Maryna Volkodavova United Kingdom
As a child, I had a dream—to learn how to paint—but somehow I never managed to make it happen (I ended up tucking that dream away on a distant shelf of my soul). Then, after moving to the UK during the war, I suffered a heart attack... Doctors in England performed surgery on me (it was open-heart surgery, and I am deeply grateful to them for giving me a second chance at life).
People sometimes tell me how to paint 'correctly', or ask me to paint the war I survived in Ukraine . But I say: No, never.I have seen enough darkness and loss in my life. My art is my rebellion against the darkness. Through my bright acrylics, rich textures, and joyful animals, I want to remind the world that there is still so much beauty, love, and light.I paint from my childhood memories, from my heart, and after surviving two open-heart surgeries, every stroke is a celebration of life. I don't paint reality as it is — I paint hope."....
Artwork
The Magic World of Flowers , Acrylic,varnish, canvas, 2026