Artist of the Month September 2014

Irena Orlov

Los Angeles, CA

How and when did you start creating art?

I've been drawn by the magical beauty behind fine arts and design since childhood. My artistic journey began at age 12, at Kherson Art Studios, Ukraine. I worked in Russia and Israel as an architect and designer in a variety of fields including architecture, interiors, furniture and product design. After moving to the US, I continued working here. Having a successful career in architecture and design for quite a long time, I began to deal with fine art. I began to look for new ways to express my emotions and feelings. The process of creating art gave me what I wanted - endless ways of expressing myself.

What media and genres do you work in?

During the creating process, I don't limit myself to a specific style or medium therefore my art is mostly mixed media. My creatinve process is based on my emotions and my mood. I'm very spontaneous. Today I might use photography to convey my feelings. Tomorrow I might paint to express myself. My work is infused with spirit and energy I felt at the moment I created it. It encourages viewers to interpret it their own way. My art evokes different feelings in the audience depending on their individual experiences and memories.

Who or what are your influences?

Contemporary, Pop Art, Abstract Expressionism, Assemblage, Color Field painting, Art Photography, New media Art.

 The artists that inspired me most were Gustav Klimt, Wassily Kandinsky, Vincent Van Gogh, Frantisek Kupka, Mark Rothko and my friend Maya Green.

What was your inspiration for Timeless?

I was, and continue to be inspired by the beauty of the world around me and can spent hours to explore it. The world moves rapidly and everything changes so fast. I discovered that I will never live in quite the same world. Life unfolds only in moments. Capturing moments that are full of emotion is the key to my art.

Describe your creative process?

My art is a response of my soul to reality. I create an emotional space through visual abstract images. I’m interested in everything that I see the energy of life in. I see boundless and unforgettable opportunities of conveying real space for imagination and creating a new ones. I try to develop an emotional and visual horizon of perception through my artworks. I constantly search for images that appeal to participation and emotional experience. This is an improvisation of reflections, feelings as well as definite and indefinite actions during the process of creation. Each of the improvisations merges into a specific form of art at the specific period of time.

What are you working on currently?

A series of large scale abstract works.

What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

My goal is to continue to develop and expand my work.

Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?

My personal website: www.irenaorlov.com

Most of my work is on my Facebook website:

https://www.facebook.com/artirenaorlov

Create and Barrel:

http://www.crateandbarrel.com/search?query=Irena%20Orlov

Saatchi On Line: http://www.saatchiart.com/irenaorlov

StudioGallery, Bistango, Irvine California

Beverly Hills ART

http://beverlyhillsart.com/author/irenaorlov/

Deny Designs:

http://www.denydesigns.com/collections/artist/ar-irena-orlov

 

 

In addition to galleries my art has appeared in major retail stores such as Sears, Walmart, Kohls, Bed Bath & Beyond, Crate and Barrel, Deny Designs, Jcpenney, Home Goods, Rogers Furniture, Design Center Furniture, Lowe's, Uebinger's Furniture Co, 5th Avenue Furniture, Ashley Furniture HomeStore etc and has been seen on catalogs, on line shopping, and in fund raising catalogs, has been licensed for wall art, calendars, home accessories, bedding.