My newest artwork, What the Red Caps Hide: Lime Bloom, was SOLD at the 50x50 Exhibition at Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne.
This tree portrait is inspired by the extraordinary flowers and seed capsules of Eucalyptus macrandra. The vivid red nut caps seem to guard a surprise beneath them: luminous lime-green blossoms that transform the tree into an explosion of colour.
What the Red Caps Hide: Lime Bloom
2026
Acrylic and texture paste on wood
50 × 50 cm
📍 Brunswick Street Gallery
Level 1 & 2, 322 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
🗓 Exhibition: 20 June – 3 July
🥂 Opening Night: Friday 26 June, 6–9 pm
🕙 Open Tue–Sat 10am–5pm | Sun 11am–4pm | Closed Mondays
Still time to see the 2026 Fifty Squared Art Prize — Australia’s largest open-call exhibition for wall-based works (50×50cm and under), featuring over 900 artworks. So much incredible work in one space — a true snapshot of contemporary practice.
Pseudo stained glass is a refined decorative art technique that transforms doors, windows, and interior objects into luminous design features. Created with special transparent paints, this approach allows light to pass through the surface, filling the room with colour and creating a soft, fairytale-like atmosphere within the interior. When daylight moves through the painted surface, the colours come alive, subtly shifting throughout the day and enhancing the emotional quality of the space. One of the key advantages of pseudo stained glass is its ability to match and enhance the existing interior style. From soft, minimal colour schemes to more expressive, ornamental designs, each piece is created in dialogue with the architecture, materials, and colour palette of the room. The artwork becomes an integrated part of the interior rather than a separate decorative element. Pseudo stained glass works beautifully as an accent feature or as a focal point, adding depth, warmth, and a sense of wonder. It is particularly effective in spaces where natural light plays an important role, turning everyday architectural elements into sources of colour and atmosphere.
My journey with oil painting began in year 7, when I was studying at the State Secondary Art School in Kyiv, Ukraine — a highly selective school that required passing three entrance exams in painting, drawing, and composition. It was there that we transitioned from watercolours and gouache to the timeless medium of oils. I’ve always loved this classical medium. Oils have a long and rich tradition in fine art, and I’ve admired their depth, luminosity, and the way colours blend so seamlessly on the canvas. Working with oils teaches patience and reflection — they dry slowly, giving time to build layers with care and intention. I feel incredibly fortunate to have received proper academic training in the classical use of oils, alongside in-depth knowledge of anatomy, linear perspective, perception principles, and art history. That foundation continues to shape how I see and create today, allowing me to appreciate not only the technique but also the discipline and history behind every brushstroke.
