Visit the Studio with Nikolina Kovalenko 

The paintings of Nikolina Kovalenko –– populated with intricate coral patterns and rich textured leaves –– show nature in its purest form, blossoming from the Earth and the sea. They illustrate both Nikolina’s connection to the natural world and the fragile connection of Earth and the growing climate crisis.

As we dive into Nikolina’s pieces, we explore her studio space, along with life as an artist and environmental activist.

What is your artwork about? What does it speak to?

My work is about humanity’s fragile connection with our environment and climate change. I hope my art makes people stop for a second and realize that the world around us is so much more diverse than we think. That it needs our love and protection. That there’s beauty in everything related to nature. That our everyday actions have consequences. That our individual normal is not everyone’s normal. That every minute in this incredible world is a privilege and we should take the time to appreciate it.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My inspiration always emerges from nature and vulnerable ecosystems. Not necessarily from a landscape in the traditional sense, but often from more zoomed in textures, to the point where they become almost abstract. I explore our philosophical connection with nature and the places that evoke certain thoughts, memories, and emotions. As we bond with these places, we learn to understand ourselves and our place within the world –– where we’re all connected not despite our differences, but because of them. Nature can teach us the secret of transformation through uniting our inner contradictions –– like fire and water coexisting as one another’s compliment.

I’m drawn to rainforests, mountains, glaciers, and waves. I recently got my scuba diving license to work on projects related to coral bleaching. Nature gives me inner strength, balance and happiness and in my work I strive to capture the ephemerality of it all –– of places that are destined to disappear if humanity doesn’t change it’s consumer attitude toward nature.

What is your painting process?

Before I start a new series, I travel deep into nature for several weeks––jungles, mountains, deserts, oceans––to surrender to the rhythms of sounds, lines, textures, colors, smells, and the calming eternal wisdom nature shares with everyone who is willing to listen. I draw or paint in plein air and take photos for additional details I couldn’t capture in a sketch. Once I’m back at my studio, I need a couple of weeks to digest and create more sketches. A new body of work slowly emerges, the memories start coming together like multicolored pieces in a kaleidoscope. Like a series of short stories united by a writer’s pen. Once I have a clear outline or sketch of what I want to convey within the painting I start with the background and then outline the silhouettes for the overall composition. I start painting from a defined, central spot––a proclaimed leading actor––organically growing the shapes from it.

My painting process can resemble meditation. At a certain point in my creation process I feel like I’m building the world inside the frame, cell by cell. Maybe this is how you feel when a tiny seed you planted becomes a mighty tree –– you are not sure if you can take the credit.

When my finished painting has an audience, I hope it fills their life with meaning and beauty and provokes thinking outside of the box. I hope it mesmerizes and challenges, soothes and inspires. I hope my viewer has a taste for exploration and thinks of my painting as a portal.

Do you work at a particular size or scale? Why?

I like working large (for example, the canvases in my new series are 54x80 inches) because it gives me the feeling of being submerged into nature and the landscape, both physically and psychologically.

What materials do you use? And why?

I use watercolors to make preliminary sketches in plein air, but my finished paintings are oil on canvas. I stretch and gesso my own canvases, and hand polish the surface with fine sandpaper until obtaining a smooth, marble-like surface. I’ve painted on aluminum in the past, but size and weight restrictions made me return to the traditional canvas medium. I love painting with oil because it’s so versatile and the color has this magnetic velvety depth that is difficult to achieve with other water-based mediums.

Do you balance another job in addition to being an artist?

I’m very lucky to be making a living out of my art. I also teach art classes and workshops, but I consider it all a part of my art practice. I love sharing the happiness of creation with others, enabling and empowering them to express their thoughts and emotions visually.

What are you currently working on?

Right now I’m working on a series of large paintings about coral bleaching. During my recent trip I got my PADI license and learned underwater photography, which allowed me to collect all the source material I needed for this project. The paintings are very elaborate and it will take a while before a finished body of work emerges, but I wake up every morning so excited to pick up the brush and relive those moments of fascination with the underwater world.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this special peek into Nikolina's creative environment! Even in a virtual age, we encourage all budding collectors to take the time to connect with the artists you love directly.

We want to remind you of our awesome artist messaging feature directly on the Art in Res site––reach out now and foster that creative energy! Have more questions for Nikolina on her art and practice? Follow up with her directly via our messenger. We know she’ll be thrilled to answer any questions you might have. Ask about a specific painting or about her specific process in general––either approach works!