

Because - just in the time of your arrival, everything is gone already.

Every single thrust into a unknown,

useless.

Shiny newness,

gone.

Everything, except creativity.

What if chasing is enough?

And you let it go,

things of beauty

and everything is still here.

captured moments

Those precious moments that stay with you: memories of beauty gone by.

Frozen perfection,

shiny little pearls.

Unbearable awareness of

fleeting

and they are gone.

So I paint, all those feelings

and colors,

reds, purples, yellows

and blues.

Gold,

trying to snatch those from passing.

And for a few precious moments, they are back.

the highest form of hope

Sinking In Blue, private collection

Art is way too important not to share, kid you not.

Success, artwork - even a masterpiece, is irrelevant. What counts is this process of creation, getting to know your own unknown. Freedom. Where else can you bend your thoughts, create your own rules, play with ideas and end up inventing life just the way you like it.

It is art that makes life, makes interest.

A highest form of hope.

This photo illustrates precisely that.

purple state of mind

Abstract in progress in my art studio

The long darkness of winter is finally receding in the face of an inevitable leap to brighter days. Vivid colors of my art studio will not be my sole source of energy and joy for long - soon greens and blues and yellows will burst out in their inviting warmth. Can’t hardly wait.

But in the meantime, my art is here. And violet keeps coming back to me, over and over. A fusion of red and blue, that is so deep and beautiful, deserves a whole painting of its own, and more than one. Rich textures, purple glitter. Shades of pale lilacs, lavender, dark violet, a tint of magenta in wild swirl of emotion. Monochromatic madness adoring wall.

Ultraviolet.

mirrors of the soul

Sinking In Blue, private collection

I love creating big triptychs.

Large in size, enough to let you lose in their vastness. The magic of number three: playful repetitiveness.

Stars of the rooms, yet perfectly fitting into interiors, with no competitiveness.

But even more, I love the process they require: a very long time they demand and attention to detail. While I keep my eyes wide open in search for next perfect stroke, I discover much more. In that protracted silence, they offer meditation. Mirrors of the soul.

There is one in my studio waiting for me to have a final look. Soon I will find a time to do just that and it will be signed and varnished. It will take a place on the wall and start a life of its own.

I am happy for it.

let’s talk about love

Amor, private collection

Here we are, in the midst of the frigid temperatures, celebrating love. Amor, ljubav, Liebe, agapi, amore, ai, dragoste, amour..Because that is what we humans do, we fail and suffer, but then we dream and we hope. And then we do. We put ideas in motion and abstraction to action. We promise to cherish and we take care. When touched by the better angels of our nature - we create beauty and harmony. Despite everything.

This past week had me open my art studio to the public for the first time after a long time. This coming week I’m looking forward to establish once again more regular pattern of opening. My huge gold and black abstract tryptic is waiting to be varnished, as do a few other pieces. A bald, nude woman, splashed with red squirts of paint is also currently on my easel and she makes me very happy. Come over to see what else is happening in my studio; times will be advertised on my social media posts.